Foreign Legion Fort and other projects I have been doing... (1 Viewer)

[mikemiller1955]

I haven't been posting much in the way of dioramas lately...but I'm still collecting heavy...and have been building a few things...I just started on a Foreign Legion fort (27"x27")for the new Tommy Gunn figures I ordered...it's in a pretty raw form right now...it has no stucco on it...except for the front gate section...and none of the modular pieces are glued together yet...there are no doors made...except the front gate...I need to make 15 of them...but I have finished the basic structure...and will start the stucco soon...as with all the large scale forts I have made before...the interior compound always seems to shrink more than I imagined it would...leaving little walking space inside...but even with the monstrous thick walls (5 1/2"s)...the compound inside the fort is still a healthy 14"x14"s...big enough for a small assembly...anyway...here are some pictures of my progress so far...

you're really gonna have to use your imagination to make it look decent...but I think it will all come together nicely once it's plastered and painted...

also...and I'm not gonna do it tonight...but I have built 8-9 other buildings recently...and maybe tomorrow I will post pics of them...they are nothing special...just some simple structures...a small 6 group set of desert or adobe style buildings and a couple of other larger structures...

 

[mikemiller1955]

one thing that may look kind of peculiar...the figure standing on the veranda/balcony probably looks a little strange...I intended for it to be the "officer's quarters" and it will have a balcony around it...

 

[Obee]

Mike,

its great seeing the fort from its inception, and I'm looing forward to see it evolve and finally be manned by the TGM Legioneres.

Keep up the good work,

John

 

[villagehorse]

I can see it Mike, you have done the bulk of the work, coming together very nicely. Fairly inexpensive by the looks, just time & talent. Really looking forward to seeing it completed, the race is on to beat the arrival of the figures. Also very interested in these 6 desert buildings, bring them on,^&cool, Robin.

 

[TomB]

I haven't been posting much in the way of dioramas lately...but I'm still collecting heavy...and have been building a few things...I just started on a Foreign Legion fort (27"x27")for the new Tommy Gunn figures I ordered...it's in a pretty raw form right now...it has no stucco on it...except for the front gate section...and none of the modular pieces are glued together yet...there are no doors made...except the front gate...I need to make 15 of them...but I have finished the basic structure...and will start the stucco soon...as with all the large scale forts I have made before...the interior compound always seems to shrink more than I imagined it would...leaving little walking space inside...but even with the monstrous thick walls (5 1/2"s)...the compound inside the fort is still a healthy 14"x14"s...big enough for a small assembly...anyway...here are some pictures of my progress so far...

you're really gonna have to use your imagination to make it look decent...but I think it will all come together nicely once it's plastered and painted...

also...and I'm not gonna do it tonight...but I have built 8-9 other buildings recently...and maybe tomorrow I will post pics of them...they are nothing special...just some simple structures...a small 6 group set of desert or adobe style buildings and a couple of other larger structures...

Really impressive looking fort...be waiting for you to post the other buildings...reckon they will be just as impressive...cheers TomB

 

[Nick Nasta]

Looking good Mike.

 

[mikemiller1955]

thank you John...Robin...Tom...Nick...for your comments and interest in this thread...I'm gonna start doing the exterior plaster of the French Legion fort today...the texture should resemble some of these structures I'm gonna post in the next couple of days...but done in a creamy whitish with a tint of yellow...

I made this piece...it's medium size...13"x8"x8"s...I have a pretty good method for doing the exposed brick...it's a really simple and decent technique because I'm not very good at sculpting the bricks by hand...

I use Hirst Arts "fieldstone" tiles (1"x1")...by gluing them to the face of the structure and plastering around them...

I take a full square tile...and cut out a slot to slide it into the face of the structure...then just plaster around it randomly...no big deal really...but it's very fast and easy to do...and looks pretty good for a guy that can't sculpt his own...

I started painting the bottoms of the foam buildings I make black to give them a more finished look...

I have 7 more buildings similar to this one that I'm gonna show pics of...

also a Roman barracks with columns and a clay tile roof...

and lastly while I work on my fort...I made a cross section of a Roman fort diorama with timber walls...

 

[Napoleon1er]

Great work Mike! I love the choices you made with the details!{bravo}}
On the other hand...
Curse you Mike! Now I have to build one!{sm4}
-Sandor:salute::

 

[villagehorse]

Like the exposed brick work under the rendering, suggests a weathering effect. No doubt Mike you have a complete village now which lends itself to a full scale diorama with Jenkins figures all over it.{sm4}, Robin.

 

[Mitch]

Superb work
Mitch

 

[aujj65]

I haven't been posting much in the way of dioramas lately...but I'm still collecting heavy...and have been building a few things...I just started on a Foreign Legion fort (27"x27")for the new Tommy Gunn figures I ordered...it's in a pretty raw form right now...it has no stucco on it...except for the front gate section...and none of the modular pieces are glued together yet...there are no doors made...except the front gate...I need to make 15 of them...but I have finished the basic structure...and will start the stucco soon...as with all the large scale forts I have made before...the interior compound always seems to shrink more than I imagined it would...leaving little walking space inside...but even with the monstrous thick walls (5 1/2"s)...the compound inside the fort is still a healthy 14"x14"s...big enough for a small assembly...anyway...here are some pictures of my progress so far...

you're really gonna have to use your imagination to make it look decent...but I think it will all come together nicely once it's plastered and painted...
also...and I'm not gonna do it tonight...but I have built 8-9 other buildings recently...and maybe tomorrow I will post pics of them...they are nothing special...just some simple structures...a small 6 group set of desert or adobe style buildings and a couple of other larger structures...

There's no doubt about that Mike! {bravo}}

Jeff :salute::

 

[marco55]

Great work Mike.You have become very proficent in dioramas and buildings.
Mark

 

[GICOP]

thank you John...Robin...Tom...Nick...for your comments and interest in this thread...I'm gonna start doing the exterior plaster of the French Legion fort today...the texture should resemble some of these structures I'm gonna post in the next couple of days...but done in a creamy whitish with a tint of yellow...

I made this piece...it's medium size...13"x8"x8"s...I have a pretty good method for doing the exposed brick...it's a really simple and decent technique because I'm not very good at sculpting the bricks by hand...

I use Hirst Arts "fieldstone" tiles (1"x1")...by gluing them to the face of the structure and plastering around them...

I take a full square tile...and cut out a slot to slide it into the face of the structure...then just plaster around it randomly...no big deal really...but it's very fast and easy to do...and looks pretty good for a guy that can't sculpt his own...

I started painting the bottoms of the foam buildings I make black to give them a more finished look...

I have 7 more buildings similar to this one that I'm gonna show pics of...

also a Roman barracks with columns and a clay tile roof...

and lastly while I work on my fort...I made a cross section of a Roman fort diorama with timber walls...

You make great buildings Michael {bravo}}....I know you sell some, I just wish they would fall into Nicholas's large suitcase and find their way to a London Show:wink2: :salute::

All the best

Martyn

 

[Napoleon1er]

You make great buildings Michael {bravo}}....I know you sell some, I just wish they would fall into Nicholas's large suitcase and find their way to a London Show:wink2: :salute::

All the best

Martyn

Unfortunately, they are too large and delicate. Nicholas brings much of his stuff as carry-on on the plane!

 

[mikemiller1955]

thank you Sandor...Robin...Mitch...Jeff...Mark and Martyn...

this is also a building I finished last month...

I really liked the design with the overhanging roof completely covering the depth and length of the porch...plus the extension of the waist high stone bannister by the side door...I found a very similar photo of this online and copied those two designs...

I paint all my models black on the inside...as they are just unfinished pink foam...I think they look more realiastic if you peek in a window being black...

Sandor...you're definitely right about these being too big for Nick to carry overseas in a carry-on...but these are made from 1/2" foam...they are finished in Stucco Patch...then sanded and painted ...they are unbelievably sturdy...a real hard shell on the outside...

I think Nick should wear one of those long raincoats like the watch salesman (flasher) in the alleys wear...he could just pin the figures to the inside and flash any potential buyers at the show...it would save him a lot of time setting up...

ps...you were a nice guy to spell him so he could grab a smoke at the last show...

 

[GICOP]

thank you Sandor...Robin...Mitch...Jeff...Mark and Martyn...

this is also a building I finished last month...

I really liked the design with the overhanging roof completely covering the depth and length of the porch...plus the extension of the waist high stone bannister by the side door...I found a very similar photo of this online and copied those two designs...

I paint all my models black on the inside...as they are just unfinished pink foam...I think they look more realiastic if you peek in a window being black...

Sandor...you're definitely right about these being too big for Nick to carry overseas in a carry-on...but these are made from 1/2" foam...they are finished in Stucco Patch...then sanded and painted ...they are unbelievably sturdy...a real hard shell on the outside...

I think Nick should wear one of those long raincoats like the watch salesman (flasher) in the alleys wear...he could just pin the figures to the inside and flash any potential buyers at the show...it would save him a lot of time setting up...

ps...you were a nice guy to spell him so he could grab a smoke at the last show...

Superb Michael, I love it {bravo}}{bravo}}{bravo}}

Cheers

Martyn

 

[Fort-Stamford]

thank you Sandor...Robin...Mitch...Jeff...Mark and Martyn...

this is also a building I finished last month...

I really liked the design with the overhanging roof completely covering the depth and length of the porch...plus the extension of the waist high stone bannister by the side door...I found a very similar photo of this online and copied those two designs...

I paint all my models black on the inside...as they are just unfinished pink foam...I think they look more realiastic if you peek in a window being black...

Sandor...you're definitely right about these being too big for Nick to carry overseas in a carry-on...but these are made from 1/2" foam...they are finished in Stucco Patch...then sanded and painted ...they are unbelievably sturdy...a real hard shell on the outside...

I think Nick should wear one of those long raincoats like the watch salesman (flasher) in the alleys wear...he could just pin the figures to the inside and flash any potential buyers at the show...it would save him a lot of time setting up...

ps...you were a nice guy to spell him so he could grab a smoke at the last show...

Really nice work, and excellent innovation for effects. For the roof area, suggest adding an access hatchway, it would make life easier for your coming troops. Can't wait to see your finished FFL Fort. Charles

 

[mikemiller1955]

thanks Charles...

I have the entired structure stuccoed...it looks a little more recognizeable now...all 8 pieces (4 towers/4 walls) are built separately...but they were all measured and cut to be glued together...which I will do before I paint it...the butress's are too narrow...I'm gonna tear them out and put in much thicker ones...hear are some pics...

 

[mikemiller1955]

pics...

 

[Napoleon1er]

If you make the buttresses wider, I might also cut down on how far they stick out from the walls. I love how it is coming along!