Fort Carillion Abattis/Breastwork Defense... (2 Viewers)

[mikemiller1955]

Carlo Terrinoni sent me some pictures today...

he did a diorama of the breastwork and abattis defense by Montcalm at Fort Carillion being attacked by the 42nd Highlanders Regiment...the Black Watch...

This is exactly how I imagine it would look...

a heavy dense abattis that they Highlanders could barely walk through and were slaughtered as they approached...

with a breastwork that the French stood behind for cover...

great job Carlo...very nice work...

 

[lancer]

That is a fantastic dio. A lot of work and it really paid off. Great job. -- Al

 

[Normandy1944]

Wow That is a fantastic dio. A++++


harrie

 

[catul]

Fantastic looking dio, and like Mike this is exactly how I imagine the real thing looked!

One can clearly understand why the British were beaten to a pulp - now if only Abercrombie had used his artillery

Niels

 

[marco55]

This man really has the talent for this. Superb.
Mark

 

[mikemiller1955]

Fantastic looking dio, and like Mike this is exactly how I imagine the real thing looked!

One can clearly understand why the British were beaten to a pulp - now if only Abercrombie had used his artillery

Niels

I know...

poor reconnaissance...

another embarrassment for the Brits...

I think this is what happens when your army allows to many commissions to be purchased by wealthy untrained officers...

 

[mikemiller1955]

Carlo does a really nice first class job of adjoining the logs where they overlap...

I don't know if you guys remember the blockhouse he built...but he does great woodwork in notching and stacking the logs...

I made one the other day and don't have a good technique for notching out my branches...so I had to put mud (dirt) in the notch gaps...my logs were not as straight as they needed to be...so I also had to put mud (dirt) between the gaps...

I'm throwing mine away and starting over...

I need to find much straighter branches to avoid getting a gap when they are stacked ...

I also need to find a better way to notch the ends of my logs to avoid the gaps there too...

teach me Carlo...

 

[10TH LA.]

excellent as always!!!!!!!!

 

[RISORGIMENTO]

Thanks to all for the gratifying comments and many thanks to my friend Mike who kindly posted my pictures…really I have to learn to do it yet!

The brave Highlanders (and not them only of course) were sent to a certain defeat by an hasty underestimation of the enemy defense. I made this abattis looking forward to the trench, beyond all doubt impressive, soon afterwards available by John.

Some months ago he wrote to me in a message… ‘this trench may be in two parts with a third straight section. It will be interesting to see it painted and I will enjoy to place the figures climbing over it’ …I presume he refers to the few courageous Black Watch who were able to break into the French field and were overcome.

Carlo

 

[mikemiller1955]

Some months ago he wrote to me in a message… ‘this trench may be in two parts with a third straight section. It will be interesting to see it painted and I will enjoy to place the figures climbing over it’ …I presume he refers to the few courageous Black Watch who were able to break into the French field and were overcome.

Carlo

Climbing over the breastwork sounds like a nice sculpt...looking forward to that...

 

[45thdiv]

I made one the other day and don't have a good technique for notching out my branches...so I had to put mud (dirt) in the notch gaps...my logs were not as straight as they needed to be...so I also had to put mud (dirt) between the gaps...

I'm throwing mine away and starting over...

I need to find much straighter branches to avoid getting a gap when they are stacked ...

I also need to find a better way to notch the ends of my logs to avoid the gaps there too...

teach me Carlo...

===============================================

Mike, do you have a small wood chisel and a hammer? You only need to score the two ends of the cut and then the wood chisel will notch out the section like it was a lincoln log. I'm probably not explaining it as well as Carlo can. But I think you will get the idea.

And please don't trash what you have, just rebuild it into a frontier house. They were filled all the time to keep out drafts and the elements. Maybe even add a little bit of flocking o give it a vine crawling look along some of the sides.

I like what you did and I like the tree stumps in front. I sculpted a bunch for a friend a while back, but the real wood looks nice.

Matthew

 

[Louis Badolato]

Both Fort Carillion and the blockhouse are absolutely brilliant.

 

[thebritfarmer]

Mike I think yours is fabulous and probably more true to life given the time period. Even log homes built today aren't that perfect.

 

[mikemiller1955]

Mathew...

I thought that was a good idea too when started...

I tried a wood chisel...
but some of the branches are pretty fragile (brittle)...
especially the one's with "character"...
because they are dried out or dead...
so they break up easily under that pressure...

I tried a small hacksaw...
but the same results...

my best efforts were using the electric grinder to gouge out a slot...
and it worked pretty well...

it was a very rushed effort working in the garage in 40 degree temperatures...
I don't think I spent an hour on it...
so I don't mind trashing it...

my biggest problem was that you need very, very, very straight and solid branches...similar to Carlo's logs...but Mother Nature doesn't yield very many perfect small straight branches...just the slightest bow in the branch...leaves a big gap in the stacked logs...

I just need to recollect new straighter branches...I'm sure I can do better...I would like to know how Carlo does his though...

 

[mikemiller1955]

Both Fort Carillion and the blockhouse are absolutely brilliant.

he did a fantastic job on the blockhouse...first class work with wood...

 

[Fraxinus]

Simply wonderful!!!

 

[jomartvr]

Hi Mike,
I have to agree with another member, yours does like more life-like than Carlos' diorama.

That said, Carlos' work is outstanding.

Best wishes,
Benjamin

 

[GICOP]

All the work I've seen so far by both Michael and Carlos is just great

Whats all this about 40 degree temperatures send some over here...............please

Cheers

Martyn

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Mike I think yours is fabulous and probably more true to life given the time period. Even log homes built today aren't that perfect.

I agree Mike...Carlos' work is superb, but I really like the rough and irregular effect of your construction...the mud is an excellent accent, and overall the whole piece has a lot of "texture" that makes it visually interesting. I wouldn't change it.

 

[The Lt.]

I've got to agree with Nicholas Michael to me it seems more realistic were Carlo's although very nicely done it dosen't have as realistic a look as yours has turned out. Don't throw it away continue with what you've started with my friend.......Joe