JJD Great War/Knights of the Sky Display Area (1 Viewer)

[mestell]

My latest Hudson & Allen order was delivered yesterday . . . . . Spent time today updating some shelf areas with the new scenics . . . .
Mike

24" shelf area showing a squad of French Infantry moving up to the front. HA-2013 Cobblestone Road Section is on back order and will be used to finish this shelf set up:







36" shelf are showing the latest Hudson & Allen offering, HA-2086 Half-Timbered House & Storefront (on the right). I plan to use this shelf to display the French Infantry walking wounded sets as they are released, and the German prisoners under guard. I plan to fill the gap between the buildings with a Hudson & Allen Garden Portico w/Working Iron Gate and Stonewall Sections.

 

[mestell]

. . . a couple more:
:smile2: Mike

H& A Garden Portico w/Working Iron Gate that will be used between the buildings on the 36" shelf pictured above.



The 24" shelf and 36" shelf side-by-side

 

[jazzeum]

That looks tremendous Mike. I have a call into Ericka about something else so this will be on the list!

Brad

 

[villagehorse]

A great setup Mike. The street scape is shaping up. The latest bus John is doing would fit your scene very nicely. Lots to choose from in this series. Look forward to your updates. Robin.

 

[marco55]

Really nice setups Mike.
Mark

 

[mestell]

That looks tremendous Mike. I have a call into Ericka about something else so this will be on the list!

Brad

Thank you very much Brad . . . . . I have left a phone message for Erica about the availablility of the Garden Portico w/Working Iron Gate. That piece would finish the 36" shelf off nicely. The new HAlf-Timber & Storefront building is very nice. The storefront is actually a vermin exterminator (rat catcher).

A great setup Mike. The street scape is shaping up. The latest bus John is doing would fit your scene very nicely. Lots to choose from in this series. Look forward to your updates. Robin.

Thank you Robin. The bus is definately a must have and would go well on anybody's street scene. I have the next set of French walking wounded and the British RGA gun crew pre-ordered and I have one of the FT Renault tanks on order.

Really nice setups Mike.
Mark

Thanks Mark . . . .

 

[villagehorse]

As you know the tank is tiny, so will easily fit in your scene Mike. Really like the French series due to the nature of the poses, what I call 'at rest'. These are behind the front lines activities, which there were many, so there is a multitude of diorama possibilities. Understand John is doing a big push early March with arrivals and new releases, so start saving^&grin, Robin.

 

[mestell]

Yesterday I also recieved Hudson & Allen HA-2031 "Normandy Farm Courtyard" to be used with HA-2030 "Damaged Normandy Barn" which I already had. Below are photos of them on one the corner shelves in my display area used as a Supply/Ammunition Depot with an Anti-Aircraft gun for protection from aerial assualt.
:smile2: Mike

 

[villagehorse]

This Hudson building/courtyard work nicely for WW1 or 2. Nice assortment of British. Robin.

 

[lancer]

Mike, you have a magnificent collection, set off by the superb buildings. I really like the way it all displays with the white shelving. It is all so easy to see. You have really hit what my image of WW1 is with the French column moving through the village. The vignette of the photog and resting French infantry is my favorite. A real pleasure to view and enjoy. -- Al

 

[mestell]

Mike, you have a magnificent collection, set off by the superb buildings. I really like the way it all displays with the white shelving. It is all so easy to see. You have really hit what my image of WW1 is with the French column moving through the village. The vignette of the photog and resting French infantry is my favorite. A real pleasure to view and enjoy. -- Al

Thank you very much Al . . . . I really beleive that white shelving is the way to go for all the reasons and more that you metion. I also really like the addition of the sky blue foam board I am using as a back drop . . . .
:smile2: Mike

 

[mestell]

Today I received a few more pieces of Hudson & Allen scenics which I decided to get for my third display shelf featuring JJD WWI French infantry & vehicles. Delivered to the doorstep were HA-2010 Damaged Brick Wall Section, HA-2032 Destroyed Factory Section, and HA-2071 Rubble & Debris Pile #1. I carefully trimmed/altered the factory section so that it would fit into the back corner of the shelf and also onto the existing sidewalk I had. I also trimmed it so that the damaged brick wall and damaged brick wall would snug up against it. Below are a couple of quick photos. Also shown in the photos are: JJD GWF-06 St Chammond Tank-Late Version with GWF-06A Tank Stowage, GWF-10 French Tank Corps Captain, GWF-17 French Infantry Tank Riders, HA-2014 Cobblestone Road Section w/Shell Crater, and HA-2015 Sidewalk Section.
:smile2: Mike

 

[lancer]

Mike, your display just continues to get better and better. The H&A scenics are the best, as are the JJD tanks and figures. I have a great deal of fun looking at your displays and waiting to see what you will add next. Perhaps a 75mm with gun crew muscling it into position?:wink2:^&grin -- Al

 

[villagehorse]

Mike, it's not just good enough receiving all those damaged items after paying good money for them. You will have to take it up with your postal service. In the meantime this French component has found a way on to a third shelf, with no relief in sight yet{eek3}. The stuff is just too nice, never dreamt I would be collecting WW1, but would expected, if I weakened, no doubt it would be for the Germans, never considered the French until JJD thru these up. Looks like we will sink together.^&grin, Robin.

 

[mestell]

Mike, your display just continues to get better and better. The H&A scenics are the best, as are the JJD tanks and figures. I have a great deal of fun looking at your displays and waiting to see what you will add next. Perhaps a 75mm with gun crew muscling it into position?:wink2:^&grin -- Al

Thank you Al. H&A scenics are the "bomb" . . . . everything is superbly done. I envision the French 75mm gun being "muscled" across the shell crater in the middle of the cobblestone road. Perhaps an FT tank or two for support . . . .

Mike, it's not just good enough receiving all those damaged items after paying good money for them. You will have to take it up with your postal service. In the meantime this French component has found a way on to a third shelf, with no relief in sight yet{eek3}. The stuff is just too nice, never dreamt I would be collecting WW1, but would expected, if I weakened, no doubt it would be for the Germans, never considered the French until JJD thru these up. Looks like we will sink together.^&grin, Robin.

Thanks Robin . . . . I now have 8 linear feet of shelving dedicated to JJD French WWI figures and vehicles ^&grin . . . . . and there seems to be no end in sight to the parade of releases, ie: 75mm gun, artillery crew, FT tanks, walking wounded, and more to come. With the Hudson & Allen pieces as backdrops, these French offerings make very nice looking displays. My photos don't do them justice . . .
:smile2: Mike

 

[Andanna]

Looks very nice, Mike. How did you cut the brick wall? It is very solid. I took a saw this weekend, thought about cutting it - and put the saw back.

Unrelated, is going for the "clean" look with the light blue background an artistic choice (so not to detract from the exhibit) or just borne out of the difficulty of finding an appropriate background for the length of the Billy shelf?

 

[lancer]

Looks very nice, Mike. How did you cut the brick wall? It is very solid. I took a saw this weekend, thought about cutting it - and put the saw back.

Unrelated, is going for the "clean" look with the light blue background an artistic choice (so not to detract from the exhibit) or just borne out of the difficulty of finding an appropriate background for the length of the Billy shelf?

The question about the sky blue background is a good one. Just a minor point but perhaps a sky gray background would allow the Horizon Blue unis to stand out just a bit more and a gray sky would convey the dinginess of WW1 pretty well. Just a thought and certainly not crucial. -- Al

 

[jazzeum]

Looks great Mike. I will be sending off an order to Ericka shortly. She told me she expects to have the timbers building in about six weeks or so.

 

[mestell]

Looks very nice, Mike. How did you cut the brick wall? It is very solid. I took a saw this weekend, thought about cutting it - and put the saw back.

Unrelated, is going for the "clean" look with the light blue background an artistic choice (so not to detract from the exhibit) or just borne out of the difficulty of finding an appropriate background for the length of the Billy shelf?

Thank you Andreas. As you know, H&A scenics are made out of a high density foam material. Its light weight and very easy to cut. I did not cut the brick wall . . . . that would have been easy. What I did was cut the Damaged Factory section so that a straight back edge (parallel to the front of the building) and a straight edge on the left side were formed. These edges met at a 90 degree angle thus allowing me to snuggly fit the scenic piece into the back left corner of the display shelf. On the right side of the Damaged Factory scenic, I cut a slot into the molded debris pile the width of which was the same as the Brick Wall thickness, about 3/8 inches wide. This slot runs in a straight off the front edge of the Factory buildings front wall. I did all of this using a square, a metal straight edge, a utility knife with a fresh razor blade in it, a metal file, marking pen with a fine point, and an IRWIN #213104 Detail Pull Saw that has a micro thin blade and very fine teeth. This saw was designed to cut on the back pull and is was designed for finish worth such as making dovetails or cutting off dowel pegs, etc. Ken & Ericka Osen recommended one of these to be a number of years ago and it works great with high density foam scenics and foam board material.

The "clean look" you describe is more of a convenience/availability issue than anything else. The material used is 1/4 inch foam board that has a sky-blue paper backing on it. This can be found at most hobby shops and office supply stores such as Hobby Lobby. Michael's, Office depot, etc. It comes in 20"x30" sheets. Sky blue is the only color this comes in that best represents a horizon background. Its quick and easy and certainly looks better than a painted white wall background.

The question about the sky blue background is a good one. Just a minor point but perhaps a sky gray background would allow the Horizon Blue unis to stand out just a bit more and a gray sky would convey the dinginess of WWI pretty well. Just a thought and certainly not crucial. -- Al

Hey . . .the dingier the better . . . . for now, the ready made foam board is the best I have been able to find as a readily available source . . . . . I am sure it could be painted . . .

Below are a couple of more photos taken from above and at an angle to show more of the interior detail . . . .

 

[mestell]

Andreas . . . . Here are a few close-up photos of where I altered the Damaged Factory section so that it would fit into the back corner of my shelf and also so it would accept the Damaged Wall section. It takes a little care and patience and at one point I needed the helping had of my wife to mark the "cut line" for me while I held the straight edge tightly against the bottom of the factories base. In the second photo, you can see where I have used the excess debris field which was cut off of the Factory base . . . . waste not, want not . . . . To finish this off, I am going to contact Ericka to see if H&A still has available the bags of debris they used to sell. I'll use this to scatter as necessary . . .
:smile2: Mike