Great description of what it takes to get this done right. If you ever wanted to return to professional life, working as a contributor to a home improvement magazine should be pretty high on that list. But to the dismay of mankind, I have little hope this will happen. Thank you very much for your recommendation.
JJD Great War/Knights of the Sky Display Area (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter mestell
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mestell
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Andreas, the secret is a very good utility/exacto knife with a fresh new blade and definitely the Pull Saw. This allows you to make quick clean cuts through the high density foam material. Cutting one of the H&A walls would not be hard to do at all. Just requires careful measurement, and then using a square as a guide for the saw blade so that you get a nice straight "square" cut.
Thanks Brad . . . . I am familiar with BAR & JG products and their debris packets . . . . If I can't get them from Ericka I'll order either BAR or JG debris from Treefrog. By the way, Treefrog also has some H&A scenics available. I ordered the Damaged Factory Section, Debris Pile, and Damaged Brick Wall section from them.
:smile2: Mike
mestell
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Here's a photo of the 8-foot length of shelf space I am currently working on with the H&A scenics and the JJD WWI French figures and vehicles. The shelf is divided up into two 3-foot sections on the left and right, and a 2-foot section in the middle. The conceptual idea I have in mind is: the far right 3-foot section represents the western extreme of a French Village out of harm's way. It is being used as a supply staging area, and an egress route for exhausted troops and wounded returning to the rear. I still need to finish this section with an H&A Garden Portico and stone wall between the two buildings. I have the stone wall parts, and the Garden Portico w/Working Iron Gate has been ordered from Ericka. All future releases of the French walking wounded will be placed here as well as the JJD WWI French photographer taking photos of troops by the gate of the Portico.
The middle 2-foot section, perhaps the middle of the village and still untouched by the big guns of the enemy, is an area of troop movement going to the front. A section of H&A Cobblestone Road is needed to finish the scenics. This is also on back order from Eicka. The walking French Infantry will probably be moved to the side walk section so that a squad of French FT AFV's can use the road.
The far left 3-foot section of shelving, is an area perhaps representing the eastern edge of the village that is within range of enemy bombardment. This allows the visual appearance of the ravages of war. I plan to incorporate the French 75mm gun here with its crew trying to muscle it into position or across the shell crater in the middle of the cobblestone road. More troops moving closer to the front lines as well as support vehicles (as they become available) are planned for this section. Still very much a work in progress . . . more debris needs to be scattered about, and there is a 12-inch section that is undeveloped at this time that needs an additional section of brick or stone wall or more preferably, another section of a damaged building.
:smile2: Mike
The middle 2-foot section, perhaps the middle of the village and still untouched by the big guns of the enemy, is an area of troop movement going to the front. A section of H&A Cobblestone Road is needed to finish the scenics. This is also on back order from Eicka. The walking French Infantry will probably be moved to the side walk section so that a squad of French FT AFV's can use the road.
The far left 3-foot section of shelving, is an area perhaps representing the eastern edge of the village that is within range of enemy bombardment. This allows the visual appearance of the ravages of war. I plan to incorporate the French 75mm gun here with its crew trying to muscle it into position or across the shell crater in the middle of the cobblestone road. More troops moving closer to the front lines as well as support vehicles (as they become available) are planned for this section. Still very much a work in progress . . . more debris needs to be scattered about, and there is a 12-inch section that is undeveloped at this time that needs an additional section of brick or stone wall or more preferably, another section of a damaged building.
:smile2: Mike
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Great vision, Mike. It all works together very well and is especially effective all being on one vision plain. It is a lot of fun to build this kind of thing piece by piece and watch it all come together and a lot of fun to watch it develop. -- Al
mestell
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This afternoon more reinforcements arrived; GWF-29 French Angel of Mercy, GWF-07H French Renault FT, and GWB-34 Royal Garrison Artillery members. All are very well done (but of course ^&grin). The French Angel of Mercy treated wounded figures are exceptionally well done . . . . can it get any better than this? The FT with 8mm mg is a great addition as well as the 2 new artillery figures (only 2 more to go to complete the entire gun crew). Also, recently I discovered that after placing the H&A sidewalk sections and cobblestone road sections in place, there is just enough room left over to finish the shelf edge with H&A stone walls. Photos below . . . . .
:smile2: Mike
French village street scene featuring the new GWF-29 Angel of Mercy set and the use of the H&A stone walls at the shelf edge
Royal Garrison Artillery crew . . . . new additions: figure by Howitzer wheel on the left and the figure with magaphone back left
3rd Company, 2nd Platoon scouting ahead
:smile2: Mike
French village street scene featuring the new GWF-29 Angel of Mercy set and the use of the H&A stone walls at the shelf edge
Royal Garrison Artillery crew . . . . new additions: figure by Howitzer wheel on the left and the figure with magaphone back left
3rd Company, 2nd Platoon scouting ahead
mestell
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villagehorse
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You put this altogether in no time flat Mike. The diorama pieces certainly tie it all in. Well balanced layout. Good advertisement for potential new JJD collectors and for that matter Hudson & Allen Studios. Robin.
mestell
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mestell
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Delivered to the door yesterday were JJD GWB-16 General Service Wagon, GWB-17 Horse Team, GWB-17a Wagon Drvier, GWB-36 Artillery Accessories, GWF-30 & GWF-32 French Walking Wounded, and BGC-22 British Mechanic w/Oil Cart. Below are some photos of the new additions:
Howitzer gun crew with GWB-36 Artillery Accessories. With the release of GWB-35 next month, the gun crew will be complete
BGC-22 British Mechanic with Oil Cart
GWB-16 General Service Wagon, GWB-17 Horse Team, & GWB-17a Wagon Driver loading artillery shells at the ammo depot. The Gen Serv Wagon is exceptionally well done and is now one of my favorite pieces in my WWI collection. "Hitching the horse team to the wagon with my old eyes and shaky hand was a minor challenge but not overly difficult
GWF-30 & GWF-32 French Infantry Walking Wounded featuring H&A 2011 Garden Portico w/Gate and H&A 2077 Public Fountain w/Stone Wall that I modified to fit between the Garden Portico and the building. A Berliet truck has been stopped (next month's release of GWF-32 will be used for this) in order to load the wounded.
Howitzer gun crew with GWB-36 Artillery Accessories. With the release of GWB-35 next month, the gun crew will be complete
BGC-22 British Mechanic with Oil Cart
GWB-16 General Service Wagon, GWB-17 Horse Team, & GWB-17a Wagon Driver loading artillery shells at the ammo depot. The Gen Serv Wagon is exceptionally well done and is now one of my favorite pieces in my WWI collection. "Hitching the horse team to the wagon with my old eyes and shaky hand was a minor challenge but not overly difficult
GWF-30 & GWF-32 French Infantry Walking Wounded featuring H&A 2011 Garden Portico w/Gate and H&A 2077 Public Fountain w/Stone Wall that I modified to fit between the Garden Portico and the building. A Berliet truck has been stopped (next month's release of GWF-32 will be used for this) in order to load the wounded.
villagehorse
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Hands down that wagon and the horses is an excellent piece. Lots of pleasure positioning your new releases to your existing road scene no doubt. Can see you having this a permanent display for a long time.^&cool, Robin.
mestell
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Thanks Brendan. The gun, its crew, and all the accessories are all very well done and I can see why this would be your favorite. When it comes to John's WWI offerings its really hard for me to decide upon favorites. The RGA Howitzer sets are unique in the fact that for the first time we can have a full crew compliment.
You have to get at least on of thee Robin, an absolutely fantastic production. There will be a lot of collectors that will want more than one of these for their collection and dioramas. It would not surprise me that these GS wagons will sell out somewhat quickly.
Thank you Chris. Certainly a must have in MHO. I am actually thinking about getting another one. "Hitching the team to the wagon was rather easy but did require some patience. The set does come with a very nice pair of tweezers to help with this process.
Really like the GS wagon, but wonder if it could be used as a French (borrowed or appropriated) supply wagon? Assuming that a wagon of such general purpose use might find it's way into any of the Allies hands, would the French Berliet truck driver fit the bench seat of the wagon, to be used as the driver of the wagon? Anyone know? -- Al
mestell
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I don't see why you couldn't do that Al . . . . . Lots of "lend lease" going on during the war. Can't see why the French couldn't have a GS wagon available to them. The Berliet Truck driver fits perfectly on the wagon. Here's a quick photo of my Berliet driver on the Wagon seat . . . .
:smile2: Mike
