Ken Osen's Visit To My Home (1 Viewer)

[mestell]

As I write this, you can imagine my excitement and anticipation. I have known about this since Spring but elected not to talk about it here until now. My secret is finally going to happen. Ken and Ericka Osen (Hudson & Allen) are on their way today from their home in Michigan to Madison, Wisconsin. Ericka is meeting with a friend of her's to conduct some business here this coming week. Ken is coming along on the ride for some fun and he asked me some time ago if it would be alright if he stopped to visit. IS IT ALRIGHT!!!! Oh man is it ever! . Ken said he would bring his "tool box" of goodies and material and he would help me "tweak" some of my WB ACW figures, etc. He is also bringing four new 22-inch x 22-inch dio bases that I commissioned him to custom make for me. Including the four bases that I currently have, when all eight are combined I will have a 44-inch x 88-inch ACW battlefield "play" area on top of a 4-foot x 8-foot table. Ken called me last week and said he would be here tomorrow morning and plans to spend the whole day with me just having fun with my ACW collection. He is meeting with Richard Walker on Tuesday and Wednesday, will be back in Madison Wednesday night. He told me that if everything works out he would come back on Thursday to spend another day with me before he and Ericka return to Michigan on Friday. Rest assured I will be taking photos of Ken, the new dio bases, and all the other things we do together. I will post these under this thread come Monday night and Tuesday (and Thursday night/Friday if I get so lucky to get a second visit).

Call me Mr. extra excited in Wisconsin . . . . . .
Mike

 

[Cornwallis]

Nice one Mike, if I was in your shoes I would be looking forward to Ken's visits as much as it comes across in your post.

Believe me if I ever win that elusive lottery Ken is getting on a private jet to the UK and making my entire diorama scenery set up, don't care how many zeros the cheque needs!

Looking forward to seeing your display after Kens visit!

 

[Lewey Gun Vick]

You're a lucky man Mike! Hope you have a great time....

Regards,
Jake

 

[mikemiller1955]

I want to know if you finally figured your menu out...what are you going to feed this man and his wife...I know you'll go all out...and you should...have fun mike...I'm jealous...

 

[Jagdpanther]

Cant wait to see the pics Mike...feeling a little jealous myself .

 

[bearybones]

Hi Mike,

Like everyone else here, I'm also looking forward to seeing your photos of the visit. From what I've seen, Ken is the absolute God of dioramas. No wonder you're so excited. I guess we're all looking forward to reading what you will have to share with us after Ken's visit. Have a great time!

George

 

[lenswerks]

Looking forward to seeing the photos Mike!

Donnie

 

[marco55]

That's great Mike.Have a great day.
Mark

 

[thebritfarmer]

All your Christmases have come at once !!!!!! I can't wait for your posts Mike, you are going to have one hell of a week !! Enjoy and how nice of Ken to visit, where else can you find this type of customer service? Top notch IMO.

 

[rharry]

Well sir that is just choice...I insist on having your address my helicopter is standing by.....oops can I borrow your checkbook

Have a great time........love looking at your dios.....

 

[Terp152]

Sounds fantastic Mike. Thanks for sharing the news and looking fwd to seeing the pics. Diorama bases will great to see put together.

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Mike...I have an idea that may reduce your yard work permanently and give you more time for TSs. See if Ken can replace your lawn with one of his mats. They never need grooming!

 

[mestell]

Well I have spent the past 9 hours with Ken and I am telling you all it was just a marvelous time. Here are some of the first photos. Thought I would start with photos of Ken playing/photographing with my ACW diorama and doing some enhancing to my 18th/19th Century Farmhouse.
Mike

 

[Spitfrnd]

Very exciting Mike. Please keep up the photo report.

 

[mestell]

Very exciting Mike. Please keep up the photo report.

As you wish Bill. Ken and I took well over 100 photos of my complete diorama. Here are some of them featuring Ken's new small and large bushes, which are just excellent by the way, and a split rail fence he custom made. I had to have these and they now have a new home on my diorama.
Mike

 

[Lewey Gun Vick]

Looks like you had a great time Mike! BTW, the new bases look fantastic!

Regards,
Vick

 

[mestell]

Looks like you had a great time Mike! BTW, the new bases look fantastic!

Regards,
Vick

Thank you Jake. Here are some more that I hope you enjoy. The first one shows the small stream feature and the rest continue to show the advancing Confederates.
Mike

 

[Spitfrnd]

Excellent photos and set ups Mike. I think these are among your best I have seen. Can you tell us which pieces of bushes, trees and grass mats are which or all they all custom?

 

[Lewey Gun Vick]

Mike, I'm guessing from the pictures that Bobby Lee's men overwhelmed the Yankee positions and won the day?!?

 

[mestell]

Excellent photos and set ups Mike. I think these are among your best I have seen. Can you tell us which pieces of bushes, trees and grass mats are which or all they all custom?

Bill, the eight 22" x 22" dio bases were custom made by Ken for me. I provided him with info on what I wanted and he did the rest - I gave him alot of artistic license. Ken made split rail fence mini base as part of his inventory to sell at the September Chicago show - I decided to buy it from him today. The hedgerow, small bushes and large bushes are regular Hudson & Allen production runs that Ken and Ericka make and can be directly ordered through them or through Treefrog Treasures. Ken recently posted pictures of the new small and large bushes on the Hudson and Allen thread section. Photos below show these products.
Mike