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

[mestell]

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

The Yankees made a good showing for themselves Jake, I just haven't posted any photos of their positions yet. Here are some more photos showing more terrain features especially the small stream water feature that Ken incorporated into one of my new bases. Notice the cannon crew on elevated ground behind the stream.
Mike

 

[Deitz]

Mike,

It looks like you had a great time with Ken. Did you order any more surprises for pickup at the Chicago show.

Brian

 

[mestell]

Where as the first four dio bases Ken made for me were flat/without elevation in order to accomodate my farm house and out buildings, each of the four new dio bases he brought to me today had elevation features and one had the water feature. One of the new bases also has an area for the 18th/19th Century Barn that is to be released by year end - this is where my battlefield hospital scene will be.

Ken also shared with me that Zouaves are coming along with more Confederates. He also showed me some unpainted/unfinished sculps he is working on for the Sudan range and he took the time to explain to me the process of making a sculpt - sorry I've been sworn to secrecy on these new figures but I assure you the Sudan War collectors will really be pleased.

I believe I am the first one to receive his new line of large and small bushes. They really are well made and go great with the existing hedge row that has been available for some time now.

Ken is absolutely a blast to work with and he is totally unselfish with his time and knowledge. Hopefully, if all works out well he will be back on Thursday. There is even a wee bit of a chance that both he and Richard Walker might stop by very briefly on Wednesday evening to allow Richard to see what I have.

I'll continue to post more photos that Ken and I staged and took today.
Mike

 

[mestell]

Mike,

It looks like you had a great time with Ken. Did you order any more surprises for pickup at the Chicago show.
Brian

You bet I did Brian. Ken showed me some custom converted Confederate soldiers he has done. He plans to have many of these metal conversions available at the Chicago show. These are done so well you can't even tell where Ken used the razor saw and did the re-pinning. All very well painted. He had five with him today which I have reserved for pick up at the show.
Mike

 

[thebritfarmer]

Wow that surely has to a once in a lifetime opportunity Mike. Great photos of your new bases. Ken truly is a master and looks like he was right at home. What did he do to your farmhouse? If he pops back on Thursday you have to get the scoop on the AZW please

Thanks for sharing your photos with us. I bet you are still spinning

 

[Mister Dave]

Looks like brilliant fun at your place today, Mike. Thanks for photographing and sharing some of the highlights with us. It is most impressive to see all your inventory laid out like this and the new scenic pieces look super.

Hats off to Ken for spending the day playing at your crib and would be challenged to think of a better example of customer/collector appreciation than this anywhere in the toy soldier universe. I hope Ken comes back with Richard later this week because I want to see more action now.

Exciting news about the upcoming releases too by the way, and when you see those 2 fellows next, please ask them in addition to the 1st Minnesota, to consider making a mounted Barksdale waving his hat like in the Don Troiani painting okay?

Thanks again, Mike.

MD

 

[DMNamiot]

Very cool to have a master like Ken come for a visit! I really enjoyed seeing the displays and of course hearing about some new things due out for the Sudan line makes me very happy as well. Thanks again for sharing with us.

Dave

 

[mestell]

Wow that surely has to a once in a lifetime opportunity Mike. Great photos of your new bases. Ken truly is a master and looks like he was right at home. What did he do to your farmhouse? If he pops back on Thursday you have to get the scoop on the AZW please

Thanks for sharing your photos with us. I bet you are still spinning

Scott you just can't imagine how much I am still "spinning". I told Ken that I thought the rust stains (from the nails) on the house were a bit overdone. He agreed with me and made the stains much less noticeable. He also added some weathering around the base of the house as you would expect from water/mud, etc. If he can return on Thursday I will ask him about the AZW range and what can be expected.
Mike

Looks like brilliant fun at your place today, Mike. Thanks for photographing and sharing some of the highlights with us. It is most impressive to see all your inventory laid out like this and the new scenic pieces look super.

Hats off to Ken for spending the day playing at your crib and would be challenged to think of a better example of customer/collector appreciation than this anywhere in the toy soldier universe. I hope Ken comes back with Richard later this week because I want to see more action now.

Exciting news about the upcoming releases too by the way, and when you see those 2 fellows next, please ask them in addition to the 1st Minnesota, to consider making a mounted Barksdale waving his hat like in the Don Troiani painting okay?

Thanks again, Mike.

MD

You are very welcome MD. You can bet that as strong as my appreciation was for Ken's talents before his visit, its much stronger now. Will relay your 1st Minn and Barksdale wishes to him if he returns on Thursday.
Mike

 

[mestell]

Very cool to have a master like Ken come for a visit! I really enjoyed seeing the displays and of course hearing about some new things due out for the Sudan line makes me very happy as well. Thanks again for sharing with us.
Dave

You are welcome dave.
Mike

 

[tdubel]

Mike,
Just fantastic, just fantastic.!!! Your dio really turned out great. Ken is a really good guy and great to talk shop with (Richard too!). Anyhow, great opportunity, thanks for sharing.

Another note, no one does Civil war like Britains IMO. I still have the original run of the late 90s/2000s as well as pick/choose new stuff. It is just the best to me, my dios will not look like yours!!

Tom

 

[marco55]

Fantastic day for you Mike.You deserve it.
Mark

 

[mestell]

Mike,
Just fantastic, just fantastic.!!! Your dio really turned out great. Ken is a really good guy and great to talk shop with (Richard too!). Anyhow, great opportunity, thanks for sharing.

Another note, no one does Civil war like Britains IMO. I still have the original run of the late 90s/2000s as well as pick/choose new stuff. It is just the best to me, my dios will not look like yours!!

Tom

Thanks Tom. Ken and Richard are the very best. I totally agree 100% with you - WB ACW are the best and certainly the most historically accurate.
Mike

Fantastic day for you Mike.You deserve it.
Mark

Thanks Mark.

 

[The Lt.]

I see you've survived the day Mike with all of the excitment that surrounded you. Thanks to both you and Ken for sharing it. Greatly staged battle scenes and photographs.........Joe

 

[rharry]

My goodness are those special or what....just awesome story telling....thanks Mike for sharing with us.....I am sure you made some nice memories.........

 

[mikemiller1955]

Mike....

sounds like you made out like a bandit...

Ken works hard and gives so much to this hobby...

he has always been very generous with his knowledge and tips...

consider yourself fortunate...

to have the creator of most your products make a "house call"...

you got something this weekend that we would all have loved to receive...

I hope you fed them well...

 

[UKReb]

Mike

A stunning set-up in fact mind blowing and to have Ken making a personal house call... well.....what can you say the best I can get is when postie calls and asks me what I'm up to.

Love the panoramic shots and that is some fight you have on your hands. Good to see "our war" take centre stage. Well done old son

Bob

 

[Cornwallis]

Mike, your display is amazing and a real inspiration to get mine looking as good as that (but for my American Revolution collection), I have seen some fantastic dioramas on this forum but I am struggling to remember one as good as this for any era!

Keep the pictures coming, every angle just brings out more and more!!!

Best wishes

Tom

 

[Nooooo9]

It all looks wonderful. Having Ken over to drop off the scenics must be like having Mario Andretti over to change your oil. I'm sure its a big thrill, and the scenics look awesome.

 

[Jagdpanther]

Everything looks excellent Mike! Ken and you must had lots of fun setting up and photographing the figures. And those new bases just excellent!

 

[mestell]

Thanks to both you and Ken for sharing it. Greatly staged battle scenes and photographs.........Joe

My goodness are those special or what....just awesome story telling....thanks Mike for sharing with us.....I am sure you made some nice memories.........

Mike, sounds like you made out like a bandit. Ken works hard and gives so much to this hobby. He has always been very generous with his knowledge and tips...consider yourself fortunate to have the creator of most your products make a "house call". You got something this weekend that we would all have loved to receive...I hope you fed them well...

Mike

A stunning set-up in fact mind blowing and to have Ken making a personal house call... well.....what can you say the best I can get is when postie calls and asks me what I'm up to.

Love the panoramic shots and that is some fight you have on your hands. Good to see "our war" take centre stage. Well done old son

Bob

Mike, your display is amazing and a real inspiration to get mine looking as good as that (but for my American Revolution collection), I have seen some fantastic dioramas on this forum but I am struggling to remember one as good as this for any era!

Keep the pictures coming, every angle just brings out more and more!!!

Best wishes

Tom

It all looks wonderful. Having Ken over to drop off the scenics must be like having Mario Andretti over to change your oil. I'm sure its a big thrill, and the scenics look awesome.

Everything looks excellent Mike! Ken and you must had lots of fun setting up and photographing the figures. And those new bases just excellent!

Thank you all very kindly. Re-arranged things a little bit this morning - cleaning up the "carnage" from yesterday's battles and photo shoot. Here are two photographs of my 8-foot x 4-foot ACW diorama table with all eight of the 22-inch x 22-inch dio bases Ken made for me. As you can see the "modular" design of these facilitates many different terrain arrangements. I minimzed the "distractions" because I wanted the viewer to get an appreciation of the total terrain. I did pose a Union artillery battery on high ground and elevated portion of the road. Opposite of that, I also posed a Confederate battery on a section of elevated terrain and also placed an un-crewed 3-inch ordnance gun on the hill behind the stream. The area where I have placed the ambulance and stretcher bearer is reserved for the 18th/19th century barn that is due out later this year - this area will be used for the battlefield aid station scene.
Mike