aujj65
Colonel
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2005
- Messages
- 9,151
Way back in March 2012, I came home from the London show with the W Britain Nile River Gunboat and since then have collected all the WAN range of figures. Some figures I bought multiples, to the point where I had approx. 250 figures.
These where displayed over the years on terrain mats on shelves, in cabinets and under acrylic cases. When W Britain released the Tel-el-Kebir series I made my own earthworks, which was ok, but I wanted something better.
Inspired by the many talented diorama builders on this forum I was determined to make dioramas rather than just displays for my collection. During the last eight months (on and off) I have sorted and re-organized these figures into four separate engagements from 1882 to 1885, the surplus was sold off and the following dioramas were made.
The basic concept was the same: an mdf base with profiled hardboard sides. The ground work was built up using expanded polystyrene and the rough shape was then covered in light weight filler and a coating of pva glue. The ground work was then painted with a matt acrylic sand colour. The base and sides was finished in a satin mahogany hard wearing paint.
Scenic items sourced from JG Miniatures and Woodland Scenics as well as the figures were attached with pva glue (no going back at this point!!!!). Plastic sand/soil, buff ballast and small rocks were sprinkled over a coat of pva glue to cover the groundwork and figure bases. A bit of touching up here and there and lastly some dry-brushing.
The Nile River was the centre portion of the JG Miniatures mat I already had, the rest was made using Woodland Scenics realistic water and painted to match.
Regarding the figures, quite a few have been repainted (Grey coated 42nd Highlanders now have red coats for Tel-el-Kebir) and/or converted (dead Hadendoa). The only figure that isn’t W Britain is the Egyptian Officer in the Tel-el-Kebir setting; he is from the “Martin Enry” range made by Redcoat Models. The British artillery set is from the AZW range with a 12pdr barrel replacing the lightweight 7pdr.
Jeff
I will post photos of the four dioramas over the next few days, so first up:-
The British assault on the Egyptian entrenchments at Tel-el-Kebir 1882.
These where displayed over the years on terrain mats on shelves, in cabinets and under acrylic cases. When W Britain released the Tel-el-Kebir series I made my own earthworks, which was ok, but I wanted something better.
Inspired by the many talented diorama builders on this forum I was determined to make dioramas rather than just displays for my collection. During the last eight months (on and off) I have sorted and re-organized these figures into four separate engagements from 1882 to 1885, the surplus was sold off and the following dioramas were made.
The basic concept was the same: an mdf base with profiled hardboard sides. The ground work was built up using expanded polystyrene and the rough shape was then covered in light weight filler and a coating of pva glue. The ground work was then painted with a matt acrylic sand colour. The base and sides was finished in a satin mahogany hard wearing paint.
Scenic items sourced from JG Miniatures and Woodland Scenics as well as the figures were attached with pva glue (no going back at this point!!!!). Plastic sand/soil, buff ballast and small rocks were sprinkled over a coat of pva glue to cover the groundwork and figure bases. A bit of touching up here and there and lastly some dry-brushing.
The Nile River was the centre portion of the JG Miniatures mat I already had, the rest was made using Woodland Scenics realistic water and painted to match.
Regarding the figures, quite a few have been repainted (Grey coated 42nd Highlanders now have red coats for Tel-el-Kebir) and/or converted (dead Hadendoa). The only figure that isn’t W Britain is the Egyptian Officer in the Tel-el-Kebir setting; he is from the “Martin Enry” range made by Redcoat Models. The British artillery set is from the AZW range with a 12pdr barrel replacing the lightweight 7pdr.
Jeff
I will post photos of the four dioramas over the next few days, so first up:-
The British assault on the Egyptian entrenchments at Tel-el-Kebir 1882.
