Project MR (2 Viewers)

[blaster]

Hi John and Steve,

Thx. Will need to do the limber and gun next. But here's the dead boer converted from a scalelink piece.

 

[blaster]

I knocked up the cardboard backdrop. The easiest way is to remove the staples and just stuff the cardbd into the box and glue down the overlaps. The gaps were puttied over and I gessoed the surface.

more grass and foliage were added to the base which was then painted.

 

[blaster]

I assembled the parts for the limber and gun. Decided to use smaller wheels as well.
Limber is 1/72 Revell WWII, gun is HO/oo Airfix WWI, new smaller wheels are 1/35 masterbox, previous 1/32 scalelink wheels.

 

[blaster]

The backdrop draft ptd with acrylics.

 

[blaster]

WIP on these elements

 

[blaster]

The backdrop has been painted in oils.

 

[Horus]

It's really coming together now Victor

 

[Louis Badolato]

Looking good, Victor!

 

[Obee]

It's very interesting to see you using smaller scale equipment to gain the real perspective view in this diorama, I'm really looking forward to seeing this completed (and close up).

John

 

[blaster]

Hi Steve, Louis and John,

Thx for yr comments. Someone is subtly turning on the artillery screw......Im no Gribeauval so the perspective distance is only done by eye.. hahahhaha.

rgds Vic

 

[blaster]

I tk Ive finished sculpting these pcs. The dead boer and his hat (airfix ECW), and the smaller pieces arranged in the intended perspective view.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Brilliant work, Victor!

 

[Horus]

Yep, it looks to work well Vic

 

[blaster]

Hi Louis and Steve,

Ive painted all the elements. After the paint dried, I added these elements to the base. I trimmed the limber and gun to create space and heightened the visual perspective. I left off the pair of horses for later as the base already presses against the backdrop. Some pix below to show the scene.

 

[blaster]

Then I carefully placed the base into the box. The scene was touched up here and there and I repainted the pontoon bridge to correlate with the base position. Now waiting for the paint to dry before I paint the troops crossing the pontoon bridge. The pair of horses will have to be trimmed to fit into the back.

 

[Horus]

Looks wonderful !

 

[blaster]

Hi Steve,

Thx. I took a hard look at it this morning and noticed the joint overlap on the right bkgd. Will have to plaster over this.

I added a pair of horse heads only at the back of the base.

Then decided to raise the left side by about 2 cm to create the dramatic scene as per the ptg. Then more foliage was added.

But I tk that I am getting quite pleased with it. Still debating on how to finalise the column on the pontoon bridge.

 

[Horus]

Yes Victor, it looks much better being raised.
Hopefully the figures you are intending to paint on the bridge won't need any detailing, but a steady hand will most definitely needed !
Look forward to the next update.

 

[blaster]

Hi Steve,

I added some teeny figs and glued them onto the bkgd on the pontoon. Repainted parts of the bkdrop, painted the figures on the pontoon, the pontoon itself and then the foliage.

And its done. Just awaiting the light installation and frame. Its been quite an obsessive ride.....

 

[Horus]

Yes, quite the ride for you Vic with this brilliant reconstruction of the dramatic painting and it's depiction and am looking forward to the final pictures.
Oh the world certainly has changed since those days, when Africa and its riches were a prize felt worth pursuing for the British Empire, when it was at its zenith.
Now the Empire has gone, though Africa may still hold it's riches, it certainly doesn't appear to be a prize anylonger !