Somewhere in Normandy, 1944 (1 Viewer)

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Hello All,
I noticed on another thread that Simon had posted some photographs of his K&C figures with copies of the Normandy Village Buildings that I created for Richard Conte's Longest Day Playsets. I ran across a collection of photographs that I took for Richard right after I finished the paint masters. The first 250 sets were made under my supervision and I thought the decoration and quality of casting was quite nice. This building was molded with only four components: main building, interior wall, second floor and roof. The largely destroyed rear wall was designed to allow access to the interior for figure placement. I always thought some additional buildings would have rounded out the village nicely. I will be posting more images soon, hope you enjoy.
All the Best,
Ken

 

[Njja]

You must admit, this series of buildings and the Church are really neat!

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Hi There Again,
This is an overall shot of the Conte Normandy Church, Priory and residence. Again this is the original paint master and as a result, the first molding from the production mold. The church was made of 4 molded foam parts with additional resin parts including the church bell and pews. In these first 250 sets, the stacked wall and tower components nice press together perfectly. More images to follow soon.
All the Best,
Ken

Hudson & Allen Studio
Dioramas & Scenic Supplies

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Here is the other side of the destroyed church including the add-on wall that came with the Priory set. This is the way it was designed to be set up although the separate wall was useful for smaller displays. All of the Conte production pieces of this wall, that I am aware of were sold pre-painted and part of the priory add-on set.
All the Best,
Ken

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Some more images of the Conte Church just after I finished painting the paint master. This is the exterior view of the church with a couple of the Conte U.S. Airborne figures for scale reference.

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Here is a close up picture of the unfortunate paratrooper hung up on the bell tower. This figure was never released as a painted product, but only released as a green painted resin casting to be attached to the molded-in parachute on the bell tower.

 

[Wraith]

Ken,

The buildings are awesome, especially as Njja has said, the main Normandy house and Church / Priory set up. Would love to see more of these pieces produced. The quality is top notch and they are larger than life. A future project for H&A Studios?

Simon

 

[Wraith]

Here is a close up picture of the unfortunate paratrooper hung up on the bell tower. This figure was never released as a painted product, but only released as a green painted resin casting to be attached to the molded-in parachute on the bell tower.

I got my Church and Priory from George (Warrior) 2nd hand, so never got hold of the Para, but the figure looks very close if not identical to the later issued metal set with the US Para suspended from the telegraph pole. I'm guessing it's likely that this is one and the same casting, similar to the German kneeling sniper?

 

[thebritfarmer]

Excellent Ken perhaps we may see something similar for the Britains lineup

 

[Njja]

I got my Church and Priory from George (Warrior) 2nd hand, so never got hold of the Para, but the figure looks very close if not identical to the later issued metal set with the US Para suspended from the telegraph pole. I'm guessing it's likely that this is one and the same casting, similar to the German kneeling sniper?

I'll post some close ups of the Para later this afternoon when I return home.

This entire group, along with Ken's bridge are great pieces to have in your

collection.

 

[Wraith]

I'll post some close ups of the Para later this afternoon when I return home.

This entire group, along with Ken's bridge are great pieces to have in your

collection.

Thanks. Would be interesting to see if it's one and the same figure.
I forgot about the bridge . Got that one as well, and another excellent piece (or 2!).

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

I got my Church and Priory from George (Warrior) 2nd hand, so never got hold of the Para, but the figure looks very close if not identical to the later issued metal set with the US Para suspended from the telegraph pole. I'm guessing it's likely that this is one and the same casting, similar to the German kneeling sniper?

This figure did make it into production suspended from a pole, along with the another fellow bringing in his chute and third one decending to earth. I suppose you could use the figure from that set and attach him with some pins to the shroud lines at the edge of the roof. The custom church I modified and detailed for ONWTC included a new steeple roof that was taller, without a chute and had a weathervane.

 

[Wraith]

Ken, Never noticed the modified steeple, too bust admiring the 'extension' to the back of the church. Really must get to work on some foam and finish off that 'missing' back quater of the church.

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Hi All,
Here is an image that shows the other side of the church and the end wall of the Priory add-on set. The Priory add-on set consisted of two main foam castings for the Priory and base, along with the church extension wall as described earlier. The priorys were issued painted to match the church sets. They also included resin grave stones, markers, a crucifix for the front wall, an alternate N.S.D.A.P. eagle and a Virgin Mary statue painted solid gray.
All the Best
Ken

Hudson & Allen Studio
Dioramas & Scenic Supplies

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

This shows a great view of the Priory courtyard and cemetery. The photo shows the painted gravestones and Madonna. I constucted the original building with a combination of materials including epoxy, plaster, wood, plastic, metal and fiberboard.

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Another view of the Priory courtyard with two of the Conte paratroopers running for cover. The hedge was sculpted on the wall so that this set would visually blend in with the hedge row sets created later. The hedge rows as produced by Conte Collectables were painted a nice shade of dark green and highlighted with a lighter green. The root system at the base was painted a dark earth with light earth highlights.

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Taking a break from sculpting new figures for the W.Britains fall supplement catalog and thought I would post a couple more pictures. This is a photograph of one of the few pieces of the Conte hedgerow series that incorporated a building. This was meant to represent a small French barn or outbuilding that had long ago been overgrown by the hedges on either side. It featured a detailed interior with removable roof. The structure was just big enough to hide a tiger tank or some other nasty surprise inside. I will look for a photograph of the backside of the building with a tiger parked inside. This paint master was followed pretty closely in the production pieces blending the various sets together nicely.
All the Best,
Ken

Hudson & Allen Studio
Dioramas & Scenic Supplies

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

One of the few pictures I could find of the German anti-tank gun bunker from the first Conte D-Day playset. This also had an interior and removeable roof to allow for a Pak40 anti-tank gun to be emplaced. In this photograph I simply slid the paint master in front of one of the backdrops I painted for the Studio. In my travels through Europe I noticed various concrete shelters and bunkers overgrown along countryside roads and this was my inspiration for the setting.
All the Best,
Ken

Hudson & Allen Studio
Dioramas & Scenic Supplies

 

[Louis Badolato]

Ken,

I am very impressed with your prototype diorama pieces. They are among the best I have ever scene. The original masters made from wood, plaster, resin, etc. must be absolutely amazing in person!

 

[Njja]

Here are the photos I said I would post later today.

First we have the Conte Para hanging from the steeple.