Somewhere on the Eastern Front winter 1944 (1 Viewer)

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

I thought some of you might like to see a few images on the Eastern Front diorama I recently built for the unveiling on the new Figarti products at the Chicago OTSN show. It features a rutted frozen road in front of a group of farm buildings somewhere on the Russian front. I also created deep tank tracks leading off the road and into the farm fields beyond.

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

The two diorama sections recreate the main outbuildings for a farm. The first building has been damaged by fighting that took place earlier and is now snow covered by the first wind swept snows. The roof is a combination of wooden shingles and an addition roofed with traditional thatch.

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

The second building was the most fun to build. I have always wanted to build a traditional wind mill and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to add one for the vertical interest in detail it would add to the overall scene as it was fairly long and flat.

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

The lacy look of the leafless birch trees also added some visual interest to the overall display and helped give it a sense pf place. The third structure on the display is the granary and this building is where the milled grain would be stored.

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

An overall view of the granary and a few additional detail shots.

 

[mestell]

Nicely photographed Ken. I am glad I had the opportunity to see the entire diorama set-up in the Fagarti room during the OTSN show. Just awesome . . . .
Mike

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Here are a few images of the buildings while they were under construction. The 'logs' were cut from #1 clear white pine and then 'hewn' to create the scale look.

The roofs were framed in a prototypically correct method and then individual shingles were applied.

I hope you enjoyed looking at these!
All the best,
Ken Osen

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Thanks Mike... it was a lot of fun to build these and I hope to finish up the summer Eastern Front diorama I started some time ago in the near future. By the way, both of these dioramas were sold at the show and will go to opposite ends of the U.S. in the near future!
Ken

 

[lancer]

Absolutely the best Eastern Front dio I have ever seen. The level of detail you went to is just unbelievable. One can feel the wind-swept coldness. It just screams Russia. -- Al

 

[Bren]

I have never built a dio myself but looking at your pics give me the inspiration to do so.
Fantastic skills displayed.
Bren
{bravo}}

 

[Gideon]

so, does Louis own this yet? :tongue:

 

[Louis Badolato]

so, does Louis own this yet? :tongue:

Yes. Yes he does.:wink2:

 

[fmethorst]

Ken,

Your dio was the highlight of the show for me. I was marvelling at all the little details you got right. ^&cool It was nice to finally get a chance to meet you and Ericka in person.

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

I keep saying it, Ken should have his own reality show. Maybe "This Small House"

 

[wayne556517]

SUPERB
The HB Panther you where/are working on would of looked good on your dio............................{bravo}}

 

[DMNamiot]

Excellent work as always! I really love the tank tracks in the frozen mud very well executed!

Dave

 

[nysoldiers]

A commercial version of the wind mill should sell well. Could be used for Napoleonic period through WWII.
I think Ken shoud consider.

 

[ecuriel]

Labor of love. The windmill actually rotates!

 

[Mike97]

I don't know what else to say except BRAVO
Superb work.
mike

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

I always wanted to build a windmill and have never really had a good excuse to... until now anyway.
Here are a couple of images I thought I would share with you... the first one is an Eighteenth century one of English Colonial origin that was moved from the Eastern seaboard to Dearborn Michigan.
The turret moves on this one to guide the blades into the wind, much like the Dutch ones we are all familiar with. In operation the canvas would be attached with lashing on the edges of the blades.
The second one is the model I scratch built. You can see some similarities and the prototype of this one would have also had canvas lashed to the blades to catch the wind.

Will I make one for limited production anytime soon? Probably not, as I have plenty of other French, and North American structures to finish up and bring to market yet.
Thank yo so much for all of the positive feedback!
All the Best,
Ken Osen