Summer 1940 - 'Dowding's Harvest' (3 Viewers)

[Evzone]

Guys,can i ask your opinions?.Did i overdo the weathering?

Rob

Nah, summer 1940 was dry and arid, I think you got it right. Maybe a touch more emantaing from the exhausts? Also, just an idea, leave the canopy open. I think the canopy on the Me109E opened to the right.

Len Deighton in his book 'Fighter' (I think?) wrote that Luftwaffe fighter crews were near exhaustion throughout August- September 1940 due to escorting duties, many of the ground crews wouldn't have had time to spuce the aircraft up due to constant daily sorties. Rearming, patching up and maintenance taking priority over the turtlewax.

Congratulations on dipicting a scene from one of the most important battles of WW2; what next?

 

[Rob]

Nah, summer 1940 was dry and arid, I think you got it right. Maybe a touch more emantaing from the exhausts? Also, just an idea, leave the canopy open. I think the canopy on the Me109E opened to the right.

Len Deighton in his book 'Fighter' (I think?) wrote that Luftwaffe fighter crews were near exhaustion throughout August- September 1940 due to escorting duties, many of the ground crews wouldn't have had time to spuce the aircraft up due to constant daily sorties. Rearming, patching up and maintenance taking priority over the turtlewax.

Congratulations on dipicting a scene from one of the most important battles of WW2; what next?

Thanks,well said about the exhausts.You raise a very good point here.I first thought about having canopy open or removed.However when i did my online research i looked at dozens of pics of downed ME109'S and i'd say about half had canopy's gone and the rest were closed.There were even a couple in the sea with canopies closed!.

I must confess that i am so proud of the RAF and the pilots of all nations who fought in it that this is by way of my tiny salute to them.I know today the pc brigade do not want us to celebrate victories but to celebrate peace,but i say god bless every one of those pilots wherever they came from

Rob

 

[Evzone]

As Wellington said it was a close run thing. IMHO the BoB was one of the most important events in WW2. Not becuse it thwarted Operation Sealion, if there was ever such a serious threat or intention to invade, but because of the galvanising effect it had on the people of the UK.

Despite the opinions of Kennedy snr, we didn't capitulate; London like every other major British city and port stood up to the bombing, overcame the hardships and through fortitude, luck and lend-lease got through to late 1941 etc etc . So your dio to me is a little tribute to those days, least we forget.

Cue music from 633 Squadron, Dambusters March and the score from the BoB film!!!!

 

[Rob]

As Wellington said it was a close run thing. IMHO the BoB was one of the most important events in WW2. Not becuse it thwarted Operation Sealion, if there was ever such a serious threat or intention to invade, but because of the galvanising effect it had on the people of the UK.

Despite the opinions of Kennedy snr, we didn't capitulate; London like every other major British city and port stood up to the bombing, overcame the hardships and through fortitude, luck and lend-lease got through to late 1941 etc etc . So your dio to me is a little tribute to those days, least we forget.

Cue music from 633 Squadron, Dambusters March and the score from the BoB film!!!!

Well said,and no Battle of Britain Victory = no D Day!

Now i want either a Spit or a FW190 for a refuelling scene.

Rob

 

[Evzone]

Spit or a Hurricane, landing on one wheel, belching black arid smoke, bullet holes, half a rudder, black labrador waiting by dispersal and a K&C ambulance chaarging down the fairway! We await your next instalement.

 

[Wraith]

Guys,can i ask your opinions?.Did i overdo the weathering?

Rob

I'm of the same opinion as Martin, I think you've got the balance right. Enough to give it a used appearance, but not so much that it looks like it's been lying in a Russian field for 40 years.

 

[Evzone]

Thanks Simon, I think Rob should celebrate his success by hosting the UK Trefroggers June Reception at 12.30 in the bar.

 

[Wraith]

Thanks Simon, I think Rob should celebrate his success by hosting the UK Trefroggers June Reception at 12.30 in the bar.

I won't be able to make the June Show unfortunately, but I'll gladly accept bottled donations by post, or double it up ready for December!

 

[Wraith]

Now i want either a Spit or a FW190 for a refuelling scene.

Rob

Rob,

You know they were generally on opposing sides don't you?
Just wanted to make sure, to prevent a diotragedy....

 

[debrito]

Very nice pictures Rob, simple and and sweet.

Rod.

 

[Simpson & his donkey.]

Bullet ridden and covered in dirt, the operational history of this ME109 comes to an end on a fine summer's day in a field in Sussex, in the south of England.

The pilot has no choice but to surrender to his captors and his circumstances. He is eagerly swooped upon by a local Bobby and a veteran of the Home Guard; both of whom are elated to come face to face with the enemy.

And the fate of the ME109? It may be scrapped or exhibited around the country to raise money and morale for the war effort. Either way, there is one more empty seat in a Luftwaffe mess and one less Nazi pilot for Dowding to worry about.

Rob for your first diorama you hit a big six mate.Fantastic effort and there is a diorama builder in you if you don't allready no it.I love the set with the bobby and did not think I could use it but you have given me aleast fifty good ideas.Keep building them mate and post them all .Simmo.

 

[Rob]

Thanks guys its very kind of you to take the time to post your thoughts on my first effort. Simmo, thanks for your very kind remarks, I am at the moment thinking of what to do next. I have an idea for a large AK dio, but it will involve buying some multiples so that may be later in the year. Before then I hope to do another small scene to try and develop my dio skills.

Sorry you won't be there in June Simon,we will just have drink more in December!

Rob

 

[UKReb]

Rob

Wow! -First effort? Don't believe ya!

That's exactly how I was taught by an old master dio maker eons ago when he told me "You must design your diorama that's tells a story for the people who will look at it" You have captured that magnificently and ironically your pictures reminded me of an incident in September 1940 that was related to me years later as a kid.

A Me109 was shot down over Chatham Kent and the German pilot skilfully crash landed it on the parade ground of The Royal Marine Barracks in Brompton-a suburb of Chatham.
Working in the kitchens at the time was my maternal grandmother (the war effort) seeing the plane crash she picked up a heavy copper lined saucepan and ran out shouting "Let me at the swine"-Chatham had already began to be heavily bombed as the Luftwaffe flew to London confusing the river Medway with the river Thames and sometimes believing they were over the capital.

The German pilot was posed exactly like your figure-relaxed and smoking a cigarette-before my Gran got near enough to give him a clout with her pan a Military Policeman grabbed hold of her saying "Now now mother leave it to us"

The irony of the story Rob is that MP who at the time was completely unknown to my Gran two years later married my mother.

There are a couple of photos of that downed plane and pilot with my father levelling his rifle at him in The Imperial War Museum. So if you find a figure of a robust lady with a large saucepan in her hand I for one can authenticate the story.

Sterling work Rob and very very impressive.
Reb

 

[Rob]

Rob

Wow! -First effort? Don't believe ya!

That's exactly how I was taught by an old master dio maker eons ago when he told me "You must design your diorama that's tells a story for the people who will look at it" You have captured that magnificently and ironically your pictures reminded me of an incident in September 1940 that was related to me years later as a kid.

A Me109 was shot down over Chatham Kent and the German pilot skilfully crash landed it on the parade ground of The Royal Marine Barracks in Brompton-a suburb of Chatham.
Working in the kitchens at the time was my maternal grandmother (the war effort) seeing the plane crash she picked up a heavy copper lined saucepan and ran out shouting "Let me at the swine"-Chatham had already began to be heavily bombed as the Luftwaffe flew to London confusing the river Medway with the river Thames and sometimes believing they were over the capital.

The German pilot was posed exactly like your figure-relaxed and smoking a cigarette-before my Gran got near enough to give him a clout with her pan a Military Policeman grabbed hold of her saying "Now now mother leave it to us"

The irony of the story Rob is that MP who at the time was completely unknown to my Gran two years later married my mother.

There are a couple of photos of that downed plane and pilot with my father levelling his rifle at him in The Imperial War Museum. So if you find a figure of a robust lady with a large saucepan in her hand I for one can authenticate the story.

Sterling work Rob and very very impressive.
Reb

Thanks Reb,I really appreciate your comments mate,coming from someone who produces some of the best dio's i've ever seen they mean a lot.

And what a story! Your Gran displayed the spirit that got this country through its darkest hour.Imagine that, an elderly lady grabbing a blunt instrument and going out with the intention of cracking a Nazi skull.What guts.I will definitely seek out those pictures next time i go up to the IWM.

Cheers

Rob

 

[vandilay]

I,ll add my congrats Rob Nice Job , I,ve got to admit that set went straight
to the top of my most wanted list when I saw it realised, and your little dio
shows`it at its best.
I,ve been lucky enough to hear a couple of pilots who flew over
your fair shores talk of their experience and despite the advancing
years they where still as sharp as a tack.

 

[damian]

I wonder whether that Luftwaffe pilot is going to find out that one can slip on a bar of soap in the back of a British police van and sustain the odd black eye.

 

[vandilay]

Rob

Wow! -First effort? Don't believe ya!

That's exactly how I was taught by an old master dio maker eons ago when he told me "You must design your diorama that's tells a story for the people who will look at it" You have captured that magnificently and ironically your pictures reminded me of an incident in September 1940 that was related to me years later as a kid.

A Me109 was shot down over Chatham Kent and the German pilot skilfully crash landed it on the parade ground of The Royal Marine Barracks in Brompton-a suburb of Chatham.
Working in the kitchens at the time was my maternal grandmother (the war effort) seeing the plane crash she picked up a heavy copper lined saucepan and ran out shouting "Let me at the swine"-Chatham had already began to be heavily bombed as the Luftwaffe flew to London confusing the river Medway with the river Thames and sometimes believing they were over the capital.

The German pilot was posed exactly like your figure-relaxed and smoking a cigarette-before my Gran got near enough to give him a clout with her pan a Military Policeman grabbed hold of her saying "Now now mother leave it to us"

The irony of the story Rob is that MP who at the time was completely unknown to my Gran two years later married my mother.

There are a couple of photos of that downed plane and pilot with my father levelling his rifle at him in The Imperial War Museum. So if you find a figure of a robust lady with a large saucepan in her hand I for one can authenticate the story.

Sterling work Rob and very very impressive.
Reb

Thats a great little piece of history thanks for posting it [and a dio that would be hard to top ]

 

[Rob]

I,ll add my congrats Rob Nice Job , I,ve got to admit that set went straight
to the top of my most wanted list when I saw it realised, and your little dio
shows`it at its best.
I,ve been lucky enough to hear a couple of pilots who flew over
your fair shores talk of their experience and despite the advancing
years they where still as sharp as a tack.

Thanks Rob.I don't blame you as this is a great set.Somehow it tells the story all on its own,theres no action to speak of and yet it brings to life incidents on the home front.I really hope Andy does more of these as there is huge scope for him to work with.Unexploded Bombs,ARP,Home Guard,Blackouts etc,i think it would be a real hit.

Rob

 

[Rob]

I wonder whether that Luftwaffe pilot is going to find out that one can slip on a bar of soap in the back of a British police van and sustain the odd black eye.

Yes its the accident that dare not speak its name 'Soap related Police van trauma'.

I understand some of the Luftwaffe Pilots received a 'Robust' welcome on landing on British soil

Rob

 

[vandilay]

Thanks Rob.I don't blame you as this is a great set.Somehow it tells the story all on its own,theres no action to speak of and yet it brings to life incidents on the home front.I really hope Andy does more of these as there is huge scope for him to work with.Unexploded Bombs,ARP,Home Guard,Blackouts etc,i think it would be a real hit.

Rob

I,m in full agreement ,even as a stand alone series I would have thought
the Battle of Britain in particular has a heap of potential , it is imo one of
the best ranges to bring civilians etc into toy soldier collecting .
In the great JGamble tradition hows about a group of pilots taking a short
reprieve at an english pub [shirts on of course]