mestell
Lieutenant Colonel
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2008
- Messages
- 7,986
I thought this forum would be the best place to display my diorama/interpretation of the fall of Acre in June/July 1191 at the beginning of the 3rd Crusade. In the past I have had threads on the King & Country forum reporting my progress. Going forward I will post all new progress on my diorama here.
Last night I started seriously working on the ridge line and oasis area that lie to the north of Acre. All the techniques I used I learned from the Ken Osen (Hudson & Allen) during the diorama clinics he conducted at the Chicago OTSN show. The base is primed and painted 3/8" plywood. The terrain contours were made from floral foam that were cut and shaped with a kitchen serrated steak knife, a pull saw, and a sur-form rasp. After shaping, the floral foam was covered with prepared Activa Celluclay which was amended with white glue, Lysol (mold/mildew inhibitor), and craft acrylic paint. Grass, bushes, and other ground cover was made by Woodland Scenics. The oasis, rock out croppings, and Richard the Lionheart's campaign tent are made by JG Miniatures, the date palms and cypruss trees are from Dept 56's Town of Bethlehem village. Finishing touches were made while the cellucly was still wet by brushing raw sienna, yellow ocher and desert sand acryllic paints. Fine sand was also very lightly "dusted" over the wet surface. All-in-all I am very satisfied with the overall look.
Tonight I hope to start landscaping the area between the ridge line and the north wall of Acre. UNtil next time . . .
Mike
Story line:
King Richard the Lionheart of England has set up his command area and base camp behind a ridge line that runs parallel to the north walls of Acre. Nearby is an oasis which supplies much needed water to the Crusaders and their animals. Catapults have been strategically placed on the ridge within range of Acre's north wall.
Last night I started seriously working on the ridge line and oasis area that lie to the north of Acre. All the techniques I used I learned from the Ken Osen (Hudson & Allen) during the diorama clinics he conducted at the Chicago OTSN show. The base is primed and painted 3/8" plywood. The terrain contours were made from floral foam that were cut and shaped with a kitchen serrated steak knife, a pull saw, and a sur-form rasp. After shaping, the floral foam was covered with prepared Activa Celluclay which was amended with white glue, Lysol (mold/mildew inhibitor), and craft acrylic paint. Grass, bushes, and other ground cover was made by Woodland Scenics. The oasis, rock out croppings, and Richard the Lionheart's campaign tent are made by JG Miniatures, the date palms and cypruss trees are from Dept 56's Town of Bethlehem village. Finishing touches were made while the cellucly was still wet by brushing raw sienna, yellow ocher and desert sand acryllic paints. Fine sand was also very lightly "dusted" over the wet surface. All-in-all I am very satisfied with the overall look.
Tonight I hope to start landscaping the area between the ridge line and the north wall of Acre. UNtil next time . . .
Mike
Story line:
King Richard the Lionheart of England has set up his command area and base camp behind a ridge line that runs parallel to the north walls of Acre. Nearby is an oasis which supplies much needed water to the Crusaders and their animals. Catapults have been strategically placed on the ridge within range of Acre's north wall.
