I think I am new to this section but I have a couple of diorama ideas, and I have been searching for Middle Eastern style buildings in 1/72 and the only ones I could find were from HQ72. Has anyone bought from them before, or know what the buildings are like?
The idea that I am developing involves troops fast roping out of an MH-60K. The way I am planning on suspending the MH-60K is by the fast ropes, which will be some sort of a metal wire.
Thanks,
Austin
Is there anything else I should now before getting started?
That sounds really cool. Its nice to hear about some more 1/72 stuff going on. Ive never used and HQ72 stuff so I dunno about the quality or anything but you could always scratchbuild you own. Google image some pics of Middle Eastern buildings and work from those I think.
As for the helicopter I remember someone posting a picture of a Navy helicopter dropping cargo from a cable onto a ship deck. It was held up in the same way through the cable which was a piece of brass wire bent to shape and painted. It was really well done, maybe youve seen it already.
Also what troops are you planning on using to pose fast roping out? I would like to know what your using because Id also like some poses like that. I think Revell Germany has some figure sets of KSK troops rappelling but Im not 100% sure.
[#ditto]…about scratchin’ your own…Baseline Hobbies had one that was pretty convincing, but good luck even finding them on the web. They’re out of Mineola NY (LI) and can be found in indexes of FSM and other mags sometimes.
I honestly think that, given the typical fsimple, flat angles and plaster construction of most buildings there, it would seem that SB’ing them would be easier–and probably faster. Especially in 1/72.
That sounds unusual, so it’ll be challenging and rewarding. What are your thoughts about the big rotor? I was thinking motorized, but it’ll wobble around too much on top of the ropes. Hold on guys!
I did think about the rotors, but I really don’t think that’ll work w/ them spinning. It would look awkward if the rotors were moving but the guys were stuck on the ropes…
As for the figures, I am probably going to use a mix-match of sets, most likely from RoG, Caeser, Prieser (if I can find a set), CMSC, and putty.
Another building question: Would styrofoam covered with wall spackle or something like that be the best way to go about the construction?
Okay, well, I moved on to sketch the diorama with Google SketchUp (the free version) and the UH-60 will be the MH-60K, figure poses will differ, but will remain similar, but this is what I came up with:
There would be one guy about mid-way down on each fast rope.
The corners seem to be empty though, as it is just the building, helicopter, and figures right now. What would be the best way to fill that space (wall, shrubbery, or what?)
Off your drawing there what I would do is have the fast ropes coming down onto that upper level. Not the roof but that 2nd tier. Then finish the building down and just have maybe .25 " around the building. The action and attention is the fast ropers. The building would server as scenery AND as the base.
It seems to me that this dio is very unusual because it has several layers of interest, separated top to bottom. My gut reaction is that the helo is where the eye goes first, then follows down to the ground. The landscape has to be as boring as possible: the fast roping is the whole theme. Otherwise the eye will be jumping around. For instance the guys attacking on the ground (at what?) would be a distraction.
So keep the ground simple. Don’t make it a set. If there is a building, which I consider maybe a bit much, make sure it doesn’t matter.
EDIT: kcmat came in before me (gotta be a term for that?) [#ditto] the base is just that, the story is the helo and the troops going in.
No, something more modern (2000’s), with a location that is plausibly in Iraq/Middle East, although a ton of inspiration comes from that event.
Bondoman, I don’t understand 100% what you’re saying about it being a bit much. Do you think it would be a bit much if I just used the idea if I just made them fast roping onto the building?
BTW, this was why I choose to originally make them fast roping off to the side of the building (I couldn’t decide if I wanted them fast roping actually on the building or right next to it)
So, kcmat, would be suggesting something along the lines of this:
Yeah I think that pic itself would be a great dio. Dont really need alot (if any) detail around the building. Just the building it’self. Then you can play with the height of the chopper. A little higher than in the pic would give a little more sense of what those brave men do. Of course height may be dictated by the wire.
Eitherway dont take all this as 100%. Bro it’s your art and you can paint the picture as your inspiration tells you! Thats the beauty of it. If you want some of the road down there then build it! [:)]
Still really haven’t made up my mind on where they’d be fast roping too…
Personally, I thought it would be too tall if they were fast roping onto a building, but all I need to do is shorten the fast rope…
This is the building that I re-sketched, and am drawing 1/72nd scale plans for it right now. I am planning on adding a limited interior (there the squares on the sides are windows w/ glass, where as the second story, there’s not going to be any glass)
This is a completely new sketch with a new blackhawk, that has a more accurate length than the other one that I was using…
Okay, so I converted all of the 1:1 scale stuff from Google Sketch to 1/72 and drew it out on paper. I made copies, then cut them out, and taped them together with tamiya tape. It was a little bit larger than I had imagined it, and there wouldn’t be any room for the fast ropes to hit the ground, and make everything fit. These pics are taking on a 12 inch x 12 inch board:
Tactically, it makes more sense to rope onto the building and clear it downwards, rather than from the ground up. Like the pic on here shows, it is a method used. As long as the roof is usable.
Well, this might not be quite what you’re looking for, but I scratchbuilt a similar style building not long ago. Mine was 1/35, but the methods are the same, and mine was set in modern Africa, but the architexture is similar. Anyways, I made the basic shape out of some old lego bricks, leaving door and window holes. I then spackled it, and left rough brush marks in it. Next came the door, the roof and window shutters made from some popsicle sticks I hacked up. I added some out of scale, but cool looking, screen in the windows, and then added little bits like ladders, posters, graffiti, etc. The corrugated metal roofing is from lead foil from wine bottles, and the tarp is tissue paper and glue method. The low blue “railing” is another old lego piece. Voila, a nice little building, with $0 spent for me.
Now I’ve just got to finish that dio up…Hopefully this helps a bit.
Okay so I started construction today. I am using cellfoam (?) or something like that. It is a fairly strong styrofoam.
It is held together by staples right now, becuase I am testing different glues right now on scraps, although I read that gorilla glue works. The structure is the top part (where the guy is standing next to)
all the comments about ropping on to the roof are pretty much SOP. In Iraq the unit i was in allways roped in guys on the roof, the ropes come in different lenghts. So even if the Helo was only 20 feet of the ground you would some times have a big coil on the rooftop.
Usually the Pavelows would just land somewhere close and let off troops to secure the surronding areas
