Another oldie from the garage. This one is OOB again (gave most of my latter stuff away) and is based on the Tamiya kit which has recently been updated and rereleased. Definately could have used the etch mesh back then!
Probably would have weathered it a bit more and added an aerial now. Also would have added a bit more dust on the figure’s face (like hey, he just washed his hands and face but the laundramat was closed and his uniform is still dusty…He, He)
The vehicle was painted in Humbrol enamels as was the uniform of the figure. The flesh was painted in artists oils after the base had dried.
The bridge was made from plaster of paris, cut to shape and then carved into the stone shapes. The wooden floor is balsa, and the rails and posts from rod styrene.
There is a river bed under the bridge. This was made with a piece of styrene sheet painted OD and then lighter green and green-yellow colors sprayed over that; each lighter shade sprayed closer to the middle. The whole lot then recieved a coat of acryllic varnish to represent water depth.
I use a piece of a kitchen door that has a smooth laminate on it. I place a piece of plastic sheet (the kind used for over head projectors is good) on it and screw down some aluminium angle through the sheet to hold it down and make the edges of the rectangular mould for the plaster square. Screw it down with the upward face inwards. The top of the four faces becomes the rail for scrapping off the excess plaster after you have poured it in. Leve it to set - a couple of days is best.
Unscrew the aluminium and the plaster comes away from the mould easy. Roughly cut out the curved part for the arch with a razor saw and file it to shape (keep the cut out to break up and use as rubble for another project). Scribe the curve of the arch bricks using a hobby knife blade. Then, using a tee-square, scribe even straight lines for the horizontal grout lines up to the curve and then do the lines for the vertical brick edges.
The plaster first comes out as smooth as glass so now rough it up by getting a piece of really coarse sand paper and placing that face down over the scribbed plaster, and gently rolling a bottle or rolling pin over the back of the paper. This will leave a random series of depressions in the plaster. Using a scalplel just nick off the edges of the stone randomly. Gouge the plaster further with a scalpel and by brushing carefully with a wire brush.
Finally, a quick rub over with some finer sand paper to round off and ‘age’ the edges of the stone. A tooth brush will help work out the loose dust prior to painting.
Thanks for the quick bridge/wall building tip, too. I am going to find that one quite useful.
I am fixing up a 222 I did years ago for an Afrika corps diorama, and I was only just thinking about how much of a fun kit it was. Mesh not withstanding.
Great build.
Stonework is difficult to pull off well, you have exceeded this. I like the whole composition and even if it is “vintage” it still looks great. Thanks for sharing the build and the techniques.
That’s excellent Peter! You should share some of your latest stuff with us if that an oldie as it’s excellent!! Nice build on that bridge too, all of it’s good!
