Hi guys!
I’m working on a tiny diorama. I’d like to depict my 1/144 scale A-6 flying low over the treetops of Iraq. I was able to find some N-scale camels but I was hoping to add in some Middle Eastern people figures mixed in. I guess I’m just trying to go with an “old world with the new world” theme so I’m not trying to depict any factual scenario.
Anyway, I’ve tried looking at the Preiser (sp?) web site and I could find lots of animals and figures, but nothing depicting someone in Arab garb. They’re proving impossible to find. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks!
Eric
Tissue and white glue to make new clothes is the only suggestion I have.
Speaking of flying low…One of the Navy pilots I interviewed at last years AirVenture was an F-14D driver on its last cruise. In fact he flew the last mission before returning home for their decommissioning. He told the story and I hope this interview gets up on Timeless Voices soon, about taking his F-14D supersonic over the top of some bad guys.
Seems the Marines were approaching a bridge that they knew the bad guys hung out by in a grove a bushes taking pot shots at the Marines as they crossed the bridge. So they called upstairs to the air support package F-14Ds and F-18s to buzz the bad guys. Typical practice was for an F-18 to come down low flying supersonic to scare the bad guys…which worked because they were easily spooked. Well the Marines knowing this was their last chance to have F-14s supporting them asked if one of them could do the pass instead of an Hornet.
One this mission the CAG was lead, flying his F-18E…when the request came in the F-14 driver didn’t even consider they’d actually let an F-14 go down. BUT THEY DID! He heard his CAG say “GO GET 'EM MJ!”
So he pitched over and setup for the run…about a mile from the bad guys he leveled off and went supersonic just a couple hundred feet over the tree tops. The bang of the sound barrier breaking was loud, the screaming of the bad guys was loud as was the screams of laughter from the Marines. The Marines was the loudest! He heard them on the radio…“Man that was the most F____ awesomest thing we’ve ever seen!” When they overflew the nearby Marines they were all jumping and waving at the F-14 as it passed by.
Like I said I hope this interview gets posted up soon.
Gerald I’m afraid you are right. I might just have to conjure up a set of robes for them to wear. I was hoping to avoid that since my talent for scratchbuilding a set of clothes is questionable at best. But I guess you won’t find out unless you try.
Great story about the F-14! I must admit I am curious as to what a supersonic F-14 does the ear canals of anyone who might be directly below. When I go to an airshow, I have to cover my ears when the B-1 takes off. I can’t even begin to imagine what the sound waves, shockwaves, heat and general concussion from a supersonic fighter going mere feet over my head would be like.
Eric
echo, I wouldn’t worry too much about your abilities of scratchbuilding! 1) 1/144 is pretty small and the clothes should be easy to fudge with tissue and glue or even putty!, 2) like you said, you won’t find out how good you are at it until you try! [:D] If I can scratchbuild, I’m sure you can do it! Keep us posted on your work! Good luck!
Wow! Thank you for the great words of encouragement Senojrn! To be honest with you, with those figures being as small as they are, I was thinking of trying the putty thing, too. I just might be able to mash some putty around long enough to make it look like a robe of some sort (please forgive the fact that I do not know the proper terminology for Middle Eastern garb).
I just ordered some date palm trees from “themodeltreeshop.com” after seeing a brief write-up about them on page 11 of the February FSM. It’s going to be a real small dio (the size of the palm of your hand) but I’m still pretty excited about it. After building models for a tad over 30 years, it’s only been in the past year or two that I’ve started building dioramas for them. They’re never anything complicated. But adding just a simple groundwork under your plane really gives it a more “complete” look to it.
Thanks again!
Eric
You can buy small figures 1/150 on e-bay, I bought 100 figures for 10 dollars.
I use some of them on my little diorama here:
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To make the clothes is quite easy with tissue and withe glue, try this !!!
hope to see some pics soon !