Latest Diorama - "Shell Shock"

Here is my latest diorama titled "Shell Shock". It depicts a bunch of British WW1 infantry toward the end of the battle at the Somme. it is titled "Shell Shock" because the young private in the overcoat has lost his nerve as the platoon readies to go over the top. It was very difficult to manipulate his face to make him look like he is in deep distress. In the end I even added tears to his face which are a little tough to pick up in the pics but with the naked eye they are very visible. The figures are a mish mosh of sorts since there are not an abundance of Brit WW1 figs available in 120MM. They include figures from the Jaguar range, David J. Parkins, Oz Models (Phil Walden sculpt), Victory Miniatures, The Lost Batallion as well as some trench sections and accessories from Jon Smith Modelbau. Some of the figures are slightly converted and others are stock. I had only 2-1/2 months to get this done due to my client picking this diorama up at this years annual MMSI show so I basically worked day and night from start to finish. Also I'm not really a WW1 guy so my knowledge is very limited on the subject but with some references and help from friends I tried to adhere to basic accuracy. As always the figures and all groundwork are done in Vallejo Acrylics, Citadel metallics, AK Interactive and MIG Productions products.

Most Recent Update: Latest piece I'm working on...

Here's Fig#1 I'm working on for the trench dio. This is a Jaguar figure basically stock. Should have him finished up in a day or so. 120MM, btw.

Fig #1 temporarily in place.

 

Fig #2 (Lewis gunner) in progress. 

British dude #2 ready for the trench.

Onto figure #3. Really gettin in a groove now!

Little more work on the Phil Walden figure who is actually an anzac but I've concerted him to a Brit. His helmet cover is done and the uniform is base coated and outlined. Will have more progress in the next couple of days.

A little more work on the Phil Walden WW1 fig.

Here is the finished Phil Walden figure. I will temporarily place him in the trench dio. Now onto figure #4.

 

Face done on fig #4. Man this dude is ugly! For you hockey fans this guy could be Lanny McDonald's twin brother.

 

 

Quick i phone snap of the overall diorama. I finished fig #4 tonight. 4 more to go...

 

 

 

Fig #5 on its way. This one is from the Firing Line range from David J. Parkins Models. Will post more progress tomorrow.

 

 

UPDATE 5: Latest piece I'm working on...

First weathering stage of the trench. Plenty more to come.

UPDATE 4: Latest piece I'm working on...

Here is the trench base with the base colors laid out. Will start the weathering process of the mood and corrugated metal tomorrow along with the tweaking of the ground work.

UPDATE 3: Latest piece I'm working on...

Okay. Here are the figures temporarily put in the dio. The story is going to be hard to pull off but im gonna give it my best shot. The whole scene depends on me manipulating the sitting figure to the left, making him look like he is crying because he has finally cracked. The rest of the platoon is getting ready to go over the top while trying to coax the young lad to get himself together and go on patrol into no mans land. The platoon leader is looking at his watch pensively and at this point has grown impatient with the young private. Wish me luck with pulling this one off!

UPDATE 2: Latest piece I'm working on...

Barbed wire now added. Base is pretty much ready to go.

 

UPDATE 1: Latest piece I'm working on...

Trench is progressing nicely. Just need to add some barbed wire tonite. You guys diggin the pink sand?

Latest piece I'm working on...

Here is my latest commission in progress. It's a ww1 brit trench using a bunch of styrofoam, balsa wood, some castings from jon smith modelbau and about 7 or 8 figures to populate the scene. I am reslly short on time with this one as i gotta have it done by october. Ill keep plugging and keep updating as i go. Now, lots of celluclay and birchwood duckboards!

Larry Burrows

here is my latest work that I completed for a friend. It is the Life Miniatures release of a Vietnam war photographer. It is undoubtedly based on the famous photographer Larry Burrows who was killed in Laos in 1971 when a helicopter carrying him and 2 other war photo journalists was shot down. He is painted in Vallejo acrylics with Citadel paints for the metallics. The ever present eye glasses were fashioned from sheet styrene and acetate.

 

Sergeant John Rosengrant Re-Do...

This is my latest commission work. You may have seen me post this portrait figure of John before as it appeared with him and only a small portion of the turret as released by Warriors Scale Models sometime in the mid to late 90's AFAIK. For those of you who don't know the original piece in which the kit was based on was the whole 1/9th scale turret and figure which I believe John originally intended it to be a one off. A figure collector saw this piece as it was constructed and painted in commercial kit form (John and about a quarter of the top piece of the turret) and he had interest in buying it as is but he asked if I could do it for him just like the original and that would be with a complete 1/9 scale Sherman M4A3 105MM turret. After some thought I agreed and with some help from John Rosengrant himself I was able to get my hands on a 75MM version turret with only some of the parts to complete the turret. I also needed to convert it to a 105MM version so the .50cal MG needed to be repositioned, an extra dome ventilator needed to be added as well as a completely different mantlet and barell. After a few inquiries looking for some help I managed to get some from a friend of mine. So here is the final outcome of this piece in it's very large 1/9 scale glory. Wow what an intense project. Turret and figure are finished in all Vallejo acrylics along with some cool AK Interactive weathering product. 

Latest Diorama - "Stalingrad" (2nd try)

Hello all. This is my latest diorama that I have been working on since just after Christmas of 12'. It depicts remnants of the German sixth army along with a few stragglers here and there from the panzer korps. The figures are all converted to various degrees. Some were extensive conversions and others were as simple as just adding a head from Hornet or The Body or Warriors, Jaguar etc. I actually used a lot of injection molded figs from Dragon,Tamiya, and Master Box. I find the injection molded figures a treat to spruce up and get them into shape. The factory is scratchbuilt from cell u foam however the lower right hand portion of it as well as the holding tanks are from Masterpiece Models. Check out Masterpiece Models website as they have some great dio stuff. Those of you that are familiar with Rick Lawler will recognize some of the masters that they produce. Thanks Rick! The large brick wall that is behind the blast furnace and tanks is scratched from balsa foam which I found a little more forgiving than cell u foam. The holding control shed was also scratchbuilt using Plastruct and Evergreen products. Finally the tank wagon is from Baluard (a resin & white metal offering and the blast furnace is from a Spanish company called Toro. I used alot of AK Interactive stuff on this dio along with some MIG stuff and Bragdon Enterprise weathering pigments. All the painting was done with Vallejo and Citadel acrylic paints. I'll answer any questions you have by posting here or just shoot me an e-mail. Also a warning that there are alot of pics here, enjoy! 

Honest Abe

This is a little commission I finished a few days ago.  It's a semi round of Abe Lincoln and the first time I've ever painted one.  A little different than painting a standard 3d figure but not too much different.  Painted in Vallejo's as always.

Jack the Ripper

here is my latest commission work. It is the 75MM release from Scale 75 of Jack the Ripper. He is cast in all white metal and comes complete with the cobblestone ground section, wall, street lantern and drain pipe. Casting was clean and very easy to fit and assemble. As always he is painted in Vallejo acrylics with Citadel and Andrea inks for the metallics.