hi folks i have always wanted to do a big diorama especially death korps in a WW1 style so here goes, board is 49 inches long but may go a bit longer, idea is a reinforcement convoy heading to the front along a snowy/muddy road towards a bridge over a river but held up as bridge booby trapped, as well as a muddy river there will be trench works and heavy artillary batteries with death korps battalion waiting to go over the top, hoping to do some amazing explosions in the river and trenches, and basiclly many small dioramas throughout, will try and update as much as possible without boring anyone


Automatically Appended Next Post:
started bridge, bought a triang railway one from ebay added some height to it, made the width big enough for a machartius to fit onto with chequer plate plasticard, added nuts/bolts, rivets and some handmade welds from greenstuff, panelling to sides with nuts/bolts, in short beef it up a bit, still a little to do to it but decent start
[img]
[/img]
[img]
[/img]
[img]
[/img]
[img]

Definitely a great start.

Interested to see where this goes

Sweet dude, love the idea, good luck

 JamesY wrote:
Definitely a great start.

thanks


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Guardling wrote:
Interested to see where this goes

thanks, excited to make a start which is going to be a long term project


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 PaddyMick wrote:
Sweet dude, love the idea, good luck

thanks


Automatically Appended Next Post:
i completely forgot to add picture of start of board, as you can see it's big also have a smaller piece for other side of bridge

tesla 0 60

An ambitious project that sounds really cool. The bride mods are a great start too

Good job changing the bridge so far!

It's a good start. I would suggest making the roadway leading to the bridge a little wider, maybe add a little slope/shoreline to make it more natural.

 gobert wrote:
An ambitious project that sounds really cool. The bride mods are a great start too

#
thanks, got a ton of ideas for mini dioramas within it hopefully i can get parts i need

 Valkyrie wrote:
It's a good start. I would suggest making the roadway leading to the bridge a little wider, maybe add a little slope/shoreline to make it more natural.

thanks, thats in the pipeline, sides are going to be added to with slate rocks and filler for natural look


Automatically Appended Next Post:
thanks for everyones comments/feedback, i was going to use slate and garden rubble but just did'nt look right so ordered a rock mould which i can also use in future, untill that arrives i thought i would do a bit of medelling, so one of the centaurs will be pulling a small troop carrier, as been out of the hobby for a while i was surprised to see forgeworld discontinued a lot of dkok stuff so had to make a trailer out of plasticard, managed to get some decent casts of centaur troop and seats and also tracks from the imperial generator which i have, some handmade welds to cover any gaps, few bits to do as i want to do a intercom and wiring any details i can find in b its box but so far i think it looks the part (all those rivets were a killer)
[img]
[/img]
[img]
[/img]
[img]
[/img]
[img]
[/img]

Excellent conversion/scratch build bob.

Cheers,

CB

 Captain Brown wrote:
Excellent conversion/scratch build bob.

Cheers,

CB

thanks
small update, weld finished on bridge just need some fine mesh for middle of it
[img]

added a intercom to troop carrier just need to add some wires
[/img]

started to landscape the road, which is going to be a mix of rock face and mud, got a woodland scenics mould the detail on these is fantastic will look great when painted, the piece i have done just has to be filled in with filler, it's a raised piece to corner where the commisar and standard bearer will watch on from, hope convert them and put both on death rider horses, nice little diorama hopefully
[img]

Cool idea for the commissar and standard, good luck converting them

managed to get a few hours on the diorama, cast some rockfaces from woodland scenics mould which are highly detailed and will look good painted need to fill in with filler as well as the road

satisfaction smileys

put together the mounted standard bearer and found a nice looking branch that would make a great blasted tree, added wood peg and attached to base behind standard bearer

satisfaction smileys


satisfaction smileys


satisfaction smileys

today hope to get commisar mounted on a horce to go along with standard bearer

That is a great blasted tree indeed, good scale!

That is indeed an excellent tree, the textures on it look so nice and tree like already!

This is an amazing project.

 amazingturtles wrote:
That is indeed an excellent tree, the textures on it look so nice and tree like already!

This is an amazing project.

thanks


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 amazingturtles wrote:
That is indeed an excellent tree, the textures on it look so nice and tree like already!

This is an amazing project.

thanks, hope to have a lot more about the board taking my insoiration from 1st world war and this picture i found online

Cool project, I'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out!

Same, it looks very promising. Great job so far.

 r_squared wrote:
Same, it looks very promising. Great job so far.

thanks for all comments
so decided to tackle the commisar so it fits the horse, task and a half but finally got the death rider off

rzim org


was a case of cutting commisar and file away untill a decent fit than filled in with green stuff




used one of the command squad so he is holding the horse whilst commisar survays the scene

rzim org


and finally on the raised rocky outcrop (looks lobsided just surface not even yet)

That's a great little scene in the corner

 Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll wrote:
That's a great little scene in the corner

thanks, came out how i envisiged it so pretty pleased with it

some more cast rocks added today and initial filler with added cheap brown paint i had laying about done on road and front of trench system this will have wet mud laid ontop so no need to be too fancy with this at this point



a few more tree stumps added i was going to use moulded ones i have but quick look outside theres plenty of branches that make excellant pieces, more to be added as i go along and i will be putting a background picture behind the diorama of WW1 battlefield to blend them in

just a couple of bits done last day or so, wanted to add some more character to the mounted commisar so added another canister and pipework to rear and the pipes broke off the nose mask on horse so added a filter and new pipes which have to have some greenstuff on to finish off




tried out the AK wet mud and although pics dont really show it, came out really good, will be adding realistic water effect to it and main road when done and then ice snow etc



also added another cross piece to bridge and more rivets to the plain areas

I love your bridge and all the work you’ve done to it already. I’m working on a bridge currently for my board and the level of detail you’ve put into yours is amazing. Some great ideas for me to think about for next time. The scratch built trailer is awesome, too. And your progress is so fast. I can’t waut to watch this project develop. I’ve been reading a WWI history so this project really jumps out and gets me excited. I love the mix of horses and mechanization and that of industrialization and classical warfare that you can see in the Great War.

So far, I’d say you are off to a great start!

Great job on the Commissar, he looks like a legit model

Nice work with the commisar!

gobert wrote:Great job on the Commissar, he looks like a legit model

thanks, pleased the way it came out

just a couple hours on it today managed to get rest of rocks in place, just needs filling in then gravel etc added







Automatically Appended Next Post:

 amazingturtles wrote:
Nice work with the commisar!

thanks

finished the bridge off, was going to put mesh under but thought wood planking would tie in better


also laid down initial filler to road ready for mud and a couple ruined tree stumps

The bridge looks great. Lots of layers and details. And of course, rivets. The project is coming along nicely.

 The Riddle of Steel wrote:
The bridge looks great. Lots of layers and details. And of course, rivets. The project is coming along nicely.

thanks

had a couple hours filling in gaps of rocks with filler and blending in and looks good, rubble, gravel to add






other half to do tomorrow then ready for painting, thanks for looking

so while i wait for some bits to arrive i thought i would have a start painting the mounted senior officer conversion (please note: not the greatest painter of minis due to eye problems but hopefully decent enough) i wanted to try and get the coat to look like textured/weathered leather, think it came out ok, my pictures not really showing it to well


free image upload



free image upload


thanks for looking

It look great so far!

 Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll wrote:
It look great so far!

thank you

so decided to do rockwork and paint, i used a technique i saw on you tube called acrylic wet washing, mostly used by model train makers, basically using 5 acrylic colours and washing them wet, although my pics are not great again and has come out really well and will have snow/ice on eventually

here is link to how it was done from youtube if anyone interested https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ALkwvZKyfM&t=783s

so finished filling rockwork in



then after washes of burnt sienna, burnt umber raw sienna, black and muddy green it came out like this






pic upload


thanks for looking

finished mounted officer, as i said not a great painter but happy with the way he came out, got some weathering to do but will do that insitu with mud when i put on board




thanks for looking

Nice work on the rocks, they look pretty realistic. The mounted officer looks great, you’d hardly know he was a conversion

 gobert wrote:
Nice work on the rocks, they look pretty realistic. The mounted officer looks great, you’d hardly know he was a conversion

thanks for comments gobert, appreciated

finished the figure holding the officers horse came out ok, thanks for looking

I think the leather coat looks great, but what really caught my eye was the realistic tarnishing on the brass. Could you share your method?

NowhereMan wrote:
I think the leather coat looks great, but what really caught my eye was the realistic tarnishing on the brass. Could you share your method?

thanks for comments, the effect was done by black undercoat, then warplock bronze then i added nihilakh oxide over it untill i got desired effect and amount then dry brush of vallejo old gold over it, even if you cover too much of the oxide you can just add some more in cracks crevices etc

not much done this week but did get the standard bearer done




got to be positioned better and pinned into place but looks ok




thanks for looking

Nothing quite like a big ole banner to signify "hey we're the command group, shoot at us!"
Ahhhh, I love the 40k universe. Great command group! Did you have any other aides to add to that little scene?

 Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll wrote:
Nothing quite like a big ole banner to signify "hey we're the command group, shoot at us!"
Ahhhh, I love the 40k universe. Great command group! Did you have any other aides to add to that little scene?

size really does matter i got the rest of the command squad tbh i wished i had made the plateaux a bit bigger

Looking good, lots of bling for the officers!

 Guardling wrote:
Looking good, lots of bling for the officers!

thanks
initial concept for the command squad was from the film gladiator



too which i wanted a battle dog, found this and added some repertory equipment too tie in with death korp theme

Looking good bob. it is a shame the ledge isn’t any bigger to get the rest of the command squad. Maybe they could be stood milling about at the corner waiting with their horses?

That dog definitely belongs in that scene!

 gobert wrote:
Looking good bob. it is a shame the ledge isn’t any bigger to get the rest of the command squad. Maybe they could be stood milling about at the corner waiting with their horses?

thanks, i might see what they look like on the road just underneath them

 Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll wrote:
That dog definitely belongs in that scene!

thanks, took a while to find one and then costly

so managed to paint it and quite happy with it, next up is do the muddy snow & ice base, thanks for looking

Muddy snow seems like it'd be hard, I look forward to seeing how you do it!

 Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll wrote:
Muddy snow seems like it'd be hard, I look forward to seeing how you do it!

turned out quite good, i used ak interactive range, just need to ad some mud to the feet/horses hooves etc



after initial mud base had dried some more was added to where horses would stand and water added to make it more churned up look



AK have a great video of how to use rather than me go on about it if anyone interested, quite a few steps but gives a good look think it will be better on the road as i will have a bigger area to work with thus more detail with ice etc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kPMOIz4_cs&t=1s

Looks great so far.

Looks cold and wet. Good job the pooch has a blanket and respirator to keep him warm!

'At my signal, unleash hell'.

Great progress thanks for sharing, can't wait to see what's next. Looking forward to the explosions most of all.

This looks extremely promising

 Illumini wrote:
This looks extremely promising

thanks, long way to go but looking forward to it, waiting for some vehicles to arrive so i can start on the road

Automatically Appended Next Post:

 PaddyMick wrote:
'At my signal, unleash hell'.

Great progress thanks for sharing, can't wait to see what's next. Looking forward to the explosions most of all.

thanks, looking forward to doing the river also


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 gobert wrote:
Looks cold and wet. Good job the pooch has a blanket and respirator to keep him warm!

thanks gobert, yep dont want the rspca knocking on my door


so not had much done but did decide to add the rest of the command squad and to me looks so much better now, gone for a glowing effect on the radio operator 1st time i have tried it, thanks for looking and comments

Man, if you take this same attention to detail across the whole board...

 Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll wrote:
Man, if you take this same attention to detail across the whole board...

thank you gwyn, i hope too, the amount if miniatures i have to paint will test me though

Looking good bob! Can’t help but think the guy on the right should have his feet sunk into the snow though.

This is going to be one long project bobbuilder.

CB

Great work!

 gobert wrote:
Looking good bob! Can’t help but think the guy on the right should have his feet sunk into the snow though.

thanks for comment and your right, added some snow, going to add more weathering when i have a few minis on the board at same time




Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Captain Brown wrote:
This is going to be one long project bobbuilder.

CB

it is indeed, so many ideas though


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Stevefamine wrote:
Great work!

thank you


Automatically Appended Next Post:
so having knocked the bridge off the shelf 3 times and having to repair it i have decided to paint and weather it up and get it on the board, it looks a b it starrk after 1st coat but this will be weathered down a lot, after black undercoat and some typhus corrosion added, i added some crackle medium and then a layer of hellion green as base colour, i found that most crackle mediums i have used are hit and miss, some parts on this are great some not worked at all but as it's going to be really weathered not a big deal

if anyone knows of a good crackle medium please let me know for future, thanks





thanks for looking and comments

bit more done on bridge, after base coat i gave it a watered down wash of brown ink and dabbed off with kitchen towel, gives it a dirt/light rust appearance


then stippled dark rust on



then light rust






bit more to do before adding mud and snow/frost effects

Just found this thread - loving what I'm seeing! The weathering on the bridge is really well done. Keep up the great work.

 Necroagogo wrote:
Just found this thread - loving what I'm seeing! The weathering on the bridge is really well done. Keep up the great work.

thank you, hope to be able to really get stuck in on it now i have vehicles




Automatically Appended Next Post:
took a picture of bridge without light on looks a lot grimier than with light on




Automatically Appended Next Post:
painted the wood and 1st layer of mud down which represents the mud being laid down from tank tracks as they go across, snow effects to go over this

following on from yesterday with the bridge i laid down the 1st coat of snow effect, the look i wanted was like when old snow starts to melt then freezes over night so it's a mixture of hard slush and ice, over this will be a fresh snowfall,

to that end here is hard snow and ice, the fresh snow will make it look less stark when added





thanks for looking and comments

I love the color on the bridge!

That mud is extremely realistic! I also enjoy the gladiator callback.

This is looking really awesome, love the progress!

I am getting cold just looking at that bridge. Excellent job!

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
I love the color on the bridge!

thanks, it is actually the colour of a bridge near me which i took inspiration from



Automatically Appended Next Post:

fingol23 wrote:
That mud is extremely realistic! I also enjoy the gladiator callback.

thanks it's actually a really good product


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Vaktathi wrote:
This is looking really awesome, love the progress!

thanks


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Pointer5 wrote:
I am getting cold just looking at that bridge. Excellent job!

thanks

so laid down the 1st of the newish snow still got to do the mud splatters on it, going to do the girders with a frost product i found next

not had much time of late but managed to get the mud splatter and some churned up muddy snow and also from frost, for now i am leaving it as i will be adding a vehicle to beginning of bridge and with the news that GW are bringing out plastic krieg guardsmen i have another idea for a scene on the bridge as the plastic models will be easier to convert from pictures i have seen

find the closest gas station to me

closest coles to me now

Great work on the bridge, love the snow effect.

Great job on the bridge! How’d you do the mud and snow?

 gobert wrote:
Great job on the bridge! How’d you do the mud and snow?

thanks, AK mud and snow, link to their youtube video on how to do it, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kPMOIz4_cs

Bridge is looking beautiful, mate. At each step I think - wow, he's just put the finishing touches on it! And then there's another layer that just adds depth and realism.

new Kriegsmen are definitely a bounty for this project - excited to see what you do with them.

Keep it up!

 tzurk wrote:
Bridge is looking beautiful, mate. At each step I think - wow, he's just put the finishing touches on it! And then there's another layer that just adds depth and realism.

new Kriegsmen are definitely a bounty for this project - excited to see what you do with them.

Keep it up!

thanks tzurk, added a few old leaves to bridge just rats to put on then some icicles and done,

started to build the vehicles received a macharius 2nd hand unpainted, seller said not sure if it was forgeworld or recast, well i can safely say it was a recast, gaps, pieces not fitting together, trim hanging off, huge bubble holes etc etc, took a couple days of straightening filling and adding weld to cover bits but i think it has come out ok, good job i am having mud on tracks as they dont even line up in places, mostly underneath, also bought a tank commander and repositioned the arm and added a pointing hand as this will be at head of convoy and he has seen the mines on the bridge





the cast guardsmen rifle ends were missing as to thin for mould so made some out of plastic rod and bits from the scrap box, thought they came out respectable



thanks for looking nad comments

Looks fantastic! That Macharius is going to be glorious, can't wait to see more!

I haven't check in for a while and wow: nice progress. That bridge is a work of art in itself, each layer and effect looking great on its own and then the full effect is just excellent.

Really nice detail on that bridge. And I love how packed in your Krieg look in that little trailer. The custom lasgun tips look good, too. Nice work.

Great idea on the gap filling, I’ve not seen people do that to make it look like welds before. Is there a mood line on the base of the right hand main barrel?
The kreig look great all tucked up in their trailer. The barrels look to have worked out well

Such a good idea with the trailer, pack 'em in!

The Macharius is an absolute beast, should look superb all painted up.

 gobert wrote:
Great idea on the gap filling, I’ve not seen people do that to make it look like welds before. Is there a mood line on the base of the right hand main barrel?
The kreig look great all tucked up in their trailer. The barrels look to have worked out well

thanks gobert, yes sir there is a mold line, i had to have a break from it as i was losing my patience with it as such a bad recast, now done


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Olthannon wrote:
Such a good idea with the trailer, pack 'em in!

The Macharius is an absolute beast, should look superb all painted up.

thanks oithannon, yes trailer worked out well and ow undercoated ready for paint


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Warboss_Waaazag wrote:
Really nice detail on that bridge. And I love how packed in your Krieg look in that little trailer. The custom lasgun tips look good, too. Nice work.

thanks warboss, pleased with lasgun tips but with my eyes it was a real challenge


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 The Riddle of Steel wrote:
I haven't check in for a while and wow: nice progress. That bridge is a work of art in itself, each layer and effect looking great on its own and then the full effect is just excellent.

thanks for kind comments, i am pleased with the way it has come out, rats to be added and then some icicles and ready for the booby traps


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Vaktathi wrote:
Looks fantastic! That Macharius is going to be glorious, can't wait to see more!

thanks vaktathi appreciate the kind words

done a little more on the troop carrier trailer, most painting and weathering interior, added a couple lights and a ladder, got to add mud once guardsmen are in which i have made a start on painting, going to finish of exterior next see if i like the effect, thanks for looking and everyones comments



photo upload site

Looking really good!

You might have already thought of it but some small piles of snow to go with the mud you have planned would look good once the guardsmen are in place. The snow they brushed off themselves/fell off their boots and coats when they got in the transport, that kind of thing.

 A Town Called Malus wrote:
Looking really good!

You might have already thought of it but some small piles of snow to go with the mud you have planned would look good once the guardsmen are in place. The snow they brushed off themselves/fell off their boots and coats when they got in the transport, that kind of thing.

thanks, i had thought of frosting on interior but not the snow, i will give that a go should add another level to it, thanks

You sir, know your rust!

That is an impressive amount of detail and rust in the troop carrier, especially when so much of it will be hardly visible. That is dedication to the craft!

 The Riddle of Steel wrote:
That is an impressive amount of detail and rust in the troop carrier, especially when so much of it will be hardly visible. That is dedication to the craft!

thanks, just as easy to it all rather than work out what can and cannot be seen tbh


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Meer_Cat wrote:
You sir, know your rust!

thanks

had a couple hours on exterior, just to frost it up and mud now









thanks for looking and comments as always

Wow really nice work, looks like it's been in the wars! I like the idea of mud and snow in the trailer as the guard have traipsed it all in.

 Olthannon wrote:
Wow really nice work, looks like it's been in the wars! I like the idea of mud and snow in the trailer as the guard have traipsed it all in.

thanks olthannon,

finished the guardsmen just mud frost and snow to add came out ok

That’s one rusty bucket Bob! Great job so far, and more to come I’m sure.

 gobert wrote:
That’s one rusty bucket Bob! Great job so far, and more to come I’m sure.

thanks gobert

so not had much time on it of late but managed to get centaur painted up and frosted, just needs mud and snow now

Excellent job on the Centaur- in combination it really looks like something the First World War Germans, er, I mean the Empire in the far future would use to haul troops and supplies around difficult terrain. I feel the scene calls for a Feldpolitzei directing traffic through the mud standing on or in front of a kettenkrad conversion of a jet cycle. Just add a silver plate hanging around the neck of a regular trooper and change the waffenfarb color on the coat!

Really nice work on the rustin' and weatherin'.

Centaur and trailer are looking gorgeous. Those seated Death Korps models look great and will add some nice variety and realism to the diorama.

Lovely bit of work there Bob, those lovely French clones look just gassed to be in that trailer ready for battling the imperium's foes.

Looking forward to seeing all the mud and snow, should round it off nicely.

What's the next steps after the centaur?

 Meer_Cat wrote:
Excellent job on the Centaur- in combination it really looks like something the First World War Germans, er, I mean the Empire in the far future would use to haul troops and supplies around difficult terrain. I feel the scene calls for a Feldpolitzei directing traffic through the mud standing on or in front of a kettenkrad conversion of a jet cycle. Just add a silver plate hanging around the neck of a regular trooper and change the waffenfarb color on the coat!

Really nice work on the rustin' and weatherin'.

thanks meer_cat as it happens i am going to be putting guardsmen on bikes and quads so thats a good idea about controlling traffic


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 The Riddle of Steel wrote:
Centaur and trailer are looking gorgeous. Those seated Death Korps models look great and will add some nice variety and realism to the diorama.

thanks


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Olthannon wrote:
Lovely bit of work there Bob, those lovely French clones look just gassed to be in that trailer ready for battling the imperium's foes.

Looking forward to seeing all the mud and snow, should round it off nicely.

What's the next steps after the centaur?

thanks olthannon, after centaur complete i might attempt the mecharius as i want to start the road, i am going to put smoke coming from exhausts on centaur


Automatically Appended Next Post:
just like 1st WW trench warfare rats are going to be a big part of diorama so managed to make and cast some came out ok started by adding to bridge



glowing light on centaur done

Nice touch with the rats, they seem appropriate to pair with Kreigsmen. As you say, they match the era aesthetic I suppose

 gobert wrote:
Nice touch with the rats, they seem appropriate to pair with Kreigsmen. As you say, they match the era aesthetic I suppose

thanks gobert

managed to do the snow and mud not going for excessive muddy appearance still want some of the details to come through, just got to do smoke from exhausts, mud splatter and then place on road and blend the mud in with centaur etc

smoke done on exhausts so centaur and troop carrier are finished, now to put it on road and blend in the mud with it








Automatically Appended Next Post:
so its on the board and started the mud blending, still a bit to do and some puddles, mud spray from rear of tracks, does not show up really well on these pics so once completed i will try to get better pics

Wow, excellent work Bob! That mud looks proper clarty, wouldn't like to be traipsing through that. Are you going to be doing like an ice effect on some of the mud as well, as if it is half frozen?

It's a grim life in the guard eh?

 Olthannon wrote:
Wow, excellent work Bob! That mud looks proper clarty, wouldn't like to be traipsing through that. Are you going to be doing like an ice effect on some of the mud as well, as if it is half frozen?

It's a grim life in the guard eh?

thanks olthannon, yes there will be ice/snow on patches of the mud, just deciding if to do it in one go or bit by bit

Awesome work bobbuilder! The centaur looks to really be at home in the mud, blending goths two pieces really well. The icy puddles sound really cool, I’m intrigued to see how you achieve that

That is some muddy mud. Great effect you have going so far. The layers of mud, snow and rust are looking great. I can already almost feel the wet, filthy, cold, miserable atmosphere!

The display is coming along nicely!
Any chance of a wide shot of what you've done so far?