discussion Brécourt Manor

[Jack L]

Jack .Loving the building work, that take both me and Ron Spanner back.

As to the build those brass shells look good. Your lucky to find ammo, I don't think there is any for my build of the Pak 88 at all .

Thanks John...not something I have ever attempted before, but extremely satisfying, however exhausting!

Slightly disappointed to find out I could have probably made the shell casings myself...these are literally chopped up brass tube with an etch plate to attach at the base. What it does give me however, is the dimensions, so will have a go at sourcing the right size brass and making some more I think. Can never have too many discards!!!

 

[spanner570]

Yes, indeed 453, I made my living doing such work.

Trouble is, now when I see pictures like Jack's conversion, I start to sweat and get a nose bleed, thinking about the awful conditions I sometimes had to work in. Everything on a price, so no work = No pay!

Sorry for the slight tangent, Jack.

Ron[/QUOTE]

 

[Guest]

Thanks John...not something I have ever attempted before, but extremely satisfying, however exhausting!

Slightly disappointed to find out I could have probably made the shell casings myself...these are literally chopped up brass tube with an etch plate to attach at the base. What it does give me however, is the dimensions, so will have a go at sourcing the right size brass and making some more I think. Can never have too many discards!!!

Hindsight in these matters is always easy Jack,the cap end do look good thought, but we learn, take "mud " for example from Mig , cheaper and free to go into the garden, microwave the soil , and some cheap acrylic paint to the right colour. Done that , lesson learned.:smiling3:

As to those lengths of timber, make my shoulder ache just looking at them.

 

[tr1ckey66]

Good luck with the dio Jack. I bought the box set of Band of Brothers pretty much as soon as it was available, so I look forward to seeing what you make of this famous action.
Cheers
Paul

 

[Jack L]

Hindsight in these matters is always easy Jack,the cap end do look good thought, but we learn, take "mud " for example from Mig , cheaper and free to go into the garden, microwave the soil , and some cheap acrylic paint to the right colour. Done that , lesson learned.:smiling3:

As to those lengths of timber, make my shoulder ache just looking at them.

Very bruised shoulders, and just about everything else...but some more done yesterday, thankfully finished before the heat kicked in.
@Peter Day the pottery itself was the far end, where the green door is now.

Anyway, all of the proper work has severly limited bench time, but have got the gun complete, ready for paint when the weather allows.

I can't really say I enjoyed the model. Great detail, but some of the steps are ridiculously fiddly/complicated...and then, well this:


Parts like #22 nigh on impossible to get from the sprues without damage. I didn't even attempt those two, as the one in the second picture I managed to break in three places removing it from the sprue part I am holding. There are some really small contact areas/locator pins for gluing, and a lot of times I had to just position as best I could, and then flood with TET. I certainly won't be winning awards, but it looks like a gun! It also wants you to leave a lot of parts moveable, but even if you wanted to, they seemed to really loose, ambiguous fits, @Steve Jones not sure if you had similar expiriences?

 

[Guest]

Jack.
The manufacturers of a kit like to say it has hundreds of parts, we should know by now that it means having as many thin and multiple parts as possible to make one part ( which could have be moulded easily ) and a guarantee that most of them will break as soon as you try to remove them.

Good for you getting those joists up, glad I don't have to struggle anymore.

 

[Jim R]

Hi Jack
Late to the party - sorry. Great idea for the dio. The gun looks great but I appreciate how fiddly it is. 1:1 work looks quite a project.
Jim

 

[spanner570]

Nice work on both counts, Jack.

Just make sure you fix those chipboard flooring sheets I can see, the right way up!


Joseph of Nazareth

 

[Steve Jones]

It also wants you to leave a lot of parts moveable, but even if you wanted to, they seemed to really loose, ambiguous fits, @Steve Jones not sure if you had similar expiriences?

Very much so. Anything that had the option to move was glued into place. The carpet monster had a field day on this build and several of the small parts had to be replaced

You have done a terrific job on yours. Looking forward to seeing it all painted up

 

[Jack L]

Zero progress I am afraid. Been working hard on the barn, all the beams are up and fixed, and we have insulated the roof to a stage where we can start boarding the floor, to make the rest easier. Very excited to hear we can get the Velux windows in at that stage and actually get some air up there. It's been 5-10C warmer than ground level up in the rafters. I was up measuring and fitting, while Dad cut to size below. I think I got the raw end of the deal....


Other than that it has just been too hot for modelling. Planning some now though which will likely be a start of the base. Plenty of insulation foam scraps to play with now. Awaiting a telling off for hijacking my own thread.

Shem of the Ark

 

[Jack L]

Finally some actual modelling.

Have made a start on the base, and the MG42 (to see how much space I need). Swapped out the assistant gunner's binoculars for a water bottle. This isn't going to depict them under attack, so having the other chap prone, feeding the ammo wasn't going to work. Given it all a thick coat of Mod Podge to seal the polystyrene a bit, and once dry will start refining the shape and building up the texture.

 

[tr1ckey66]

Good start Jack. I don’t want to teach you how to suck eggs but, if it were me, I’d rough out everything first. Plan where all the elements will be and build everything up together. It looks like you’ve got the major pieces ready and you’ve got the MG nest sited. Is the next step siting the 105?

Also, nice work on the barn! Give your dad some slack though he’s older than you! Lol

Cheers
P

 

[Jack L]

Good start Jack. I don’t want to teach you how to suck eggs but, if it were me, I’d rough out everything first. Plan where all the elements will be and build everything up together. It looks like you’ve got the major pieces ready and you’ve got the MG nest sited. Is the next step siting the 105?

Also, nice work on the barn! Give your dad some slack though he’s older than you! Lol

Cheers
P

All advice welcome Paul...I'm pretty new to dioramas, so no eggs involved yet! I had a plan in my mind and some sketches of the layout, just not been sure of the dimensions of say an MG, and a couple of crew, and therefore how much space I needed for the nest. Now I have the start of the base, I have a better picture of what foliage I need and where to position the figures and extras, so hopefully will take off now.

He's going strong for 66!! 7 days a week...08:30 - 15:00...thought he might at least let us have weekends!

 

[rtfoe]

Don't worry Jack, with dioramas even the best laid out plans will need final adjustments but at least with the base now some sort of scale and distances to each item can be rearranged.

I try to stick to plans but new things and ideas keep changing as I go. I guess thats why some people rush through their builds to avoid such things. :smiling2:

Cheers,
Richard

 

[Steve Jones]

Nice start on the dio. As Richard says dios are organic but as long as your have the right foundation in place you cant go far wrong. Nice work on the machine gun crew

 

[Jack L]

Very slowly starting to get some detail in. Doesn't look great at the moment, but it will all be blended in with earth and grass. Combination of 'wicker' and 'corrugated' retaining walls. Hopefully once painted the wicker looks convincing. Lots to do yet.

 

[Guest]

Nice progress Jack.

 

[Guest]

Coming along nicely Jack.

 

[tr1ckey66]

Looking good Jack. I always enjoy this part of a diorama. Things happen fast and start to take shape.
Have fun
Cheers
Paul

 

[spanner570]

Excellent start, Jack.
Plenty of room for manoeuvre....

Ron