Airfix 1/76 Infantry Tank MkII Matilda El Alamein, 1942....

[wappynutter]

Thanks Alex, Rob and Mike...
Alex, Rob, yeah i do love the crazy Camo scheme, and i think i just got lucky with the chipping and weathering..
Impressed myself with the Decal recovery though.... couldn't believe i managed to get a near match!!
Must be the scratchbuilding skills that kicked in and saved the build.. ..... or sheer luck!!

never worked out how painting a tank bright blue, yellow and green, in a desert surrounding, hid it from the enemy???

Mike, thanks dude, i do love building the tracked vehicle mate, though i have just started my second Plane build but its for a reason...

...but like you so rightly mentioned......Tread heads Unite!!!

Thanks again guys..... more on this build soon!!!!

[AchtungPanzer]

Now its verrry OK Andy >> I like your Dwarf . P.S. Tank soldier in this scale look great . Im impressed Buddy

[ludicrusmaximus]

Wow, that's a corker of a tank! I really like it

I enjoyed this thread too

[wappynutter]

BOOM!!!! and we back!!!
Thanks Eryk, glad you like the finished tank now, and thanks Ludicrus glad you liked the thread.......

......but we not finished yet!!

Now I never like to leave a model all on its own...
I think that each of my builds need to tell a story, show an action or portray an event....

Well at least have somewhere to be displayed to match the model built!!!

So we need a Desert base or stand to show the Tank in all its glory...



Never built a desert type thing before.....
Best get my thinking cap on....
...and cut up some 8mm MDF while i'm at it!!



Foam packaging for some build up....





A slight hill type ridge to represent a dune type rise in the desert area...







This rise was cut from an off cut of UPVC Fascia board...
...and now I have topped it with the remaining foam packaging..







I edged the base temporarily to give a square edge to the filler applied to the base...
I have used dried and crumbled filler to create a rocky landscape, and sprinkled fine sand over to give a desert texture....









Heres my little Captain again.....












....and with my "Tilda".....



Back to the groundwork, and after running out of ready mixed filler, I resorted to tile grout to finish off the dune slope...















Some sparce vegetation is added using some dried out root, a little Lilac bush and some Lichen...











My track imprints can be seen here...and if you look closely a couple of footprints from the Captain...
Just got to hope my ground cover is in scale, also got to paint it to match the terrain.



Just having a catch up with the driver....



Okay I am going to Airbrush a mixture of desert type colours to this base to try.. and give a rough desert like finish!!
Wish me luck....
























The base was given time to dry then flat coated to key it all in and give a dusty look.
I made a card edge from an old cereal box and sprayed it Matt black to finish off the base edge, first few pictures show the base without the black edging glued in place but placed around for effect.....

My little Captain having a look around!!











Tank tracks..













































.......and that's ya lot...........
Or is it???
I have touched up a couple of bits where the rocks came off and left white showing, or under some of the bracken bushes where the airbrush missed.
The black strip is stuck in place as you can see in the final few pictures with the Matilda in shot for scale..
Still needs a little finishing touches....but for now that's all I got..
When I finally finish this I will try for some decent, well lit, in focus proper camera pictures...
I promise...

Hope you liked my little surprise update... Any questions leave a comment, any tips or advise is most welcome too!!
As always, thanks for taking a look in, Take care and Happy Modelling guys...

[AchtungPanzer]

Fantastic bombastic I like the last photos in natural light .Complete Diorama is really good Andy .

[wappynutter]

Thanks Eryk, its just missing a couple of things to make it finished.....
Not be long now though!
Thanks again for taking a look my friend..

[Drunkmaster]

Hi, nice idea for a diorama and a nice performance. I like that. I have not read the whole thread and I'm curious as to Develop the rest of the area. I'll be looked here.

Regards
Paul

[Coen]

Oh no!!! Andy is back at it again!!!
My eyes still haven't completely healed from the air car.
Haha
This is freaking excellent looking work buddy, that Mathilda looks completely excellent on the dio.
I only have one suggestion.... It looks like you could fit another vehicle on there. The Mathilda seems a time bit lonely.

[DC87]

Sweet work Andy, better grab myself some water as those photos are making my throat feel parched

As Mike said the Matilda needs a friend or foe for company.

[wappynutter]

I guess your right Mike, he does look a little lonely..

Deserts are pretty barren places.....

Hmmm I wonder what my little Captain could be looking at though???

I may need to add a little something to the diorama eh??

Thanks for having a look good sir, means a lot .....

Thanks too Paul, glad you like my diorama idea, hope I have tempted you to read through the entire thread and stay till the finished reveal coming soon...

Thanks again guys.

[wappynutter]

Thanks Dan...... and all will be revealed soon....
I wont let you down matey, you will like the finished diorama I promise..

[Drunkmaster]

Thanks too Paul, glad you like my diorama idea, hope I have tempted you to read through the entire thread and stay till the finished reveal coming soon...

I'm tempted, but so much of English at a time ... I suspect that sooner see the end result than I decipher all

Regards
P.

[wappynutter]

Don't worry Paul, the end is here!
Lots of pictures to follow, including the final reveal of the finished diorama..

These final views are taken with my new easy to use camera, a Samsung Smart Camera ST150F HD and wifi ready, up to 16.2 MP, but the following are taken in a mere 1MP...
Unfortunately this doesn't make my picture taking any better so please bear with me!

Hope you like them.....



































.................and finally, the complete Diorama....................................... including the recent completed builds.........

I call this finished Scene.... Call in the DAF.......
This is how you deal with the Pesky Tigers.... and a Desert Fox!!































































....and that is your lot...... Finally finished and moving on to something fresh!

I thought to build these kits and display them together was probably the best idea. It was my intention from the start and to be honest I thought a couple of you may have put two and two together and guessed my plans..

I did then think that maybe the Armour guys wouldn't look at a Plane build... and the Plane guys wouldn't be looking at my Armour build, and that was why no one had asked how I intended to display the Tomahawk or why I had a huge Desert Diorama with a small "Tilda" and a little figure looking at nothing!

Well he is looking up at the Desert Air Forces newest fighter, The Curtiss Tomahawk IIB about to engage the Afrika Corps off in the distance..
Until this time the DAF had nothing more than some old Biplanes....

Thanks again for taking another look at my Desert Project. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!!
All comments welcome and much appreciated..
Take care all and as always Happy Modelling.

[DC87]

WOW Andy - you going to start bottling that Wappy magic. The scene is sublime and the way you have displayed it is fantastic. If you showed this to a veteran I bet they would say it is spot on, really gives the impression of the plane passing at speed to hunt some of Mike's pesky Tigers.

[wappynutter]

WOW.....Thanks Dan.....
So glad you like it mate, I managed to portray exactly what I wanted...
I imagined, like you said, a low, fast fly by, while being cheered and clapped by the poor fella's on the ground!
Mike's Tiger's better be ready!! lol....
Thanks again mate for your kind comments, I have posted similar images over on my Tomahawk thread now and hopefully both are finished and I can start something new!
...but first a short break next week to Paris with the Wife, a first " no kids " break since getting married 8 years ago!

Take care dude! Keep up the good work on that Sopwith Snipe...

[Panzerwolf]

Wow awesome diorama!
The scene is very well portrayed and the models look great. A very good job!

[Rob]

Didn't see that coming! Love the groundwork and the imagination

[Coen]

As we say here in rustic Nova Scotia.... Lort liftin muthar of Christ!!!
(It's all in the accent)
Andy buddy... I knew you had plans for the back part of that dio... But I was thinking in two dimensions.
Well done buddy. Well presented and well crafted.
That... Will look cool on the shelf!

[wappynutter]

Thanks Mike..... Glad you like it buddy..
( Been trying the accent, but failing miserably!! )

...and yeah, thinking outside the box, that's me!
Just thought a low fly-by while being watched and cheered on by fellow armed forces was a fitting scene for this Desert Air Force fighter pilot....

I had the idea while building the Matilda and built the Diorama based on this idea.
I am so glad it came out as I had imagined.
The view down from above the fighter is one of my favorite's..
Thanks again matey..

[Paul]

Awesome work andy, love the perspective photos brilliant, great job all round loving the base though fantastic

[wappynutter]

Awesome work andy, love the perspective photos brilliant, great job all round loving the base though fantastic

Thanks Paul mate, the Tomahawk has some similar pictures to finish that thread too!
I was worried about the Desert build the most but it came out okay in the end..
Thanks again dude!

[wappynutter]

Wow awesome diorama!
The scene is very well portrayed and the models look great. A very good job!

Didn't see that coming! Love the groundwork and the imagination

Just realised I didn't thank you guys for your comments on my Diorama...

Sorry.....
...... thanks guys, much appreciated.
Stuck as to what to build now!!
Started scratchbuilding some Scifi but think I am having a Mojo burn out!

More soon I hope...

[localjedi]

Excellent job, Andy! I like your dio a lot. Honestly dude, when I saw the first in-progress pictures of your dio base I was like "Nah, it's not gonna work..." but then it became clear that I was totally wrong. Seeing the diorama come together step by step was interesting and that is one aspect of this hobby that I like the most: First it all looks like bits and pieces, then like a toy, then like a total mess, and finally it becomes a fine piece of artwork and craftsmanship. Cheers!

[UKscalemodeller]

Can't believe I have missed this build.

Great stuff Wappy.

A bit late I know but as for the commander's coupola, I think maybe they did rotate, as shown on wikiwhack.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MatildaII.jpg

[wappynutter]

Excellent job, Andy! I like your dio a lot. Honestly dude, when I saw the first in-progress pictures of your dio base I was like "Nah, it's not gonna work..." but then it became clear that I was totally wrong. Seeing the diorama come together step by step was interesting and that is one aspect of this hobby that I like the most: First it all looks like bits and pieces, then like a toy, then like a total mess, and finally it becomes a fine piece of artwork and craftsmanship. Cheers!

Thank you Mr Jedi sir, so glad you enjoyed my build, and so right with your build breakdown....just glad it made it to the finish.... Lol....

Can't believe I have missed this build.

Great stuff Wappy.

A bit late I know but as for the commander's coupola, I think maybe they did rotate, as shown on wikiwhack.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MatildaII.jpg

Thanks Ian, glad you found us mate... and yeah I think you are right, I imagine the commander could rotate the lid to scan the surrounding area then open up and use the lid to shield behind in case of stray bullets...
Thanks again guys for taking a look...

[Nige201980]

WOW Andy sorry I've not visited this in a while I'm glad I came back to have a look buddy you my friend are a true artist it's stunning mate I can even here the tomahawk engine as it dose the flyby and the commander muttering to himself lol truly stunning mate can't wait to see what you tackle next.

[wappynutter]

Thanks Nige mate.... So happy with this little build, I planned it one day while thinking what to do with my tiny Caunter schemed "Tilda" and thought " why not a flyby?"
A second build later and here we are!
I will send you some pics for your North Africa GB photo slideshow when and if you still want some.

....and what I am tackling next is something specifically for your North Africa GB....
Just struggling with a slideshow, may have to do a couple of small short ones every week till its finished.
Will sort something out over the next couple of days hopefully!!
Fingers crossed..
Thanks again Nige for your kind words, much appreciated sir..

[Nige201980]

Thanks Nige mate.... So happy with this little build, I planned it one day while thinking what to do with my tiny Caunter schemed "Tilda" and thought " why not a flyby?"
A second build later and here we are!
I will send you some pics for your North Africa GB photo slideshow when and if you still want some.

....and what I am tackling next is something specifically for your North Africa GB....
Just struggling with a slideshow, may have to do a couple of small short ones every week till its finished.
Will sort something out over the next couple of days hopefully!!
Fingers crossed..
Thanks again Nige for your kind words, much appreciated sir..

looks forward to it mate.
if you can send some photos to groupbuild1.@gmail.com when ever you get chance and just title them nigel wells GB and when everyone is finished ill do a final revel

[ManCupboardModels]

Great build, awesome thread, cracking job all round mate!!

[wappynutter]

Great build, awesome thread, cracking job all round mate!!

Thanks Karl, i have a similar dio base build happening with the Nigel Wells GB.
Will be my second attempt at a desert diorama..
Thanks again...

[AchtungPanzer]

Wow ! . I was here a long time ago Andy I like your models-tandem and all finished effect

[wappynutter]

WOW.... long time for me too Eryk.....

Thanks again for the positive comments my friend, glad you like the 2 models/genres together diorama...
Take care and Happy Modelling matey...