Sneaky Beasties... Hellcats and Wolverines! Oh my!

[Coen]

Another effort in combining old builds together on new bases.

This time I'll be taking a pair of US TD's and sticking them in some hills somewhere. Something I've been meaning to do with these two builds for ages. I just couldn't get my head around the bridge.
My recent experiments with high density foam has helped out with that.
I love this stuff, so the more practice that I get with it the better.

It all started with a stone bridge,... Not the fella from Strike Back.
It's pretty slow going with this stuff as you have to use construction glues instead of CA glue like I do with foam board.
I embossed the stone details with a stylus and a pair of stamps that I used on my Creighton's Run diorama.







A bridge needs a brook, so let there be a brook.
I carved the base this time using a wire brush bit in my proxxon. Made a lovely mess, but it was completely cool to do. I felt like I was carving Jaws for an episode of mythbusters.

[Homerlovesbeer]

Awesomely cool. That bridge and brook looks like a blast to make

[Twokidsnosleep]

You are on fire man, absolutely on fire

[TheTroyster]

Pray tell where does one acquire this high density foam - is that's what it's called? Home depo?

[digger303]

Extruded Polystyrene.....many brand names

[privatepete]

Hi I think one day you will run out of room & you will have to build a extension or two, or you could buy a island, Prince Edward island maybe, looks good though

[CrazyHistorian]

You are so spoiling us! Coolest dio's almost every day
Waiting to see what's going to be next

[Coen]

Pray tell where does one acquire this high density foam - is that's what it's called? Home depo?

I bought mine at homedepot here in canada. I've no idea if they sell the same brands in the us homedepots... but here is what it was...

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.foam ... 36411.html

Hi I think one day you will run out of room & you will have to build a extension or two, or you could buy a island, Prince Edward island maybe, looks good though

There's a man with a plan

[Coen]

I've added a few more figures to the scene now to flesh it out a bit.











Then I started with the ground cover.
Celluclay for the start of it, then some kitty litter, beach sand, and some two difference sizes of woodland scenics talus.
Then I jammed a few boulders here and there in the stuff.
I also built the beginnings of a wooden guard rail.





Now it's a waiting thing for it all to dry... a few days I would think. Then I'll add some primer and colours.

[Kevthemodeller]

Coen looking good mate, I've got a M10 or Achilles on my list of builds.

[InitialProduction1]

Great build coen,

[Coen]

Thanks

Coen looking good mate, I've got a M10 or Achilles on my list of builds.

The AFV club kits are completely wonderful builds. They need a little TLC but lots of goodness to them.

[Schoof]

If this happens everytime you "don't know what to build next" I'm very worried about the times you do know what to build next

[Coen]

While waiting for paint to dry on one dio, I added some paint to this one...

Badger stynelyrez,





Then some base colours











Next I'll detail paint the bridge and rocks then I'll seal everything with a gloss for the washes.

[privatepete]

i Mike there is nothing wrong with your memory, the 251/8 ambulance had a water tank between the front seat's, AFV Club Kit/ Dragon leave it out but Tamiya still supply it in the kit, had a hard time finding out about it but interesting I now know a bit more now

[ForbesHutton]

i Mike there is nothing wrong with your memory, the 251/8 ambulance had a water tank between the front seat's, AFV Club Kit/ Dragon leave it out but Tamiya still supply it in the kit, had a hard time finding out about it but interesting I now know a bit more now

Empty rack between seats:


Edge of barrel to the right:


From the rear, barrel can be seen between the seats:

[Coen]

Those are the very same reference pics that I had when I did that AFV club build ages ago.

[Coen]

Some time ago I did the detail painting on the bridge and rocks and the thing is ready for gloss and washes.
Since I've finished the figures I thought that I'd do a mock up and see if they still float my boat for positions.

[Vleugelmoer]

Coen, there is also a newish modeling product out there called balsa foam. It has been taken up by lots of diorama builders in mainland Europe for its ease of construction and carving capabilities. As they advertise it overhere as being from the U.S. I should be simple to get shaped to the great white north east aka Novaskotia.

[Coen]

I'm well aware of balsa foam, I have been for years.
I've played with it a number of times in small quantities.
Unfortunately it's far cheaper for me to buy a 4x3 foot sheet of the high density foam over a tiny block or even smaller sheets of the balsa foam.
The amount of balsa foam that I would need on a regular bases would be insanely expensive. Even a small block of it costs me $9 plus shipping.
That's the price of two huge sheets of HD foam that I can just pick up at the hardware store.
The HD foam will have to do for now.

[Vleugelmoer]

Economics in modeling do make sense, we don't have magic trees in the garden that sprout money in spring now do we.

[Coen]

The last bit for this one.

I added some washes to the road surface and bridge to give it some age.
Dark dirt, Earth and some concrete. Then some light dirt for the bridge surface and some green for the mildew.











I added the water for the brook from woodland scenics realistic water.
You add it in layers in about 5mm deep each and wait 24-48 hours between each lay fort to dry.
If you don't it will fog on you.

I layed down a gloss seal withmaqu gloss first to help protect from colour transfer as well as add e wet look.





After the realistic water was to the depth that I wanted and completely dry I textured the surface to make it look like running water by using artists gels to make some waves and white water. My first real try at it.
I liked how it turned out but more practise will improve it over time. Definitely something that I want to do more of.

Then I added the static grasses and assorted scatter, a few trees made from seafoam and dyed saw dust. Some pines made from old Christmas decorations and static grass and some tall plants covered in static grass to look like cedars.





I wasn't going to finish this until sometime next month, even said so in a vid that I filmed the other day.
But I was bored and sleepless last night so I sat down and finished this off.

Here are the rest of the final photos... http://www.intscalemodeller.com/viewtop ... 46&t=17768

[Kevthemodeller]

Looks fantastic Coen, I'm thinking about an M10/Achilles for my third build.

[privatepete]

Hi Mike which artist gel did you use Soft Gloss , Regular Gel Matte, Heavy Gel Semi-Gloss to make the waves and white water.For your first try (not bad no its absolutely brilliant.
(I have ordered those 3 smallest rope sizes,I update you with pics when they turn up. Pete)

[Paul2230]

Coan' been watching your you-tube channel and subscribe. I know the reason you don't allow comments,but just won't to say I love your approach and really enjoy watching you builds develop. And thank you for all your how to videos, much appreciated. Keep up the good work.

[hansolo]

Awesome dio, Mike! Top to bottom.
I love that scratch built bridge. Gotta get me some of that foam too!
That wild water looks great too!