I sure do love a nice big diorama… even if it has tiny models 
Been following it since the group build, great to see some more progress!
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Thanks for the interest Bert - though at times it must have felt misplaced! I certainly went off the boil at times, as the scale nearly defeated me. In fact, the figures still might…
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I said home run, but there’re still a few models to complete; I’m no Milliput Ninja that’s for sure, or at least not in this scale. Note how my 9’ x 9’ shelter appears as a loaf of bread before I attempt to trim it all down. The side extensions on the Bedford office truck aren’t much better but this is where this scale does forgive. For the record, windows and entrance flaps are from Tamiya masking tape.
Again, for the (historical) record, the side extensions were often the workplace of the Clerks, who would sit there at a table and typewriter; there was an aperture in the side of the truck and a sort of slide, down which manuscript drafts would appear, from a Staff Officer, for the Clerk to type up. All low-tech but it worked. If the Staff branch wanted to produce their own copies and not use the centralised Receipt & Despatch Centre, then the side tents would also contain a rotary duplicator - and other office impedimenta.
Cramped in the rear of my Land Rover I used to gaze at the space and relative luxury of the other Staff cells with no small envy!
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Love it!!!
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What? Brian they’re tents, not rigid structures, they’re allowed to look soft. Give yourself a break. I think the look great.
Wow, that looks so good,really enjoy the scene and on such a small scale !!!
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We used to run up to Herman from Lothian Bks at least once a week on Sqn PT when I was in Detmold … good old BAOR …
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Well, you’re probably right, but the real things in fact were pretty taut:
12’ x 12’ tent shown - 2 of which I’ve tried to replicate on the model. Needless to say I haven’t bothered with guy ropes in this scale!
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Thanks Anthony - glad it piqued your interest; 'still a fair bit to do and I haevn’t started on the figures yet - well, I’ve installed around 4 but really need to consider a few more.
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Bloody hell John, if you’re running over the Teutoburg you must have been fit! Not for the faint-hearted.
I am now trying to reproduce some of these in 1:300:
“Yes”, my eyes do hurt.
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Really excellent job Brian. Those trucks have some nice detail on them for their scale. The tents look fine as well.
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Well, thanks to all for the comments - all very encouraging - although at times it’s nearly sucked the life out of me; and as for my eyes - well, we won’t talk about them(!)
The most recent now looking a bit better (below).
I’ve acknowledged that my Milliput efforts when it comes to tentage have been less than crisp, and sadly, I’ve noted that a few have a sort of deficit at the corners; to remedy this I’ve utilized a few containers, boxes and the like to hide the flaws. For instance, see here on the Clerks’ 9 x 9 at the RDC:
I’ve modelled a few cardboard boxes, probably full, or now, empty, of paper. Due to the written word in hard copy prevailing back then, paper useage was high, so an RDC would get through no small amount.
At the rear, the Clerks have either stashed their supply of beer (in order that perhaps it’ll chill overnight - and/or get stolen - trusting lot, Clerks), or more likely, binned empty cartons of the BAOR-famous “Yellow Handbags” of Herforder Pils – which must be a first in 1:300:
Front or rear, I’ve managed to conceal the Milliput flaws. To that end, but also because kit was constantly being moved around and trailers rummaged through, I’ve produced more boxes and containers, to position within the Diamonds, or even to pass as jerricans, say, next to the generators:
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Nicely done …it wouldn’t be an exercise without the yellow handbags lol…
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Yep, those yellow bags look great, they make super nice details, just like those reflectors along the roadside…
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Right Chaps, just about everything done bar figures; I’ve deployed around 4, but they’re not great. I’m utilising Tamiya naval figures in 1:350, but they’re really 2-dimensional. I’ve attempted to fatten them up using Mr Dissolved Putty, but I note it shrinks a bit and I need to practice a bit more.
Anyway, just about complete less the pesky figures; I may add a second helicopter as I recall air support to the great and the good was quite lavish, as I suppose it should be for a Corps HQ.
Overall view; Diamonds now complete, helicopter in place, and some German civilian traffic on the main road.
Civilian Beetle on its way, as the Belgian LO turns into the forest track.
Close up of the helicopter - a Westland Scout; I recall that back then most were still in the Earth/Dark Green colour scheme.
German freight on the move; 'could be East German which puts a new slant on things. That’s probably why the Corps Security Section are observing from their Land Rover, just visible through the trees.
Another view of the BE LO’s Minerva Land Rover as it turns down the track; a Military Policeman awaits his arrival a bit further down the track.
Another view of the Scout as a “packet” (ie part of a convoy) drives past.
And lastly another experimental view utilising a backdrop picture. I haven’t got the dimensions quite right yet but it is a work in progress; I’ll display it thus tomorrow at the Avon model show.
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I’ve been working on something for the model that I’d forgotten: quite simply, the latrines! These were less than salubrious, after all, life can be basic in the field, but for the historical record they consisted of a combination of galvanized metal buckets, boxed in as it were with wooden closets, plastic seats, and Hessian and metal pickets’ screens. I’m attempting to replicate this thus:
These were all set up by the members of the Mixed Services’ Organisation (MSO) as previously described; they also undertook the emptying and ultimate disposal, whatever that was. I was just grateful that it didn’t come my way. By God, they earned their pay from my purview.
There was a rigid Apartheid in place back then and Officers and Other Ranks (ORs) used separate facilities. Urinals consisted of funnelled metal tubes simply stuck in the ground; I suppose they were around a metre or so in length, with the funnel at the “aiming” end. These, I was assured, were known as “Desert Roses” which to me, added a certain historical resonance. I suspect these will be a little trickier to represent and I’ll probably go for tiny lengths of plastic sprue and a blob of Mr Dissolved Putty on the end to represent the funnel. Hessian screening provided a degree of privacy, however, the stench from both types also acted as a deterrent to their use. It’s not only bears that, well, you get the picture……
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