If you’re sure that’s where they’d put one…? For a defensive structure it kinda sticks out like the proverbials - I thought they tried to disguise 1939/1940 strongpoints whenever possible…maybe this could be the exception. Put the crane, the train & the boat in place & see how it looks then? Nice downpipe! …he said with a guttural Frankie Howerd voice boom tish 
2 Likes
I know what you mean about camouflage Tim but the one I mentioned near Devonport still stands, below is a google maps view I copied…
And below is one that has now been demolished, unfortunately, and without permission by someone who didn’t approve of fishermen using it as a urinal, 
.
I apologise about the quality of the latter, but it’s a cropped photograph of a larger photo under glass.
But, as you can see, both are very apparent, and with no obvious attempt at concealment.
G 
3 Likes
Hi all,
Had a go at trialling an homemade concrete shuttering template for use with DAS, unfortunately the gaps I left to represent leakage between the shuttering were too wide, 
.
So it’s back to the drawing board, but I think the principle will work, just need to be a tad more subtle, 
.
G
3 Likes
Shame the first attempt had a bit to much leakage… How was the shuttering made, actual bits of wood or plasticard and the das pressed into or the the other way round ?
Good effort tho. Maybe if you don’t leave gaps intensionally, it will look more scale?
I’ve used coffee stir sticks for a mold then poured paster for a cast. Looked pretty good in 1/35
1 Like
A shame indeed John, . The first one was made cutting strips of plasticard, scribing them to give a grain effect, and then gluing them to a backing sheet with gaps between, unfortunately the gaps were too wide, even though they looked small to the MK I eyeball,
Had a second attempt, this time I didn’t cut strips, I simply scribed a sheet of plasticard with individual planks, then scribed wood grain, think this is a bit more to scale, though I think i need to scribe the vertical breaks between planks a little deeper…it’s just a practice, but if I press more gently into the DAS I think it will look okay, .
G
5 Likes
Thinking along similar lines kosprueone…great minds, and all that, .
G
That one looks much better.
Wow you scribed the detail wood grain into plastic first. That’s skills already. What’s DAS?
edit: DAS air dry clay, I just looked it up…
1 Like
Hi all,
Found it difficult getting a consistent thickness of DAS over such a small area, each of the side walls are only about 38x28mm, so create a little jig that would allow me to make two sides at a time that would be approx. 2mm thick, .
When the DAS has cured I will cut each panel free and glue them to foamboard before trimming and cutting out door and embrasure apertures.
I have also started to weather the roofs and gutters a tad more, hopefully get to do a tad more tomorrow, .
Cheers, ,
G
10 Likes
That weathering is looking great G. Really like the realistic grass in the guttering… Very nice . …
That planking effect has turned out nice well for such a very small area… Well done 
1 Like
Diggin’ your dedication to all the details, G
1 Like
Nice progresss… On the pictures the grass in the gutter looks a bit bright. Is that because of the picture?
1 Like
Thanks to John, Kosprueone, and Erwin for the positive feedback, .
As to the grass colour Erwin, I think it’s mainly due to the illumination of the photo, though I do intend to darken the ‘moss’ in the gutter as I know, from experience of having to clear out the gutters at home, that it is almost black (black-brown) in reality, .
G .
Hi all,
More-or-less finished the shell of the pillbox and I’ve given it a base colour. The images below show it in the approximate position, should I opt to use it. If it is used I intend to cut away the ‘cobbles’ so that the pillbox ‘sits-in’ as opposed to perched on top (as in the photos).
Again, if used, I will drape some netting over it so as to hide some of the more obvious flaws, and will probably position some sandbags around it, .
As suggested by Tim (@Dioramartin) I have also taken some images of the pillbox in-situ with many of the other elements that will be used on the finished works to see how it fits, .
Should I use it, or not, …all opinions welcome, .
Cheers, ,
G
7 Likes
Did you check http://www.pillbox-study-group.org.uk/ for references?
1 Like
Right G, That all looks great and I do like the pillbox, next time you do a mock up, can you put a figure in there just to show scale effect ?
I think it would look great, my only little concern is that most pillboxes (in that environment) will be in a position close to the open sea with defined and probably wide arcs of fire and views. If the end of the quay is 10 ft in front of it, that would be fine, but I am not sure it would be that close to the main harbour or ship tie up points. Also, just as a side point, Pillboxes inland would also usually be set in 3s or 4s the 4th being a small command pillbox with comms to the other 3 and the 3 main boxes would be built and sighted to have interlocking arcs of fire so even a small harbour may have a couple lurking in the area to protect it. My other very small point is with it there, the scene is possibly beginning to look a little crowded and with all your work, I hate to think that the showstoppers of the scene (the buildings, the quay sides themselves) will start to get lost and become out of sight —if all that makes sense lol … but once again mate, this is your little work site so its your call — mine are just opinions …
1 Like
Pillbox turned out great.
1 Like
I’m not so sure about it either for same reasons as John – but it’s a flying start for your next project. On the other hand something does need to close off that corner…a pile of naval ammunition? A kid with a fishing rod? Ahhh problem solved, I’ve just noticed those Daleks… (I think they’re looking for their beauty salon - Exfoliate! Exfoliate!)
2 Likes
I’m not so sure that’s such a good idea, maybe getting the bottom of the pillbox really flat is a better idea (sandpaper on a glass sheet?). It will make recovering the situation easier if you change your mind. Perhaps completing the pillbox (painted and weathered) and then trying it in place will give a better idea of its suitability. I wonder if a less visually imposing small sandbagged emplacement might work better?
Regards,
M
1 Like
I do like the pillbox at that location, but I wouldn’t cut away the cobbles. The real things wouldn’t have trenched foundations if built on a solid surface like a quayside - it was good enough so they’d just build up off the existing cobbles. I’d break up the roofline with a layer of sandbags on top and some netting that drapes over the edges. Chances are it would be painted in a way to blend in a bit…
[Edit: I’d also cut off the left side where it “falls off” the edge of the diorama, to break up the completeness of it, the same way you did with the buildings.]
1 Like