Thanks for your kind words Fred, your support is always appreciated, 
.
G, 
1 Like
Hi all,
I’ve spent a tad more time tidying up the edges, as you can see from the before and after images below.
Before (mainly path, road and cobbles, mainly visible along the bottom/bottom right of the image):
After:
And some close-ups:
It still needs some blending of the new/old areas, 
. But, in future, I think I need to find a way of adding the edging before doing the groundwork so it can all be painted as one.
Cheers, ,
G
5 Likes
Hi all,
Can anyone please help? I’m looking for vehicles to populate the scene and had thought about an ambulance and fire engine, but struggling in 1/72nd, .
They need to be WW2 era British, but the old Airfix ‘RAF Emergency’ set, 1) Is the wrong scale at 1/76th, and 2) Whilst the Austin K2 ambulance might have seen civilian service, the Austin K6 Crash Tender only seems to have been used by the military.
I did consider the IBG 1/72nd Bedford QL 3-ton 4x4 Fire Tender, but it seems to have only been used by the military, though some were transferred to civilian service after the war, but it seems not during WW2.
Any ideas chaps?
Cheers, ,
G
2 Likes
British cars and trucks are few and far between.
This is what I found:
A Ford but maybe some of these found their way across the ‘pond’ …
I think a “staff car” type vehicle could be out and about on Civvy Road.
The advantage with cars in military service is that they would be running on petrol instead of
on “wood gas” or not running at all.
A truck might be too large and imposing.
This Bedford (or the variations of it) by IBG could be an option, army vehicle outside the base for some errand or other.
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They do seem rarer than hens teeth … have you thought about the Diecast route or just go with the Bedford and use some artistic measure … I did see it mentioned they were used in 44 in civvi colours ?
3 Likes
Amen …
2 Likes
Thanks Robin, always appreciate your feedback, 
. I have been thinking about the ACE Tilly as a bomb disposal vehicle, though I could use the Airfix one from the ‘RAF bomber resupply’ set, however, I seem to recall you telling me ages ago that the forward hinging door type were specific to the RAF, .
G,
2 Likes
No, that was not me since I do not have that kind of detailed knowledge about
military vehicles and I would have remembered if I had Googled it.
When you write ‘forward hinging’ do you mean that the hinges are at the front?
2 Likes
Thanks John, ‘Hen’s teeth’ is definitely politer than my ‘Rocking Horse s…t’ analogy, 
.
I think your ‘artistic measure’ might be the answer, not sure if an army bomb disposal team could be supported by an army fire appliance, . That might also allow me to use the IBG Chevrolet C60L Ambulance…not beyond the realms of possibility, .
G,
3 Likes
Just take care to avoid creating a “traffic jam”,
it is way to easy to overload and crowd a diorama …
2 Likes
Yes hinged at the front, whereas it was more common for the doors to be hinged at the rear…like the Tamiya kit (1/48 & 1/35).
I wonder who it was that mentioned it, …I’d presumed it was you as you always give detailed and clear feedback, .
G,
1 Like
Both the Hillman and Austin Tillys had the hinges at the rear edge of the door (suicide door)
both on the civilian versions and the military versions
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Also, bear in mind that there were a lot of RAF stations around London, and some in the inner circle, RAF Hendon/Northolt, Biggin Hill, Uxbridge etc so its not outside the realms of possibility that RAF units would of been sent if it was warranted due to their close proximity ??
2 Likes
I found out who it was, it was ‘Copperalis’, apparently the version of the Airfix Tilly was built by ‘Standard’ as opposed to ‘Austin’, the type rendered by ACE (and Tamiya). ‘Frenchy’ provided some images of forward hinged Tillys…see below.
G,
1 Like
Totally understand your ‘traffic-jam’ comment Robin, a valid point, .
G,
2 Likes
Another valid point John, . Perhaps it might be better to focus on ‘bomb disposal’ using a Tilly and some type of Bedford truck for removing the bomb to a safer area for disposal, .
G,
1 Like
Possibly mate, places like Uxbridge, Hendon, Northolt as soon as you are out the gate, you are in built up residential areas
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Aha!
The civilian Standard Flying 12 had suicide doors and the militarised ones (militarised from behind the drivers seat and backwards) also had suicide doors
except for the ones where everything behind the firewall had been rebuilt (as per the photos above)
1939 Standard Flying Twelve
2 Likes
Hi all,
A case of ‘little things please little minds’, 
. I made a small, but useful discovery this morning… .
As much as is possible, I like to make my own scenic bits and bobs, so I’m always on the lookout for new ideas/discoveries, including grass. I typically make this from ‘teddy bear fur’…no teddy bears were harmed during the making of this diorama, .
I dye the fur using various poster paints, trim it off the backing material and put it in a cheap coffee bean grinder…
Over a period of time a build-up of ‘clag’ forms on the side (the brighter green above). I’ve always ignored this as it is a compacted mess, but this morning I decided to scrape it clean, only to find it was formed of very finely ‘chopped’ fur matted together. However, once teased apart it looked as if it might be useful, …
I then had a eureka moment, 
, it might be useable as fine grass/weeds. Until now I’ve used dyed sawdust for this, see below where the pavement abuts the wall…
In 1/72nd, imho, it just about passes muster, however, again imho, the new stuff works much better…
The grass upon the retaining wall still needs trimming once the glue has dried.
Now all I need to do is go over all the sawdust areas, 
.
Cheers, ,
G
9 Likes
Brilliant discovery G, it looks fantastic.
4 Likes