I’m unable to tackle a couple of rather busy AFV projects right now as I’m a little bit indisposed and need a small break; however, to fill the creative gap, I’ve come up with this small vignette, which I shall call “Proof-Reading the Operation Order”. If that sounds suitably obscure, it is. I will explain later. Hopefully, it’ll be less taxing than a full -blown AFV diorama (although most of mine are not much than a tank on a tarted-up base!)
It will be on a small base; this roughly shows the layout:
Sorry Robert nothing quite so dramatic - although that would be a fitting title for say, the subordinate units; the Div HQ giveth, and the Div HQ taketh away, but most definitely does tell its Brigades what to do(!)
An Operation Order, from my memory, (I typed the bloody things) could be around 20 pages long, and have traces, or even maps attached as Annexures; all this little dio will show is, if you like, the mundanity of part of the production process of orders committing men to battle.
As part of the Field Artillery Senior Leadership Course I did one that was 14 pages long. It’s a “five paragraph” OPORD, for less than a platoon sized element.
Brian I love the way your “little break” would be a full scale effort for us mere mortals! Nice scene setter and I do very much like your snap shots of the reality of military life.
Thanks Sam! I’m somewhat hors de combat at the moment, and anything as complicated as an AFV - even my T-80/BRIXMIS planned dio - is a bit demanding at the moment and have had to be put on hold, but I thought I might manage this, though of course, it is, in a way, figure hell - but I’m getting used to that(!)
I suspect the most difficult aspects of this project will be the cam net, and the Sentry figure, so I think I’ll start with these first.
Div HQ - as indeed at all deployable HQs - has some type of defence unit (depending on the size of the HQ - Corps I think, had a battalion assigned to it); anyway, back in the day we had a Platoon from the Royal Pioneer Corps, who, in addition to their dedicated labour-role, often involving the malodourous, provided security; they were responsible for setting up the wire around the HQ, and then controlling access and providing a sentry.
I selected a figure from Tamiya’s pretty well-detailed WW2 set:
Most of the detail will, however, have to sanded off; here’s the figure temporarily positioned with Blu-Tak just to scope the art of the possible. I’ve added a Hornet Head and an Italeri rifle:
So, all I have to do is just about remove all the detail with extended sanding, and replace with card (pockets), Magic-Sculp (Combat Smock), fashioning along the way ‘58 pat CEFO, SR6 respirator case (more Magic-Sculp) scrim up the helmet, add slings and straps (probably lead foil) as necessary, and replace the anklets with puttees. Piece of cake!
As it happened, I decided to tackle the net problem first. This was my cunning plan - I still do not know at the time of writing this - if it will work.
I was going to spray on the gauze bandage I’d selected, a mix of diluted PVA glue, using one of those spray bottles one can buy. Then I thought, why not use spray starch? All I want is a little bit of rigidity and I’ll be good to go, so that’s what I did. It ended up not being especially rigid, but I then sprayed it with a quick blast of primer (rattle can stuff from a car accessory shop). This seemed to work, more or less, though gently does it is the by-word.
Mixing up a not too sloppy mix of PVA glue, I then applied patches where I wanted the plastic scrim (on the real thing) to be. In the Brit Army these (used to) come in roughly triangular patches, green one side and brown the other. Try as I might, I couldn’t get the PVA mix to conform to that shape, so had no real choice other than to apply the best I could. The problem I decided was that the mesh is just too large and the strands not fine enough in 1/35, but to be honest, I don’t think there’s much of another option for deployed cam nets. I let the PVA dry off a bit and then sprinkled over used tea leaves, as I do whenever I use draped cam on AFVs and the like. I haven’t blown away the excess just yet, and will let it all dry a little longer.
If it works, I should be able to wrestle it into the draped cam on poles effect require for this dio.
Fingers crossed folks! If I can keep awake I’ll report back later.
I’ve just had a (rare) thought: this might be useful for those modellers who like to make artillery models; a bit of work, but could be adapted to gun positions I would have thought, be it towed or SP:
Brian that cam net is looking good! What are you using to tie it down?
Only nit pick is with the figure. You may need to tweak a bit. If he’s supposed to be Pioneer Corps then he needs an extra 30kgs or so, mainly around the stomach. He’ll also need a new head. One shaped like, and the size of, a pumpkin. He also has to have a nose that looks like it’s been broken weekly since they joined up!
Well, it’s going be a fragile beast (the net not the pioneer) so careful positioning I should think 2x poles to prop up and possibly some pegs to make it taut enough or the illusion thereof.
The Pioneers were simple souls, One cold morning my Mini wouldn’t start; despite they were on muster parade, they just broke ranks, streamed over and gave me a bump start and I was on my way, much to the fury of their Sergeant,.
Afterthought: I wonder who even knows what a bump-start even is, let alone how to carry it out these days?
That’s another thing that confounds me: when people suddenly present their fist - I stare at it - baffled, Ditto so-called “High Fives” which I absolutely refuse to indulge in, much to the chagrin of my gym instructor, where it seems that every minor effort should be rewarded by this ridiculous gesture!
I’m guessing he was a volleyball player. (It’s a game in which a point is scored every ten seconds or thereabouts. Yet every time they do, they all bunch together and congratulate each other as if it was a difficult, lengthy job well done.)
Hah! I mean, how insecure are you about one’s own prowess? It’s like those delivery firms who badger you at every turn “How did we do? Rate us! Your answer is important to us!” - I mean, what the hell? This constant seeking of approbation drives me up the wall! It just reeks of insecurity and doubt in one’s product. Rest assured, I’ll contact you if I detect faulty goods or you’re not up to snuff, quickly enough!
