The Road to Singapore: Australian gunners defeat tanks of the Japanese Imperial Guards near Bakri 18th January 1942

That is really a neat looking little field piece. Plus, you have obviously developed it very nicely with an expert job of detailing and painting!
Well done Sir!
J

Thanks so much Richard! Yes, I’m happy with the way it’s turning out, even if it was a lot of trial and error along the way…

Thanks so much Mike. We’re getting there!

Thanks Jerry. Now on to finishing the figures… gulp! You’re domain…

Sorry for not been here for a long time. I just say: Stunning work! I especially love the plants! Bravo! /Erik

The figures…

It has been two years since my last figures were being readied for my ‘Liberation, Italy 1944’ dio. In the end there were a whopping eleven in all - and I’m not making that mistake again any time soon… I admit that I have been nervous about doing it all again.

In the iconic photograph at the top of this blog there are four men: Sgt Parsons and two of the gun crew. There’s also a guy with a rifle just visible to the left. He may well be part of the 2 pounder crew as well, because in the cine film taken at around the same time there are four actually serving the gun. Obviously there would have been others in the immediate vicinity, but I feel these are enough to tell the story for now.

Finally, there is the Madras sapper, who I have already trailered above. I’m very glad to have him, because otherwise the figures would all be bunched up at the extreme left of the scene. He also adds scale to the Ha-Go and the trees and, just as importantly, helps to explain why the tree has been felled. I just know that some people looking at this diorama are going to be asking: "How come the tree has fallen behind the tank?!

So here are the figures in either their pre-painted state or after an airbrushed coat of Vallejo Medium Grey 987 (which I read somewhere was a good starting point for Khaki Drill). They are largely a mixture of Miniart, Masterbox and Dragon with heads from Hornet or Royal Models. Re-sculpted webbing is made from Tamiya masking tape, over-painted with Mr Surfacer and any gaps were filled first with Magic Sculpt and then Mr Dissolved Putty.

I took some time to rework the ‘Bombay bloomers’ worn by Sgt Parsons to give them more wrinkles and folds.

The gunner was the hardest figure of all, because he has to fit. He started out with shorts, but looking at the Bakri images at least one of the gunners had long trousers, so I decided to sculpt these - partly to hide all the surgery on his legs. The head on this guy (and the left hand) is from Royal Models - he has a fantastic ‘triumphant’ expression!

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Really looking good man! Dontcha just love getting that webbing to look decent? LoL I have had a lot of practice with that recently.
J

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Thanks Jerry! A lot of inspiration from you… making your own webbing also makes it a lot easier to paint (I’m about to find out!)

Usually I only have to make the connections between the kit and the straps,like on the e-tool or canteen. But most figs are completely missing the strap detail on top of the shoulders that goes with the small pack. I have now done so many of those I can knock them out with putty right quick.
J

Cracking stuff Tim; just one thing - I’m not too sure that the rifle shown would be correct for the time-frame/area. 'Not carping for the sake of it and more than happy to be corrected (I also can’t be bothered to scroll back to the start of this enterprise). I just think that the weapon should/might be the SMLE Mk III.

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Wow! Great work! /Erik

Absolutely fantastic work! Looking forward to see more of theirs masterpiece!

You are right Brian, SMLE No.1 MK III definitely used by the Australians and from images I have seen just about all Brits and Indian troops also.

Dear all,

Sorry for a bit of a leap… but this is finished!

Thanks for all your support and a special mention to Jerry for figure inspiration and Boots for saving me from the wrong Lee Enfields at the last minute…

In the end it was all finished in a bit of a blur to make sure it was ready for the IPMS Scale Model World show at Telford from which I type. It’s sure good to be back!

These pics were taken at the last minute in far from perfect lighting conditions so I hope to post some better ones soon - along with more in progress shots, etc.

All in all I am very happy with the way it has turned out. I took a little bit of artistic licence, of course, but I feel that it captures this significant moment in time…

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Just stumbled across the thread, and how happy I am that I did.

@TanksForTheMemory , I could go on and on about all the amazing aspects of this work, but I’ll leave it at this - bar none, this is the best diorama I’ve seen. It’s definitely my favorite, by far.

Bravo,

Dennis

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Absolutely incredible work, beautifully done in every aspect. Outstanding job Tim!

Rich

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Surely Best in Show (good luck), and making a strong run on the outside for best diorama of 2021 on this forum. Wow the hours that went into this…maybe we should wait for your official photos (please, please some in sunshine & some monochrome!) but all the elements seem to mesh together perfectly scale-colour/tone-wise. And as for that jungle… :dart: :trophy: :tumbler_glass:

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This diorama deserves Gold at least, and I agree with Tim that best of show is within grasp! Even these pictures warrant the full scope of admiration!

Wow! Is all I can say. The only thing missing is the steamy feel to the air. I can feel my clothes sticking to me right now. And of course the cacaphony of insect sounds.
Brilliant! Gold at least.
J

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Outstanding work Tim (and glad to have helped in a very small way); as Jerry says, just looking at it all makes me feel clammy, amidst that enervating heat that only jungles seem to provide.

Seriously good work; keep us posted as to any further info.