forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Armour, Artillery, Vehicles, Ships => WW1 Armour, Artillery, Vehicles, dioramas, associated figures and Ships => Topic started by: gedmundson on December 20, 2020, 03:13:21 AM
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While waiting for the paint to dry on my other project, I decided to build another German WW1 artillery piece - Takom's 42cm Big Bertha. The model seems to be based on a model in a museum in Paris (there are no original Big Bertha's left) and reference material is scarce. There are several inaccuracies in the kit, which I've tried to correct. I've also added detail where I could see it was missing from photo reference. My primary reference was the Osprey book on the 42cm Big Bertha, which helped.
Once set up, the gun was used without the front platform in place, so I had to remove from the kit. The front end had to be modified to accommodate this change. The artillery piece had to be mostly constructed before figures could be decided on and positioned. I've also tried to build/convert some figures from a combination of resin castings I've made for the eventual display. Some of Dragon Models 1/35 scale WW2 German Artillery crew were modified to have a WW1 appearance.
Work continues with figure painting and weathering the gun (the huge shield on the front still needs to be fitted later).
Cheers,
Gary
(https://i.imgur.com/ZygRriC.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/6sMhloN.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/MN69lIA.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/cJMnmZI.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/wzDOxwM.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/PHS32g2.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ZdLgN49.jpg)
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WOW!😳
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Fantastic job on the gun and the figures!
Andreas
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Terrific job (and size!) and lovely additional detailing.
Ciao
Giuseppe
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wow! awesome!
really good job!
i like the added details you did a wonderful job!
ciao
edo
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Thanks Richard, Andreas, Giuseppe and Edo - your encouraging words are appreciated.
I now have the figures primed and ready for paint, so I can hopefully finish this project within the next month!
Regards,
Gary
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Looks fantastic Gary.
Paul
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Hi Gary,
I have this kit in my stash for quite a while now but never started because I wanted to a scene with crew but struggled to find the right figures. So, thanks a lot for presenting a solution even though I'm not sure I can actually realize that myself. I will bookmark this thread anyway for the day I will eventually build it :D
Best regards,
Tim
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Very nice work!! An excellent combination of research and execution. Your figure conversions are amazing!!
Steve
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Paul, Tim and Steve - thanks for taking a look and leaving your kind comments!
My figures have been primed to check for overall appearance, and will be painted hopefully over the next couple of weeks.
Cheers,
Gary
(https://i.imgur.com/urAwtF1.jpg)
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With the painting of the figures underway I'm putting a few more weathering touches on the gun, and have attached the shield.
Cheers,
Gary
(https://i.imgur.com/vHgOSwn.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/tYZdALU.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/fB6QU52.jpg)
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It looks functional !
Alexis :)
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Thanks Alexis - it finally is looking the part, so a base is being made and figures getting painted.
One of the figures holding the map needed a pair of glasses to see properly. I found an old DML etched brass sprue which contained a tiny part I needed.
(https://i.imgur.com/WB2RDqs.jpg)
Cheers,
Gary
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Fantastic work on the model and the figures, Gary. Breathtaking paintjob. If I may, I‘d add a little detail: German artillery of ww1 didn’t wear the Pickelhaube but the Kugelhelm instead. The pike was replaced for a ball looking mount like this:
(https://www.kaisersbunker.com/pt/uberzug_11.jpg)
The only exception were Bavarian artillery troops. These wore the Pickelhaube, but sadly no Bavarian artillery units served the 42cm Dicke Bertha. If this should be of interest, some magic sculpt and a little shortening could do it to turn the Pickelhauben into Kugelhelme.
Best regards,
Andreas
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Fantastic work on the model and the figures, Gary. Breathtaking paintjob. If I may, I‘d add a little detail: German artillery of ww1 didn’t wear the Pickelhaube but the Kugelhelm instead.
The only exception were Bavarian artillery troops. These wore the Pickelhaube, but sadly no Bavarian artillery units served the 42cm Dicke Bertha. If this should be of interest, some magic sculpt and a little shortening could do it to turn the Pickelhauben into Kugelhelme.
Best regards,
Andreas
Andreas - I have to thank you so much for this information. My scenaro was based on the following photo, but knowing the proper uniform information allows me to modify their head wear, and make the diorama more plausible. I believe the photo shows visiting dignitaries to the Big Bertha gun setup (perhaps not attached to the artillery).
(https://i.imgur.com/OLbJf0l.jpg)
I'm currently making the correct tops for the Kugelhelms and will post pics when done.
Here is a photo showing of what you speak - troops of a 42cm "Gamma" gun with their Kugelhelms:
(https://i.imgur.com/vgca2K2.jpg)
As a side note - I have ordered and am expecting soon the Panzer Concepts 1/35 42cm "Gamma" artillery gun :)
Cheers,
Gary
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With great thanks to Andreas "Borsos" on our forum I have been able to add an element of accuracy to the officer's uniforms - converting their Pickelhaubs to Kugelhelms. This was the type of headgear worn by the artillery who operated these large guns. Removing the spiked pikes, I replaced them with blobs of putty shaped like the covers that would fit over the more domed tops for the helmets. The figures painted with Vallejo acrylics.
Cheers,
Gary
(https://i.imgur.com/3Drclv9.jpg)
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Beautiful work on the figures Gary :)
Alexis
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Fantastic conversion on the figures and a breathtaking paintjob especially on the faces of these figures. I can’t wait seeing them posed around the gun on the diorama.
Andreas
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Thanks Alexis and Andreas! Your feedback certainly makes it worthwhile to put up the progress of the build. I finished the project and wanted to share a couple of photos. There's always something else to tweak or correct, but at some point one needs to call it done and move on.
Cheers,
Gary
(https://i.imgur.com/aQgU2N7.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/abFXqLB.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/nMuZWQr.jpg)
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Another fantastic display, Gary. I can’t wait for your next project.
Kevin
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Gary, your diorama is a gem, as usual!
Everey detail is just perfect: groud work is super, figure painting is just fantastic....
I cannot find superlatives enought...
you make me want to build one.... very inspiring!
ciao
edo
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Wow !
This is your best yet Gary ! The most realistic setting I have seen . Grads on a fantastic display of craftmenship !
Alexis
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What a monster of a gun!
Haven't commented yet you wonderful figure painting - that is real art! But now all together with figures it is even more impressive.
Cheers,
Frank
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That turned out to be just perfect! Great diorama!
Andreas
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Agree - this is superb! Another kit I thought about but was too slow to acquire. While it’s all fantastic, I really like the trees and ground cover. cheers Matt
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Gary, this is undoubtedly one of the most magnificent dioramas I have ever seen.
Cheers,
Bud
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Gorgeous crew for your big gun. The diorama is a gem!
Ciao
Giuseppe
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Another fantastic display, Gary. I can’t wait for your next project.
Kevin
Thanks Kevin - hopefully you won't have to wait too long. My Mk.I female tank project is just wrapping up ;)
Cheers,
Gary
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Gary, your diorama is a gem, as usual!
Everey detail is just perfect: groud work is super, figure painting is just fantastic....
I cannot find superlatives enought...
you make me want to build one.... very inspiring!
ciao
edo
Thanks so much, Edo. This was actually quite a difficult model to work on since there is so little info on it. Glad you found it inspiring!
Cheers,
Gary
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Wow !
This is your best yet Gary ! The most realistic setting I have seen . Grads on a fantastic display of craftmenship !
Alexis
Thank you for that, Alexis - I'm so happy this little vignette has been well received ;D
Cheers,
Gary
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What a monster of a gun!
Haven't commented yet you wonderful figure painting - that is real art! But now all together with figures it is even more impressive.
Cheers,
Frank
Thanks Frank - I find painting figures one of my favourite elements of this hobby!
Cheers,
Gary
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That turned out to be just perfect! Great diorama!
Andreas
Andreas - that is such a nice compliment, and I'm so glad you tipped me off about the helmets. It makes it so more accurate. I just received my copy of the book "Field Grey" which is a Schiffer publication full of great pictures of WW1 German Army uniforms. If you don't have it I thoroughly recommend it!
Cheers,
Gary
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Agree - this is superb! Another kit I thought about but was too slow to acquire. While it’s all fantastic, I really like the trees and ground cover. cheers Matt
Thanks Matt. I just bought this kit back in July, so there may be some still out there. The trees and groundwork were a lot of fun to put together!
Cheers,
Gary
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Gary, this is undoubtedly one of the most magnificent dioramas I have ever seen.
Cheers,
Bud
Hi Bud - what a very kind thing for you to say - I'm so pleased you like it. I feel a bit guilty using an aircraft forum to post ground-power builds, but your comment (and of course the others) makes me think it's worthwhile.
Cheers,
Gary
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Gorgeous crew for your big gun. The diorama is a gem!
Ciao
Giuseppe
Thanks Giuseppe - you always make time to look at my work and share some words on it which I very much appreciate. I'm very glad you like the final result :)
Cheers,
Gary
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Incredible work, Gary.
This Dio belongs in the IWM.
Superb!!
vB :o
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Gary,
This is an incredibly magnificent example of the Modeller's "art", you are indeed in a class of your own! Having been privileged to see your work in person so many times over the past years nothing surprises me, but this one really shines! Congratulations on a truly spectacular model!
All the "Very Best"
Lance
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Gary,
That is FANTASTIC !! the gun, the figures, the groundwork. Everything about it is "top notch".
Paul
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Incredible work, Gary.
This Dio belongs in the IWM.
Superb!!
vB :o
Glad you like it Bob - thanks for that!
Cheers,
Gary
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Gary,
This is an incredibly magnificent example of the Modeller's "art", you are indeed in a class of your own! Having been privileged to see your work in person so many times over the past years nothing surprises me, but this one really shines! Congratulations on a truly spectacular model!
All the "Very Best"
Lance
Hello Lance - I'm so happy you like the build! Your kind comments certainly are appreciated in a big way. I look forward to when we can get together and share our work again in person (and have a beer afterwards!).
Cheers,
Gary
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Gary,
That is FANTASTIC !! the gun, the figures, the groundwork. Everything about it is "top notch".
Paul
Thanks Paul, I certainly am happy you dropped by to have a look and your encouraging comments are great to hear :)
Cheers,
Gary
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Another Brilliant diorama! As always with your work the detailing, painting, and figures are Amazing!
RAGIII
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For me: the same as everybody else already said + a third WOW!!!
Willem
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Thanks again Willem!
Cheers,
Gary
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I had no idea these kits existed. Your work is fantastic of course.
Thanks!
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I had no idea these kits existed. Your work is fantastic of course.
Thanks!
Thanks for that Delano. Unfortunately Takom have stopped production of their WW1 kits. Anything that is still available is old stock, or could be sold by someone who has bought them previously and is wishing to sell them off. I was lucky to buy a few of their WW1 kits when my local hobby shop still had a few old ones kicking around.
Cheers,
Gary