Author Topic: RAF RE 8 and Camel Ambulance diorama in 1/72  (Read 1473 times)

Offline Dirigible-Al

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RAF RE 8 and Camel Ambulance diorama in 1/72
« on: August 11, 2025, 04:22:52 PM »
It was one of those rare days in Britain where a cloudless sky was above me and bright sunshine. I thought this was a perfect opportunity to photograph a desert diorama. I still had one more Arab rebel and one camel to put on but I thought it best to take this opportunity, they may stay off it now anyway. I wanted sharp bold shadows and I got them. RE.8 was a resurrected Airfix kit built badly by me many years ago. Imperial Camel Corps are Strelets figures. Arab Revolt figures are a mix of Strelets and modified Airfix WW1 German Infantry. The two airmen are both modified German Infantry. Camel Ambulance is scratch built and rested camels are modified casts of a Strelets figure. For some reason I am no longer able to post URL links from Imgur or Flickr hence the multiple posts of compressed images. If I resolve this issue I will replace the images with URL links on one post.

Thanks for all the support I received in the building of this, Alan.

Build log: https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=14813.0
« Last Edit: August 11, 2025, 04:29:22 PM by Dirigible-Al »
I heard that it all started when a bloke called Archie Duke shot an ostrich 'cause he was hungry!

Offline Dirigible-Al

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Re: RAF RE 8 and Camel Ambulance diorama in 1/72
« Reply #1 on: August 11, 2025, 04:24:43 PM »
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I heard that it all started when a bloke called Archie Duke shot an ostrich 'cause he was hungry!

Offline Dirigible-Al

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Re: RAF RE 8 and Camel Ambulance diorama in 1/72
« Reply #2 on: August 11, 2025, 04:25:27 PM »
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I heard that it all started when a bloke called Archie Duke shot an ostrich 'cause he was hungry!

Offline Dirigible-Al

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Re: RAF RE 8 and Camel Ambulance diorama in 1/72
« Reply #3 on: August 11, 2025, 04:26:14 PM »
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I heard that it all started when a bloke called Archie Duke shot an ostrich 'cause he was hungry!

Offline macsporran

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Re: RAF RE 8 and Camel Ambulance diorama in 1/72
« Reply #4 on: August 11, 2025, 05:31:38 PM »
I didn't follow the build progress so am knocked out to see this wonderfully alive scene in completion.
You've caught so much movement in a static display. I can feel the heat and smell the camel dung!
Absolutely splendid model making.
Congratulations.
Sandy

Offline NigelR

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Re: RAF RE 8 and Camel Ambulance diorama in 1/72
« Reply #5 on: August 11, 2025, 05:56:12 PM »
That is brilliant Alan, very original and tells a story of a much forgotten area of action. Very clever and inventive modelling all round resulting in a completely unique and very interesting diorama.

I just have one suggestion - I would paint the wooden frame black as IMO it detracts from the scene as it is lighter than the base. It draws your eye away from the diorama. But maybe that's just me!

Offline PrzemoL

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Re: RAF RE 8 and Camel Ambulance diorama in 1/72
« Reply #6 on: August 11, 2025, 07:28:50 PM »
A very lively interesting scene!
Ash nazg durbatuluk, ash nazg gimbatul,
Ash nazg thrakatuluk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.

Offline Dirigible-Al

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Re: RAF RE 8 and Camel Ambulance diorama in 1/72
« Reply #7 on: August 11, 2025, 10:27:46 PM »
Thanks for your comments PrzemoL and Macsporran. Nigel - I will put a dark stain on the wood when I get a chance and see how that looks.
Alan.
I heard that it all started when a bloke called Archie Duke shot an ostrich 'cause he was hungry!

Offline WD

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Re: RAF RE 8 and Camel Ambulance diorama in 1/72
« Reply #8 on: August 14, 2025, 01:49:35 AM »
A wonderful, and very unusual, chapter of the Great War brought to life! Kudos sir!

Warren D

Offline DaveB

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Re: RAF RE 8 and Camel Ambulance diorama in 1/72
« Reply #9 on: August 15, 2025, 04:13:04 AM »
That's really clever work, Alan.

Love your diorama - I just hope painting all these camels did'nt give you the hump ............ !

Regards

Dave
As we say in fencing, what's the point!

Offline Dirigible-Al

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Re: RAF RE 8 and Camel Ambulance diorama in 1/72
« Reply #10 on: August 15, 2025, 07:25:39 AM »
Cheers Warren.
Dave - the thing that actually did give me the hump was painting the humans that were cast in that horrible bendy, soft plastic that paint and glue refuse to stick to.
Alan.
I heard that it all started when a bloke called Archie Duke shot an ostrich 'cause he was hungry!

Offline lone modeller

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Re: RAF RE 8 and Camel Ambulance diorama in 1/72
« Reply #11 on: August 17, 2025, 08:19:59 AM »
I too missed the build log for this so I am going to study it properly shortly.

This is an amazing scene - just the sort of thing that I would like to do but lack the skills and patience to do so. You have really captured the sense of movement and urgency in the figures which contrasts with the lying camels. The cracked surface f the dried up lake bed is also very well done.

Top marks for the idea and execution.

Stephen.

Offline Flamingo

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Re: RAF RE 8 and Camel Ambulance diorama in 1/72
« Reply #12 on: August 20, 2025, 06:13:06 AM »
Really like your diorama!

The trouble with the soft plastic starts with removing the mould lines...

At first I expected a new Sopwith variant though.

Joachim
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Offline Dirigible-Al

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Re: RAF RE 8 and Camel Ambulance diorama in 1/72
« Reply #13 on: August 20, 2025, 09:40:41 PM »
Thanks for your comments Stephen and Joachim. A Sopwith Camel Ambulance Variant would be an interesting subject if one was ever made.
Alan.
I heard that it all started when a bloke called Archie Duke shot an ostrich 'cause he was hungry!

Offline FokkerFodder

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Re: RAF RE 8 and Camel Ambulance diorama in 1/72
« Reply #14 on: August 21, 2025, 01:46:45 AM »
I love an action packed diorama! Looks great!
Cheers
Matt