Bogged down on the Western Front

[Dave W]

I'm looking for something different as my bit in the WW1 GB diorama and this photo found during an internet search for inspiration got me hooked.

 

The mud of the Western Front sometimes defined that war and it was also a forced transition from horsepower to machinery...so what about a diorama of a staff car bogged in the mud being pulled free by a horse?

Here's the central elements to the project:



The horse is courtesy of a Masterbox set and the bogged vehicle is an Airfix Prince Henry Vauxhall. A block of florist's foam sculpted into a wooden base will form the basis of the terrain. Artists materials will create the muddy terrain.

The plan is to keep the diorama fairly simple and low budget but with some visual impact. The scale is 1/32.

This should be a fun build and quite different to my usual builds.

Dave Wilson
Gold Coast
Australia

[Manni]

Oh, this will be very interesting.
I will watch carefully.
Manni

[Borsos]

Hi Dave,
great idea! If you use Tom's Modellworks Spoked wheels set in 1/32 you'll have a much better scale effect with your wheels. Another way to improve this kit I found here: http://www.themotormuseuminminiature.co.uk/re-spoking-wire-wheels.php
Borsos

[Des]

An excellent idea Dave, I'm looking forward to seeing you make a start on your dio.

Des.

[coyotemagic]

Very cool idea, Dave!  I like it a lot and will follow with great interest.
Cheers,
Bud

[dr 1 ace]

Very cool idea, Dave!  I like it a lot and will follow with great interest.
Cheers,
Bud

Same here.

Ed

[lone modeller]

That looks to be a very original idea - am looking forward to following this one.

Stephen.

[RAGIII]

Very cool idea, Dave!  I like it a lot and will follow with great interest.
Cheers,
Bud

Same here.

Ed

and so says the Third Amigo!
RAGIII

[Dave W]

Okay so here we go with the GB diorama entitled "Bogged Down on the Western Front".

Construction is underway on the Airfix Prince Henry Vauxhall car and it's a remarkably detailed kit from 1971. The base of the diorama is a florist's foam block which has been textured to receive a coating of plaster of paris which will be rendered into a mud terrain and then suitably painted.

A horse from a Masterbox set is made and ready for painting so here's a preliminary look at the key elements:





Theres a ways to go yet but the empty seats of the car will be partly dressed with scaled down prints of real Western Front maps:



And even a 1/32 scale copy of the Daily Mirror



The driver and some other figures are scheduled for work when the key elements are finished.

Dave Wilson
Gold Coast
Australia

[RAGIII]

That is an awesome start! This one will certainly be fun to watch come together!
RAGIII

[Des]

You have made an excellent start with this diorama David, I will be watching the progress of this with great interest.

Des.

[Nigel Jackson]

I can't wait to see how this develops, David, as you build on this excellent start.

Best wishes
Nigel

[lone modeller]

That is a great idea to use contemporary material in the back of the car. Very realistic. Looking forward to more.

Stephen.

[Dave W]

So here we are further into the diorama build and the various elements are coming together nicely.

Work on the Airfix 1/32 Prince Albert Vauxhall is almost done.





The base and horse are done. The base is plaster of Paris painted with various acrylics and highlighted with Tamiya Mud. The horse is from a Masterbox set and a forlorn tree from the spares box adds some Western Front flavour.



The car is part weathered but not yet "muddied" into the base but its sitting in the pose it will be glued into and we are now seeing the scene as it will play out- staff car bogged down and horse pulling it free.







There's still some way to go. Lots of weathering yet and a soldier or two will be added.

This has been a most enjoyable build and a refreshing distraction from my usual WW1 builds.

Dave Wilson
Gold Coast
Australia

[IanB]

Coming along very nicely, it will certainly be a little different!

Ian