As Monty Python would say – “and now for something completely different” … well different for me that is.
WARNING – If you are easily offended by sickly sweet Disney movie charachters this post (and more likley the second post when published) is not for you.
Twisted Miniatures do a couple of Steampunk figures based on the Disney movie Mary Poppins. One figure goes by the name of “Mary Poppets”, the other is simply called “Albert”. Now don’t ask me why I was drawn to these two figures because in all honesty I haven’t a clue. I cannot even claim to have wonderful childhood memories of the film and claim points for nostalgia. The best I can offer is that I had an instant and simplistic idea on how to base them, thought the figures looked colourful to paint and decided to throw caution to the wind and buy them.
Now as mentioned I am no fan of the film, in truth I don’t think I have even watched it from start to finish. However, given the film was released in 1964 I have, like most people I would think, seen countless clips on TV (Disney Time at Christmas springs to mind) and am familiar with several of the films songs. This little diorama was inspired by the song “Chim Chiminey/Step In Time”, specifically the film sequence where they are dancing on the roof. Don’t pretend you don’t know what I am talking about!
OK, time for some pictures and to talk a little about the build.
First up I decided to make a start on painting Mary. Totally arse about face as I always start with the base first but hey ho somes times it’s good to live life on the edge! She isn’t complete yet. Block colouring done but highlighting to start and complete plus she has an umbrella which needs to be attached and painted.
Attention now on the base. Nothing overly complicated, just a roof section. To begin with I needed two sides and a back, MDF and card.
Then both the sides needed to be bricked.
I also needed to construct a chimney stack.
The space between the sides and back then needed to be filled which was done with quick drying clay. I also needed to put down some roof slabs to cover the base in front of the roof and trim and grout the bricks using filler. The whole in the slab is for positioning Albert in due course.
The next step was to start working on the roof tiled section which when complete will be placed on top of the clay and span the two sides. The tiles are made from card using a Green Stuff World hole punch.
If the weather proves to be as bad as what is being predicted then there is a good chance this model will be finished next week.
TIM
The Imperfect Modeller 
Looking good so far! That mini looks finished to me mind you! 🙂
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Actually looking at it again I have done more than I thought but still work to be done. Glad you like it so far.
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Looking good so far! Am I correct in understanding that the whole space inside the roof is filled with clay, or is there a hollow in there? Does that make it very heavy or does it need the weight to keep it stable? Looking forward to seeing it finished 🙂
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Yes, the inside space is now all clay. The tiled roof is just cardboard and the chimney piece will be stuck to that in due course. Mary will then be stuck to the top of the chimney. As Mary is a metal figure I was worried she might add too much weight to the cardboard roof and make it sag. Better to hedge my bets and add some structure behind the card tiles now and the clay was to hand.
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so pleased you post WIP shots, its nice to see how you make up these dioramas, the paintings looking good too, bring on the rain i say..
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I do like WIP posts but if I didn’t do them I wouldn’t be able to blog as often as I do. In fairness I started doing them as a record for myself, at my age it’s getting easier than ever to forget how I did things! 😉
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know that feeling well, did the hole punch make the tile shape?
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Yes, it’s a neat little tool. You can use them up either way or in a combinantion and if you bend them slightly you can get the Roman style roof tiles. Green Stuff World do so clever bits, there site is worth looking at if you haven’t done so already.
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i haven’t, but i will..
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Looking good Dave, I do like Miss Poppet. Greenstuff world do have some amazing gadgets. I was thinking of getting the leaf punch to add leaves to my lizard bases.
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Cheers Steve. I have one of their leaf punches, worth getting in my opinion.
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I just ordered one amongst other things 😁
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Love what you are dfoing with the scratchbuilding scenic base.
Cheers,
Pete.
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Cheers Pere, hope you like it when it’s finished.
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Nice one mate. As Johnny said she looks finished but only you, the artist, can really decide that. Look forward to seeing the finished piece
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I’m like you mate, Ive not seen the movie but I wont lie I do know who she is, but I don’t know Albert I can only imagine he is the character in the second photo dancing with what looks like a pint of beer in one hand !!!
Smart thinking keeping a record of how you did things on the WIP as I now realise I’m not able to remember all the little trick I have used in the past ,AHH !
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It’s an age thing for sure Pat, just as long as we remember that we put such details on the blog in the first place!
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Great WIP, never stop doing them.
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Don’t worry Mark, plenty more in the pipeline. 😊
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