TIM’s Memory Monday (No: 22)

by theimperfectmodeller, posted in Memory Monday, Uncategorized

I didn’t realise it at the time but completing this second WW1 model set me on the path of doing several more.  I hadn’t anticipated getting so absorbed in the period but I was very glad in the end that I did.  I’m no expert on the Great War by any means but I listened to a lot of documentaries (I watched Black Adder Goes Forth too!) at the time and found the whole thing incredible.

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28mm WW1 Diorama (No: 2)

This week saw my second mini WW1 Diorama completed and off the work bench.  The good news is I now have two items for next years Plymouth show, the bad news (or I guess good news too as I enjoy my modelling) is that I’ve got about another 10 exhibits to do!

Not a great deal to say about this model.  The figures were all purchased from Empress Miniatures (Mutton Chop WW1 range) and are some of the best figures in 28mm scale that I have seen.  I’d recommend these figures to anyone else out there who is interested in WW1 they really are excellent.  No adjustments were made to the figures, just the simple case of painting, composing and a bit of base work.  The enamel badge, actually a remembrance lapel badge, was bought on Ebay for a couple of pounds to complete the base.

I did paint these figures slightly different from my other WW1 diorama.  In both instances I put down base coats in Vallejo acrylics but on the first diorama I added a top coat in oils.  On this model I applied a second coat of acrylic followed by an oil paint wash, the oil paint diluted using White Spirit.  I’ve tried using water based washes but personally I’m not a big fan.  It might be the way I use them but the water based washes run off too much for my liking whereas an oil paint wash is absorbed into the acrylic and in my opinion gives a better looking finish.  Each to their own I guess.  In any event I’ll leave those that look at this post to judge for themselves.

Pictures of the final diorama appear below.

TIM

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29 thoughts on “TIM’s Memory Monday (No: 22)”

  1. A lovely piece mate. I’d like to see some photos of it with a black backdrop some time. I like the movement in this diorama. Black Adder 4th is my favourite. I may have said this before but still the final scene always gives me a lump in the throat. Very moving.

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    1. Cheers IRO. The completed model images were taken some time before I discovered and subsequently bought my light box. When we return to our winter months and indoor confinement I think I might make a project of upgrading my photo’s as that sounds like a good idea. As for Black Adder,, couldn’t agree more.

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  4. isn’t it amazing how a simple diorama featuring soldiers in a war most of us are too young to remember provokes such a feeling of sadness, sorrow and is deeply moving. Absolutely cracking piece dave, love it..

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      1. when i have seen some of the old soldiers on tv i must admit i do shed a tear, i just cant imagine what they must have gone through so the young of today can stay safe in their beds but wouldn’t give a hoot to pushing the old boys of the way, i will stop there…

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      2. It is a sad world Steve on so many levels, seeing the way some people have acted during the current crisis is testimony to that. While I was putting together this WW1 project, of which there are many more models to come in the weeks ahead, I learnt a lot more about the war. I listened to numerous YouTube video’ and documentaries and in the end the project became much more of a homage than just a simple exhibit.

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    1. Haha, thanks John and there is nothing wrong with your memory so you can relax on that score. Unfortunately I cannot make the same claim. My biggest fear is being in a police interview room and being asked to account for my movements on the night of …

      I wouldn’t be able to tell them what I had for breakfast that morning!

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  7. Your diorama came out looking very nice indeed. Would be a worthy accent piece to be in a glass case or cabinet, for a WWI display, at a history museum.

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  8. This is a great diorama and I agree with your sentiment on WWI. I was in grad school before I learned about it and as someone who is opposed to war, in the Great War, I found probably the greatest example of the follies and tragedies of war and how violence too often begets more violence as well. But enough about that, I like the sense of movement in this piece and it gets me thinking where are the soldiers charging to? Is it their imminent deaths? Is it one of the rare battles where either side made progress towards the other? I think that is the sign of good art 🙂

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    1. Thank you. The more I learn of it the more remarkable the whole period is. As my WW1 project developed I tried to stay away from simply doing trench pieces and focus on other aspects of the war with the aim being to think and reflect. Hopefully that will appear more obvious as these get reposted in due course.

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      1. I have to admit, my main idea for a WWI diorama does indeed involve trench warfare (though my intention is for it to invoke thinking as well) so I applaud you for going beyond that. I look forward to more being reposted!

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      2. Nothing wrong with the trenches but the key as you say is to make the viewer think. I’ve seen dozens of trench dioramas, all excellent in there own right but equally similar. An evocative piece which is a little different is the way to go if you can pull it off. In any event I am sure it will be very worthy of the era.

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      3. Great advice and something for me to chew on! I have some other diorama ideas lined up for the near future so it will likely be a while before I get around to WWI. More time to gather ideas and inspiration 🙂

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  9. It was great to see this again. I always believe that World War I was absolute hell for the soldiers. I encourage anyone to visit the battlefield of Verdun to see how truly awful that war was. The ossuary haunts me still.

    On a lighter note, I also find the Citadel washes to be very nice, and I am also fond of Army Painters.

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