tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71083826654581194602024-03-19T00:07:11.584-04:00USMRR Aquia Line and other Model Railroad AdventuresA blog describing the historical basis, design, construction and operation of Bernard Kempinski's O Scale Model railroad depicting the Aquia and Falmouth Line of the US Military Railroads and his other modeling adventuresBerniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.comBlogger1289125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-47136210043146646832024-03-11T00:26:00.004-04:002024-03-11T08:28:31.388-04:00Phase 1 D-Day Diorama Is Complete<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOK4x1aUCzggEPejjLZpNkKrXl3EKXvKYz7djftJJwD-ETPoUNJOuL_X11ThWX87AubIO24wdHy1jJgQiNCwNUpFg8sS7Rn3fM_ZK9b4y2Jq2VKjL9sxWkn2nU5_zK_BuP6mZ0t8dH5XWWk2s011ZfOogCZmy0IGh56zU3nf2WAOtMeVnjwYWT9X8CEvdA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2996" data-original-width="6420" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOK4x1aUCzggEPejjLZpNkKrXl3EKXvKYz7djftJJwD-ETPoUNJOuL_X11ThWX87AubIO24wdHy1jJgQiNCwNUpFg8sS7Rn3fM_ZK9b4y2Jq2VKjL9sxWkn2nU5_zK_BuP6mZ0t8dH5XWWk2s011ZfOogCZmy0IGh56zU3nf2WAOtMeVnjwYWT9X8CEvdA=w640-h298" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">German View of the Invasion. This is opposite the view that most visitors to the<br />diorama will see.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We wrapped up work on the D-Day diorama today. Keith arrived today with the shipping crate in his van. He had about 30 figures to install according to the narrative he has designed for the diorama. Most of the other work was done earlier in the week. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0pAmfhmLX0DWoljS0PDEEh25wG8lW7mhlT0PTGgWsOJs5g6JlsJJ1Mf9Xg5JpwJRkQp6jaOJDuTLOlNZjuEIuG2iqB45_BGAtrzaxjwI2RDheg2lZKN8xPwQxe8HevSGgRb7AG8bXhr8sEkOv5_3yRggtt3n9-R3sghShhUP3oRPQa5IYMA7Zuh4pd4Uv" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0pAmfhmLX0DWoljS0PDEEh25wG8lW7mhlT0PTGgWsOJs5g6JlsJJ1Mf9Xg5JpwJRkQp6jaOJDuTLOlNZjuEIuG2iqB45_BGAtrzaxjwI2RDheg2lZKN8xPwQxe8HevSGgRb7AG8bXhr8sEkOv5_3yRggtt3n9-R3sghShhUP3oRPQa5IYMA7Zuh4pd4Uv" width="320" /></a></div><br />Jeff Hammer and John Drye stopped by Wednesday night to work on punch list items. JD installed most of the German infantry and remaining weapons. Jeff worked on scenic details such as barbed wire and log piles. The fences really added a nice touch to the diorama.<p></p><p>I worked on the remaining punch list items such as installing boats, painting fascia and adding flickering LEDs to the burning LCM. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_mYMzOiXqp8nupDsXymvSNMcVIsNX9Qx1JfV2_PN7rPfdkKaQY9k9NVp0UPoG1kwmAev2kTBPkfl2iURpeYt-t5W6Rah8i1tAq3bEI75IB_PFZ-7iWGVD6v6os0WN23xUEwjmXKtN0zH2TtfRGb9tn-butrS5SkSpIXiwKe4UoTk9JJnVJLKKqYUT4LWq" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4640" data-original-width="6960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_mYMzOiXqp8nupDsXymvSNMcVIsNX9Qx1JfV2_PN7rPfdkKaQY9k9NVp0UPoG1kwmAev2kTBPkfl2iURpeYt-t5W6Rah8i1tAq3bEI75IB_PFZ-7iWGVD6v6os0WN23xUEwjmXKtN0zH2TtfRGb9tn-butrS5SkSpIXiwKe4UoTk9JJnVJLKKqYUT4LWq=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgauGRclU0A64LiUKucfxtrP7K6H3Mt9Hs4HAcJXcwZ5FwBo39tsJi2SSNjimJwVtn1XJeOPXim4mlDhH1XPqpbYkzxbzHt_yQ7EyQD9B-kIN9zS-HscFnp8Mc8CKJ4I4ZLa9gIyU7ihQ_cwKYyBKxsHK_gwiG1rTsEcngOvdBKIc4jzFPaN8uZaD9zYV-J" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgauGRclU0A64LiUKucfxtrP7K6H3Mt9Hs4HAcJXcwZ5FwBo39tsJi2SSNjimJwVtn1XJeOPXim4mlDhH1XPqpbYkzxbzHt_yQ7EyQD9B-kIN9zS-HscFnp8Mc8CKJ4I4ZLa9gIyU7ihQ_cwKYyBKxsHK_gwiG1rTsEcngOvdBKIc4jzFPaN8uZaD9zYV-J" width="320" /></a></div><br />Mike and Linda Pierce arrived on Sunday morning for a visit. Kieth put them to work prepping and touch up painting figures. I didn't have much to do today, so I got the camera ready for a photo session and waited to load it all.<p></p><p>Keith and Ted, a friend of Keith's that is a woodworker, built the carrying cases that will also serve as a table for the diorama. The diorama comes apart in 2 sections. Each section slides into the case. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMx3ARVVg7BrdUpB3BE7i7xnVIQkhi52OU1PhN5bKN2xWGNVli5bdhSA40QcCnwnEAiWl_tvtE_kr8Ljr-KAbtxjGKRY3YKVcW89UJoM3g5vqSgjgc17lNYr5JtXLoIzRvpVAeL3hFigLERdwH_kuQ1f6_-Sjsx9NMSdwcq5oirvotppIzIkI_frqKgKsj" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMx3ARVVg7BrdUpB3BE7i7xnVIQkhi52OU1PhN5bKN2xWGNVli5bdhSA40QcCnwnEAiWl_tvtE_kr8Ljr-KAbtxjGKRY3YKVcW89UJoM3g5vqSgjgc17lNYr5JtXLoIzRvpVAeL3hFigLERdwH_kuQ1f6_-Sjsx9NMSdwcq5oirvotppIzIkI_frqKgKsj" width="320" /></a></div><br />The case is quite heavy. Keith says it weighs about 100 pounds, though it didn't feel that heavy to me when I was helping move it. The case has it space for the legs. The saw horses in the picture are only to help load it. <p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfb-md5BP4pEJPXJQ3K9KhVhIZ8XhXNfGOoBscV3u8ftXTLrMK3yFxAlD0cUdv0EWx8JPi1JDXRy5d4uMn-NhNu4PvepbnI0U6WtmMXQFM7pslzyhabQK0OqXzUHBk-TV-BGdcLlFIvmdWUXaOuOzhMb7WzVDf6m4EzamuGesoRVSeicHWB6bSY_yVC3Fa" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfb-md5BP4pEJPXJQ3K9KhVhIZ8XhXNfGOoBscV3u8ftXTLrMK3yFxAlD0cUdv0EWx8JPi1JDXRy5d4uMn-NhNu4PvepbnI0U6WtmMXQFM7pslzyhabQK0OqXzUHBk-TV-BGdcLlFIvmdWUXaOuOzhMb7WzVDf6m4EzamuGesoRVSeicHWB6bSY_yVC3Fa=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Here are some final photos of the finished diorama. Keith has a bit more work to do for his part, such as the backdrop and information plaque. We'll start work on Phase 2 in a few weeks. <div><br /></div><div>One aspect I like about this diorama is its broad scope. Many folks have built dioramas with a this theme before, but I don't know too many that show the actions with this scope. Keith has woven in numerous historically accurate vignettes and story elements in the diorama. But I think it is the overall spectacle that makes this one work. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks again to everyone that helped.<br /><div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4QxbeYY17Vxc3s2A07NzzneBeQ96mYw1Zi3Ca7oqm5G2VgWhExzRfRTK-6bPnC0i9Oom7vLqWhKJ_bpzYnKbgJv86-Eg6Xrvtdhga19mP_rgasg5HE-9TsoA2Al6yY4zxFySLsPfpBwatjyQdHPdxPMF6bFZJK6eJZ7bf5ZIuSbg65e5Gc4jLv-NL0h12" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4640" data-original-width="6960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4QxbeYY17Vxc3s2A07NzzneBeQ96mYw1Zi3Ca7oqm5G2VgWhExzRfRTK-6bPnC0i9Oom7vLqWhKJ_bpzYnKbgJv86-Eg6Xrvtdhga19mP_rgasg5HE-9TsoA2Al6yY4zxFySLsPfpBwatjyQdHPdxPMF6bFZJK6eJZ7bf5ZIuSbg65e5Gc4jLv-NL0h12=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjn-OY28wwKTwixNQYUoiI5oqfTJpejlEGGzDmMvqXwJz9GWQYQMRUrZ_yjlfqyn-xcY33aOtnu6KGSU4j9iI10kOUV95E8G9T_6p8GX-tliMMe9-oBxFmMsbe4KmZSHGl-9IPRwCAq8pH1AOQiT4qo3G00en34Q6GKZo-XdCkaiSSplce2Fg1QHHrdNOVw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4640" data-original-width="6960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjn-OY28wwKTwixNQYUoiI5oqfTJpejlEGGzDmMvqXwJz9GWQYQMRUrZ_yjlfqyn-xcY33aOtnu6KGSU4j9iI10kOUV95E8G9T_6p8GX-tliMMe9-oBxFmMsbe4KmZSHGl-9IPRwCAq8pH1AOQiT4qo3G00en34Q6GKZo-XdCkaiSSplce2Fg1QHHrdNOVw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNdm6h8KwjUpqUjSTnp-CSqzL6gf0zGZ3idToe_PrAcHWVdDQx_enXmQkQdlvsIOzIQxcV5UQUxpp5Vd9aXXieBhqPKb4IoY5a9yDWa8LwHEmpa5BPPmFbpW5nTF8C8sxtjNNtO8vzpo36-LysVPF-sPIexLWsaEiByM3jetGk8_BKjoGG_ewuIcSiZE7Z" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4640" data-original-width="6960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNdm6h8KwjUpqUjSTnp-CSqzL6gf0zGZ3idToe_PrAcHWVdDQx_enXmQkQdlvsIOzIQxcV5UQUxpp5Vd9aXXieBhqPKb4IoY5a9yDWa8LwHEmpa5BPPmFbpW5nTF8C8sxtjNNtO8vzpo36-LysVPF-sPIexLWsaEiByM3jetGk8_BKjoGG_ewuIcSiZE7Z=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p></div></div></div>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-71531681033724258872024-03-05T23:27:00.008-05:002024-03-06T09:32:46.227-05:00Three Day Marathon Work Session<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3fueRzAdkZK79cea7vhLbQ3noFqPGuLiArYRJZGS_dQ3ybIlAht8AiMV160x40NYbxOoB82Jpd9NAlNKqIV38hGGy_5SyzChlyztTyz0-RxM676K3i5AU0hAhZpDYVmGWhGFNuw03gqQuNbbk7rpWYKSYAF9J-q8IPOCt2OHzkRkpH5IGvKwW7Oj8Nb7J" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3775" data-original-width="6960" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3fueRzAdkZK79cea7vhLbQ3noFqPGuLiArYRJZGS_dQ3ybIlAht8AiMV160x40NYbxOoB82Jpd9NAlNKqIV38hGGy_5SyzChlyztTyz0-RxM676K3i5AU0hAhZpDYVmGWhGFNuw03gqQuNbbk7rpWYKSYAF9J-q8IPOCt2OHzkRkpH5IGvKwW7Oj8Nb7J=w640-h348" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>We just wrapped up a three day marathon work session on the D-Day Diorama. Whew!</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh13zfR2LfAe2Oldq-Z_xZfjvF9jS7wXWFztGWlt0UXZQbG8kUMzxini8NzmemRFwkOyOstvKWdfyB7rMRdwmTSWq4wbQnW40Pq9lPTJyJt7_vBBDq9rFPNvLhzvqJvV_emqeozV1vQ4Q5PwNbGhE8aZrgKUwQoE3hRjxhrppoujyYZ3twac_H5KX6c2Yau" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh13zfR2LfAe2Oldq-Z_xZfjvF9jS7wXWFztGWlt0UXZQbG8kUMzxini8NzmemRFwkOyOstvKWdfyB7rMRdwmTSWq4wbQnW40Pq9lPTJyJt7_vBBDq9rFPNvLhzvqJvV_emqeozV1vQ4Q5PwNbGhE8aZrgKUwQoE3hRjxhrppoujyYZ3twac_H5KX6c2Yau" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeff paints figures while Mark and Charlie <br />drop off more painted figures</td></tr></tbody></table><br />On Sunday Mark Franke, Jeff Hammer, John Drye and Tom Karstens joined me for the start of the worksession. Mark worked on the boats, Tom and Jeff worked on figures. I continued work on the WN62 fighting positions. Later that day Mark and Charlie Fastoso stopped by to drop off the 160 figures that his gaming group painted. John Drye came by a bit later and finished painting all the German figures. They are in 10mm scale as they will be further back.<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhrfIqhv9V-nxh9nOqckeINxQ6uFkY4xcqKGrulrqAgaTbX0Cv67IRP5h7X0wUflyEZf4ENUL4gsQrW6EXw6mcEAmEy7pkqV_M_KoVpfVO9Um3S-0_yGnBhjR8sbfpFI0m3hNChg88jmhhG9SgVbBN4oSBCWzJXaic76CDdltWy1Oy93F3lUWZC-gn5pir" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhrfIqhv9V-nxh9nOqckeINxQ6uFkY4xcqKGrulrqAgaTbX0Cv67IRP5h7X0wUflyEZf4ENUL4gsQrW6EXw6mcEAmEy7pkqV_M_KoVpfVO9Um3S-0_yGnBhjR8sbfpFI0m3hNChg88jmhhG9SgVbBN4oSBCWzJXaic76CDdltWy1Oy93F3lUWZC-gn5pir" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keith working on the figure placement </td></tr></tbody></table>Keith Rocco showed up Monday for 2 days of constant work on the diorama. Keith proved to be the Eveready Bunny of modeling as he worked nearly non-stop in the two days he was here. He focused on installing the boats and figures. He also installed most of the pole obstacles. <br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUytFB64w70Iq2MjyvtAcgpgVM3AO_war4LBBfiNrq1KqceHug7rCfikPw0oHazrkFk3Z_Pl4xcNvVhsrf416z86RIpC5kQE1Hqdumf90Abq-UGirlt11Nmh7ZSRrgrFexPHzrqZO48ShiFgz9ChwfGiEY3BBMdpldvyQfGSENb8ngaIBDjQw4BcQ-3C3J" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUytFB64w70Iq2MjyvtAcgpgVM3AO_war4LBBfiNrq1KqceHug7rCfikPw0oHazrkFk3Z_Pl4xcNvVhsrf416z86RIpC5kQE1Hqdumf90Abq-UGirlt11Nmh7ZSRrgrFexPHzrqZO48ShiFgz9ChwfGiEY3BBMdpldvyQfGSENb8ngaIBDjQw4BcQ-3C3J" width="320" /></a></div><br />Keith discovered that he could modify the poses of the metal figures by bending arms and legs. He modified many of the figures that are in the water by trimming off their lower body.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjdXuOggOACafvccbfHV7aeBmiIJnFCfH44s8LHWGCZ36nTbxdoqQgNuyKyd0FAMNPbcriVr6QIUvvY0v1MAlNI-YcWW_BRDTDb2a2Osh6IEJJobD0xUuVwTOi01FcrI5ZvmzXzr6tE6G63m4KaoJtgr0OOmT8soOcZK1oHqtpvItBwEfMJVuyuWyWUvR8h" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjdXuOggOACafvccbfHV7aeBmiIJnFCfH44s8LHWGCZ36nTbxdoqQgNuyKyd0FAMNPbcriVr6QIUvvY0v1MAlNI-YcWW_BRDTDb2a2Osh6IEJJobD0xUuVwTOi01FcrI5ZvmzXzr6tE6G63m4KaoJtgr0OOmT8soOcZK1oHqtpvItBwEfMJVuyuWyWUvR8h=w225-h400" width="225" /></a></div><br />He also concentrated on cutting holes in the surf to allow the boats to sit more realistically in the water. <p></p><p>I worked on the remaining details and fighting positions on WN62. I also finished the command villa, now in a destroyed state. </p><p>We are about 95 percent done with the diorama. Keith took the remaining figure home with him to trim bases and touch up paint. </p><p>I took a few photos tonight to see how it all looks. </p><p>It was a fantastic three days. We should be done with this by next weekend. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiR0bYinqDpfZPwfQjEI2d5jNHy79LrD0s1XqlcvZa1NbEpYRJ-B5gqunL8VleXCvqgdjHZS3pm29FOioUXWckKXTAoh6u1aeIMeCNS-PcGRurfsR3cxEp1uvKj5Wq27FljT_52KA6ggZO0ut4_tlAkrLhLUUXjmD5WnKVrg1LNmfcIFRYaUIc8MuXxEhg8" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3957" data-original-width="6960" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiR0bYinqDpfZPwfQjEI2d5jNHy79LrD0s1XqlcvZa1NbEpYRJ-B5gqunL8VleXCvqgdjHZS3pm29FOioUXWckKXTAoh6u1aeIMeCNS-PcGRurfsR3cxEp1uvKj5Wq27FljT_52KA6ggZO0ut4_tlAkrLhLUUXjmD5WnKVrg1LNmfcIFRYaUIc8MuXxEhg8=w640-h364" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiT5-ZX9zawJX6U0ZBwozfM5Z2KTsXK0petEtSQmeC2KeRx3psy-SEOdURJWZ1ggHTmTfXtdbDXgo4lXyy6wCvuIFXM0RMKNwXgCMvRsc30jvORyDX7jF_DOyqOS4iLsKs97lSxNu_WZP8PwH7x1_nxua95SdnfcsZBn3Fnz0RNrMqtQbasT_LRxbiO-WEr" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="5040" data-original-width="6960" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiT5-ZX9zawJX6U0ZBwozfM5Z2KTsXK0petEtSQmeC2KeRx3psy-SEOdURJWZ1ggHTmTfXtdbDXgo4lXyy6wCvuIFXM0RMKNwXgCMvRsc30jvORyDX7jF_DOyqOS4iLsKs97lSxNu_WZP8PwH7x1_nxua95SdnfcsZBn3Fnz0RNrMqtQbasT_LRxbiO-WEr=w640-h466" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghl1Fz91TM-aYJUMudsxd0hIKBjeC1aaBnpeMkRecQq6-RIU4gq27RW5b2mnVW0u3sLUrLdLy42Q0j5TnJtKqaljT0ikZcJaX9vZJHDIo-4IGig3Dt3M_qykKEW_V3oZRbY3toXqQfbSbeoPSQBu_NF1X6K4HYBlOYwvtTmkEpEekribhB3h8icX6ksr6Y" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghl1Fz91TM-aYJUMudsxd0hIKBjeC1aaBnpeMkRecQq6-RIU4gq27RW5b2mnVW0u3sLUrLdLy42Q0j5TnJtKqaljT0ikZcJaX9vZJHDIo-4IGig3Dt3M_qykKEW_V3oZRbY3toXqQfbSbeoPSQBu_NF1X6K4HYBlOYwvtTmkEpEekribhB3h8icX6ksr6Y" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNU8popVix6TS9JqYlHYivaAnE4CP1bWOK334ZX8FgdoQQs1B_CtWy7EdlOQSKkUGS-JK6KZBUTePVqcHZ6Klx2U3EufBVsaq0KzfA6Gk6Exsyya2h0BgW8NIohCOqBvpGslC29N67fd2CL8DBcdTdtymn1X2cj_rCJukohKta6oVzEMgf5MtGPatLIu-P" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4640" data-original-width="6960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNU8popVix6TS9JqYlHYivaAnE4CP1bWOK334ZX8FgdoQQs1B_CtWy7EdlOQSKkUGS-JK6KZBUTePVqcHZ6Klx2U3EufBVsaq0KzfA6Gk6Exsyya2h0BgW8NIohCOqBvpGslC29N67fd2CL8DBcdTdtymn1X2cj_rCJukohKta6oVzEMgf5MtGPatLIu-P=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-21368668922949945252024-03-02T23:30:00.003-05:002024-03-03T01:53:23.298-05:00A Railroad on Omaha Beach?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6n-0hya88_JEiKy5IwDnAA5qIx0bZF4XmUfSscDvcGDgEKjvzxhdhMKNNlaHHiRfaNSVRxSzag8AcSKiXf8QJWULEbcCxQAHzKsrstteBWRuouvcft8U9VjbVow8BnuRgC9LIdHFmwQNwQqWl-4c3dDxuW4dMPDLlAWBuNVVAvDMdj3jmpPxhfCdfqgJs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4004" data-original-width="5500" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6n-0hya88_JEiKy5IwDnAA5qIx0bZF4XmUfSscDvcGDgEKjvzxhdhMKNNlaHHiRfaNSVRxSzag8AcSKiXf8QJWULEbcCxQAHzKsrstteBWRuouvcft8U9VjbVow8BnuRgC9LIdHFmwQNwQqWl-4c3dDxuW4dMPDLlAWBuNVVAvDMdj3jmpPxhfCdfqgJs=w640-h466" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWXwjQs5tyBnE0aMSW-TXrrh3k1nTVxL4Iz_Itg-1Ei6r9-fWgZgq7UW266UWQnrGeCJ-bjpIsEgGeHL7TPG3zD2FTaSWK5efRZLZLHpOslQeafTiya1LmwIOPXlOZxiDRQgpdkRkOaQkHjnSQsjnjSTL5L_zYUlsjjSDrHQao6VjSwGfMeGpusGqPuHcg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2480" data-original-width="3400" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWXwjQs5tyBnE0aMSW-TXrrh3k1nTVxL4Iz_Itg-1Ei6r9-fWgZgq7UW266UWQnrGeCJ-bjpIsEgGeHL7TPG3zD2FTaSWK5efRZLZLHpOslQeafTiya1LmwIOPXlOZxiDRQgpdkRkOaQkHjnSQsjnjSTL5L_zYUlsjjSDrHQao6VjSwGfMeGpusGqPuHcg=w400-h291" width="400" /></a></div><br />You knew I had to find a way to add a railroad to the diorama. But, it's not gratuitous! There was a 60cm Decauville railroad at Omaha Beach. The Germans were using it to move construction materials along the various work sites. The prototype photos show the remnants of the railroad tracks after the Allies had secured the beach.<p></p><p>To model the railroad, first I cut some pieces of foam to make the roadbed sections that extend from the shingle to the work sites. I used Durham's water putty to fill in the gaps. Once those was dry, I painted the road bed to match the scenery.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgu3v92ANGDpSga3Dcx6DzjOUiZQQMY7moGKCpg7ENqQ6nXhKj0DA_Sc60dJHj1v8ZXseHjFd29c0ygV20Gy0BxoxCLmwsejlNoEukyX1uojuqbmAiFd7BVecH-R_T-oPVQ8v9CyoUoxRicql1Zfypdg4BydVHKNqPDHzndyI5wofr9fUzdHuWLXvVBJHzl" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgu3v92ANGDpSga3Dcx6DzjOUiZQQMY7moGKCpg7ENqQ6nXhKj0DA_Sc60dJHj1v8ZXseHjFd29c0ygV20Gy0BxoxCLmwsejlNoEukyX1uojuqbmAiFd7BVecH-R_T-oPVQ8v9CyoUoxRicql1Zfypdg4BydVHKNqPDHzndyI5wofr9fUzdHuWLXvVBJHzl" width="320" /></a></div><br />Then I used my laser cutter to cut ties from 1/32nd inch birch plywood. I did not glue then one by one. Instead, I cut them like a piece of flex track with small connectors between each tie. To curve the track, I had to cut one side of the connectors. Thus it was easy to glue down the ties. <p></p><p> The ballast is fine N Scale gray limestone gravel from Highball Products. Once that was glue dry I added the rails. The rails are 0.015 inch resin impregnated cardboard with self-adhesive backing. I tried to secure them further with a coat of mat mod podge, but that wasn't too successful. The wetness of the mod podge made some of the rails buckle. So I had to reinstall some of them. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQkWr6htca8dySRqSQ9_WtCoLdwWMy1MBGhPacstMYKqY4dpwNJSHqNf2ZQzA9q8hcJIWh8DUZKPMhasvtvMMSEqZXx9pNdBcgZlFUPUHKGtnyR_xvX7cD3dHAM2H5iUd_sbhZNdgEuavtX-GHtDxIOlq2dbqpPyqRgisZySkyZifLVkDgl66T2JwpJpe9" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQkWr6htca8dySRqSQ9_WtCoLdwWMy1MBGhPacstMYKqY4dpwNJSHqNf2ZQzA9q8hcJIWh8DUZKPMhasvtvMMSEqZXx9pNdBcgZlFUPUHKGtnyR_xvX7cD3dHAM2H5iUd_sbhZNdgEuavtX-GHtDxIOlq2dbqpPyqRgisZySkyZifLVkDgl66T2JwpJpe9=w225-h400" width="225" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>The shingle stones on the beach adjacent to the tracks are coarse ballast from Woodland scenes. We painted them to better match the colors in the photos. Some additional painting is probably necessary.</p><p>I was also adding additional layers of gloss polyurethane to the water in-between the other tasks. There are about 8 coats now and I think that is enough.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbWfKAwzmwGjorM-F49ZlehnevZZAa7iABADZ2qLKNgC5FF4NLX5JoQDU8snXNlukk5lgUnA72-IV2gBU2IIR5Kjl1blw8ZXyo1a6KzakHkSoHOcyRLn2U3fLhHMx9B01zgHPfMCmhFUfnHTGyIvv1-bfi9naypUXooVQebUUhlmYbuYzSMV64KFaTSTh7" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbWfKAwzmwGjorM-F49ZlehnevZZAa7iABADZ2qLKNgC5FF4NLX5JoQDU8snXNlukk5lgUnA72-IV2gBU2IIR5Kjl1blw8ZXyo1a6KzakHkSoHOcyRLn2U3fLhHMx9B01zgHPfMCmhFUfnHTGyIvv1-bfi9naypUXooVQebUUhlmYbuYzSMV64KFaTSTh7" width="320" /></a></div><br />I also installed the two R669 casements for the 75mm artillery pieces in position in WN62. I made the casements with layers of MDF that I cut on my laser. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEie4nYs4YVnF7G7Z-juwfb8cs1MmcwW63AsL__dzpo6tPsuWRTCOV4OpZBDisO6CYdXWmV2GkmmHQPEX_bWV8a_VzdKD7B1akAXkLvaNEBv56FKJoFpuTPMqYfublyzYdU_rjs5NpndWBPh_10OjaCTbYfTxMwingLaZLeLY06yIbgnMulwXNO1W-RxcIBp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEie4nYs4YVnF7G7Z-juwfb8cs1MmcwW63AsL__dzpo6tPsuWRTCOV4OpZBDisO6CYdXWmV2GkmmHQPEX_bWV8a_VzdKD7B1akAXkLvaNEBv56FKJoFpuTPMqYfublyzYdU_rjs5NpndWBPh_10OjaCTbYfTxMwingLaZLeLY06yIbgnMulwXNO1W-RxcIBp" width="135" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>They were mostly buried with earth, so I used pieces of foam and water putty to build up the earth berms.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Then I cut some of the trenches using a xacto knife and a soldering iron to melt away the foam. The iron worked pretty well. I gave everything an acrylic brown wash. There are still several gun emplacements, pillboxes and numerous details that I need to add. But the final photo gives an idea of how the diorama looks so far.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjceuXR7mxJz3kkgI67btp0xPhSnLj47UBTTP6HuBWCZFeLgqkcOSL0QKMzyHrnzlbEteA9iVQamq6gLjlzBNf6uenxj-mduAr0YM9oSaTCAyV0UDUZ4CR1DYd1TRnokQcL3hFasB_0sMBh9x8AV7eSP4tJdu1Whz49YLrFfDcpnGyQ65__EVvU9vs3H2Pt" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjceuXR7mxJz3kkgI67btp0xPhSnLj47UBTTP6HuBWCZFeLgqkcOSL0QKMzyHrnzlbEteA9iVQamq6gLjlzBNf6uenxj-mduAr0YM9oSaTCAyV0UDUZ4CR1DYd1TRnokQcL3hFasB_0sMBh9x8AV7eSP4tJdu1Whz49YLrFfDcpnGyQ65__EVvU9vs3H2Pt=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> ,</p><p><br /></p>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-32257663623209207562024-02-26T00:53:00.000-05:002024-02-26T00:53:03.441-05:00More D-Day Diorama Progress<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_65z5BKZvilAxGIPs8diOc4h24VCMpaoVbBpaAKE072vCB2YhsmYWciRfnnln7vUACoPj9-0Wl8xp0w9fLgDwbIiHH9WlTZrgwmnkgcjQ6hMpo4WQRs9okb8JeOcdvyHaosEoaX66XqwTPrnhiAbw0v9FjEbxVsMaWlaHmlJmVvmQK92aUITzpJEMAk43" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_65z5BKZvilAxGIPs8diOc4h24VCMpaoVbBpaAKE072vCB2YhsmYWciRfnnln7vUACoPj9-0Wl8xp0w9fLgDwbIiHH9WlTZrgwmnkgcjQ6hMpo4WQRs9okb8JeOcdvyHaosEoaX66XqwTPrnhiAbw0v9FjEbxVsMaWlaHmlJmVvmQK92aUITzpJEMAk43=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><br />I'm back from Florida and chugging away on the D-Day diorama. While in Florida I painted about 70 infantry, and two DD Sherman tanks that my brother printed. I also printed another LCM on his printer. <div><br /></div><div>When I got home, I printed a couple of German anti tank guns for the bunkers and a French APX turret for a German Tobruk. I made the bunkers with layers of laser cut MDF. They are not to any particular scale. Keith coined a good phrase, "optical scale." We are selectively compressing the German positions to look good from the normal viewers perspective. Thus, this is not an exact scale model. It is more of an interpretive display with a focus on certain story elements. <p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpjpP9bcPaIXDxvMLVLlcxgXeie8U-3d5GULgJvE8o-gmQaGTOSItV7rb0Yw5ewBrrQ2fTrquTaBuZ9Q8xO8ETil-eRYHik8xkW0frwAVqNIPnZEMIbSOPKbcpvbiAorML3m5UrtcYk9JdckakViP_e2dHyCtrw6P7pcZeRJkcfVyr4Pf2tQHPPdgNFZt8" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpjpP9bcPaIXDxvMLVLlcxgXeie8U-3d5GULgJvE8o-gmQaGTOSItV7rb0Yw5ewBrrQ2fTrquTaBuZ9Q8xO8ETil-eRYHik8xkW0frwAVqNIPnZEMIbSOPKbcpvbiAorML3m5UrtcYk9JdckakViP_e2dHyCtrw6P7pcZeRJkcfVyr4Pf2tQHPPdgNFZt8=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keith applying gloss to the waves<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />On Saturday, Keith Rocco visited to work on the diorama. He first focused on painting the shore line and shingle beach. I thought we needed to make the beach look more realistic with portions of wet sand, pools of water, and receding waves. Keith agreed and did a great job painting it. It looks great.<p></p><p>Next, Keith stated applying gloss polyurethane to the water surface. He managed to get two coats down (later that night I added one more coat. It will need about 8-10 coats in total.) Then he started prepping some of the painted figures by removing their bases before he had to leave.</p><p>Meanwhile, I was working on finishing the bunkers and trenches for WN61, the resistance nest on the east side. </p><p>Mark Franke stopped by to drop off the tanks and boats he has been working on over the past week. As usual he did a fantastic job. One of the tanks is shown wading in the surf. The crews tried to use the water for cover as it helped reduce their exposed area to enemy fire. </p><p><br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0kO7h49tmNlLWiAFAAxF3W9G2fu84GP2JHOMRFoy7Y6jjAnr91hjOM_04YzF0GVaG4oc0jsiY1c5QDFT-R71MrDwX-6P-Cu5LOKsx76mojXlUNpL2oQCKJFi9vq-0iM8TE-TAfbHHZZ5Vyupswi82Pp90p0uyfyH9sM3N1I1gYOV-G1JovihsTGnlRchy" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0kO7h49tmNlLWiAFAAxF3W9G2fu84GP2JHOMRFoy7Y6jjAnr91hjOM_04YzF0GVaG4oc0jsiY1c5QDFT-R71MrDwX-6P-Cu5LOKsx76mojXlUNpL2oQCKJFi9vq-0iM8TE-TAfbHHZZ5Vyupswi82Pp90p0uyfyH9sM3N1I1gYOV-G1JovihsTGnlRchy=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Franke did a nice job painting a detailing the wading tank</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />I installed some trenches in WN61. I had to simplify the trench layout a bit due to the selective compression of the scene. I cut a slot in the foam to make the basic trench. They I prepared some tooth picks and scribed wood siding to make the trench revetments. Installing them was more tedious than I expected. I think I will try a different technique on the next set of trenches. Perhaps I will print some trench sections that I can install.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8-V8tr1vy0iIg39tskEpOQZb3u-L4DDq3mi_ZhnAcQBXqqY00-NxMlut3aKcE1uf36EmZslNT0jxIy3ORxNunnCBuVhN87WGyptFuPlpnN03pX-2CrFlCD-rqBaRSI8TkIrocdfhXEtWpmuLscyE1Hvek9uBJoZoYzKPbHVQ6gThyVw4VKCBfgD-XEvDE" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1322" data-original-width="1763" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8-V8tr1vy0iIg39tskEpOQZb3u-L4DDq3mi_ZhnAcQBXqqY00-NxMlut3aKcE1uf36EmZslNT0jxIy3ORxNunnCBuVhN87WGyptFuPlpnN03pX-2CrFlCD-rqBaRSI8TkIrocdfhXEtWpmuLscyE1Hvek9uBJoZoYzKPbHVQ6gThyVw4VKCBfgD-XEvDE=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This aerial photo was perfect for making the <br />1694 Ringstand and 50mm gun..</td></tr></tbody></table>The bunkers were a bit tricky to design and build. I used plans and photos to guide me, but I had to pick a scale to build them that looked about right. They are approximately 1:150 scale. The ground scale is about 1:500. That means that they take up more ground area than they should. But it all looks OK and supports the story Keith wants to tell. </p><p><br /></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheckoVWghAOGOmG2u3SW9riU-HogwY7YexHUeaihXJEIzXZnfEtcT8S5wwMXKDvUB3rRSK47OELvuLmX2WqnDLEBhsTrU4Vl9m_BfvrOZwwsu0ijUAZDuU0uDCYWo-KeuDiE8ElUcz8I0mRBn_j4oNR503HOYdJmEMpG9uKsggO_SLQTL8lKvgvc70LFi0" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="691" data-original-width="842" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheckoVWghAOGOmG2u3SW9riU-HogwY7YexHUeaihXJEIzXZnfEtcT8S5wwMXKDvUB3rRSK47OELvuLmX2WqnDLEBhsTrU4Vl9m_BfvrOZwwsu0ijUAZDuU0uDCYWo-KeuDiE8ElUcz8I0mRBn_j4oNR503HOYdJmEMpG9uKsggO_SLQTL8lKvgvc70LFi0=w400-h328" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">50mm ATG in a Ringstand at WN61</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The concrete parts of the bunkers are laser cut MDF. The guns are 3D prints that I made from files I bought off the web. I painted the bunkers with various shades to look like relatively new concrete. The guns are dunkel gelb with some dunkel grun camouflage. The R677 casement bunker with the Pak 43 88mm ATG has some chipped concrete that was damaged by US fire as can be seen in prototype photos. I have some camouflage netting that I will add to these later. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimsyykeJ17PpT18wTkazfk50pfYXsdFvzNbx8JYvsN1ic9rY8xP4mtlJabf2-3xzDPkQpG2na2FkopcEc8WaN1aKR1DlTu4rD2fgiMcIddE-DmOzSLClvm4LD-HcgWpVLdB5_0T8YM_umAhY-aadKJudBSjB-OflVp5ZiBOEy69gZKqyKEYyTqYcjurNnQ" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="640" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimsyykeJ17PpT18wTkazfk50pfYXsdFvzNbx8JYvsN1ic9rY8xP4mtlJabf2-3xzDPkQpG2na2FkopcEc8WaN1aKR1DlTu4rD2fgiMcIddE-DmOzSLClvm4LD-HcgWpVLdB5_0T8YM_umAhY-aadKJudBSjB-OflVp5ZiBOEy69gZKqyKEYyTqYcjurNnQ=w400-h319" width="400" /></a></div><br />I applied a wash of dark brown paint to ground areas that would have vegetation. I used lighter paint to lay out some trails and roads. <p></p><p>Next I used Durhams water putty to shape the tank ditches. I checked with Mike and he suggested that the ditches were just sand without revetments. There are some photos showing ditches like that in the modeled area (see left image.) So that is how I shaped them. </p><p>Finally, I added a base coat of some ground foam to the hill area near WN61. This is just the base coat but it does hint at the final appearance. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEge4ZX_4Z3HQ0TStq9g4M7HGtwqhNZYE71izfAPLcPaZ5jH_FOfkxLIM5Onn5e_6vNEEiEDPaOwkKUQruffWGfs0gOqStcMVl7FmYW8QbS6FlpLsZtSVyGCF5GfW2boG0UZMSNqs33IY8O8clksdyHPnQX6ghTVGs3oyDHpdHbXAY6Reymp53OUV2PV4Pi_" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEge4ZX_4Z3HQ0TStq9g4M7HGtwqhNZYE71izfAPLcPaZ5jH_FOfkxLIM5Onn5e_6vNEEiEDPaOwkKUQruffWGfs0gOqStcMVl7FmYW8QbS6FlpLsZtSVyGCF5GfW2boG0UZMSNqs33IY8O8clksdyHPnQX6ghTVGs3oyDHpdHbXAY6Reymp53OUV2PV4Pi_=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keith mocked up some figures and a tank. We do plan to add LED lights to the burning LCMs.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p> </p></div>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-6371550014710039272024-02-17T22:54:00.005-05:002024-02-17T22:55:46.919-05:00JAXCON 2024<p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtB15Sdwpb5wTpe5f2eu9xTuHFeH_yh0ftaHsZjcmVJI3dkPaSuLlltBGyrxzUZ454GhQN-GKcKbtcS5kuYmPO0nLMrBl9c5gyAjAf2rS3lcB7V3UqdaXJvn5C-iLKB5trVJ7bVZ_YU6C7G079FBlGr44S_nBOvbiCOTkV7c_4IzM5GLWnQR4aptnYctQ/s2016/IMG_7479.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2016" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtB15Sdwpb5wTpe5f2eu9xTuHFeH_yh0ftaHsZjcmVJI3dkPaSuLlltBGyrxzUZ454GhQN-GKcKbtcS5kuYmPO0nLMrBl9c5gyAjAf2rS3lcB7V3UqdaXJvn5C-iLKB5trVJ7bVZ_YU6C7G079FBlGr44S_nBOvbiCOTkV7c_4IzM5GLWnQR4aptnYctQ/w640-h360/IMG_7479.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the figures in the busts category. In the front row my Castiga (l) got silver, Medusa (Center) and Demophilus (right with blue and white crest) got gold.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Rob and I attended the JAXCON 2024 IPMS meet today in Jacksonville, FL. This is the third year I have attended this meet. It is one of the premier IPMS meets in Florida. The meet was a great success despite some rainy weather. Gil Hodges runs the event and does a great job. I enjoyed meeting many of the people from previous years. Everyone is very friendly and low key. <p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUfW0sMCwwpvVWXaLLQe5pEfEQfBcll7RWGk-lyvVSvzwBN9VVTQ4tXK91YgOF6WWv2Db2PxJFYmrJX2gtWopwNfF2T9-4QBkxgkrCkHhnrWavVRSD9F_-SHyLrqOoSGCCIjlVeenk775KZjgEpQ3W4rNc6VI2OTlRr4ddGPDOxiHRZJH0orBHF4HMOVX/s2016/IMG_7483.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2016" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUfW0sMCwwpvVWXaLLQe5pEfEQfBcll7RWGk-lyvVSvzwBN9VVTQ4tXK91YgOF6WWv2Db2PxJFYmrJX2gtWopwNfF2T9-4QBkxgkrCkHhnrWavVRSD9F_-SHyLrqOoSGCCIjlVeenk775KZjgEpQ3W4rNc6VI2OTlRr4ddGPDOxiHRZJH0orBHF4HMOVX/w400-h225/IMG_7483.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This airplane model caught my eye. Very nice, detailed work</td></tr></tbody></table>There was some excellent work on display. I estimated that there over 500 models entered by about 110 builders. There were also many vendors with model kits and supplies. <p></p><p>I helped with judging and that kept me very busy. I and my partner Rich were responsible for judging all the figures, all the dioramas, and about half of the ship models. As a result, I didn't get to see many of the armor, cars, or planes. But what I did see was top notch. For example, the float plane at the left looked really nice to me. I also like the red Porsche 917 LeMans winner below.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dXC0Htni0YNHP41PjBoy1YLxgXgyq01L9MIW8iDHy-KUL_3Le6RAEj8GTDNCDAm3myN3oX7CMF98c9Tk-2dBwL8P9d62DNh_JAaWqYPRp8lRGRO_JAec6g239Ju53EYrB0xAYLQfuXKnBXsLCra31Vv6kNLu91rBvq0ExP3k9FPWOgK3qaOyn-klrwuo/s2016/IMG_7481.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2016" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dXC0Htni0YNHP41PjBoy1YLxgXgyq01L9MIW8iDHy-KUL_3Le6RAEj8GTDNCDAm3myN3oX7CMF98c9Tk-2dBwL8P9d62DNh_JAaWqYPRp8lRGRO_JAec6g239Ju53EYrB0xAYLQfuXKnBXsLCra31Vv6kNLu91rBvq0ExP3k9FPWOgK3qaOyn-klrwuo/w640-h360/IMG_7481.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I liked this Porsche 917 LeMans winner with excellent details and presentation.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>I was pleased that I received 4 gold and 1 silver medals. It is interesting that my figure I liked the best got a silver, while the others got gold. You ever know about model contests. I made an effort to provide feedback forms for all the models I judged so that the builders know what we found. However, there were no feedback forms for my models, so I don't know what the judges found. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jhVo4_fqp12I5qbXMO1ySI1xyd622yoQQB0lMnzkaajrJtXc8BZpX_TtP2d0Vl9XLuleJ3UUZEQbld9KWmUI59gc2QqJQzZtHTRgeNqc3g7CN2DMB0PCcNHLanZS0Yh01BbX48IAzca3Bf9RKq087XU0XdsNP4xTxkGFd13vv1BHMVv22tY5YrUdCE5g/s1374/IMG_7478.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="1374" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jhVo4_fqp12I5qbXMO1ySI1xyd622yoQQB0lMnzkaajrJtXc8BZpX_TtP2d0Vl9XLuleJ3UUZEQbld9KWmUI59gc2QqJQzZtHTRgeNqc3g7CN2DMB0PCcNHLanZS0Yh01BbX48IAzca3Bf9RKq087XU0XdsNP4xTxkGFd13vv1BHMVv22tY5YrUdCE5g/w400-h336/IMG_7478.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob's HIMARS model got a silver <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Rob received 1 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze medals. <p></p><p>Our buddy, Dan Pierce, received a bronze medal for a 1/72 German Kreigslok locomotive. I thought the model was extremely well done, but the judges found a seam that was not perfectly finished. That model will become a component in a joint build that several of us are working on. Stay tuned for that.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSN1pi_ID4aN7NBEjJXEkUGoRxaYG7mm2GW9DmIszSwpAtkEFnh7ixU8AqbWygrzFHCUExAyuGJcIflyqthSJ3a0w3hteEjxPveraYLcQfpClP7Z1HP2jtvh4KDltwx1VPv2V01lvT4A4661av4h52OLihUJ11VZ3nhq8oViqn-ofvkyvA9y5IbEPVR8_6/s1890/loco1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="1890" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSN1pi_ID4aN7NBEjJXEkUGoRxaYG7mm2GW9DmIszSwpAtkEFnh7ixU8AqbWygrzFHCUExAyuGJcIflyqthSJ3a0w3hteEjxPveraYLcQfpClP7Z1HP2jtvh4KDltwx1VPv2V01lvT4A4661av4h52OLihUJ11VZ3nhq8oViqn-ofvkyvA9y5IbEPVR8_6/w640-h182/loco1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dan's Kreigslok in 1/72nd scale</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><p><br /></p>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-20465008974594041102024-02-10T23:05:00.007-05:002024-02-11T01:44:43.197-05:00Painting Party 2<p> </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRVgtBvL_AR4uA8WYRD63JQ-HNJM3fB89IrtwuAVR_kghadBSU3f4drIEkI4BHTfGdh_usqYT1BS0mdEUp_MXQDDPl8V8QVWAd3NfcsYe5GgoNtydxPVl9CG24gKOa3eORP3LDKxMfOiFhZ7z3W3CNcoQTqLq_sZJ_7SyBbRFUoIyWyMQoNnIbme7A_sKV" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRVgtBvL_AR4uA8WYRD63JQ-HNJM3fB89IrtwuAVR_kghadBSU3f4drIEkI4BHTfGdh_usqYT1BS0mdEUp_MXQDDPl8V8QVWAd3NfcsYe5GgoNtydxPVl9CG24gKOa3eORP3LDKxMfOiFhZ7z3W3CNcoQTqLq_sZJ_7SyBbRFUoIyWyMQoNnIbme7A_sKV=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R. Jeff Hammer, John Kephart, John Drye, Keith Rocco, Mark Franke, Tom Karstens</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The crew was reinforced today with two more workers for another successful painting party. John Kephart continued with land infantry. John Drye loaded the boat people into LCVPs in accordance with Keith's design. Mark Franke painted and applied decals on two Sherman Deep Water Fording tanks, Tom Karstens began painting another group of land infantry. Jeff Hammer worked on weathering the steel hedgehogs. <p></p><p>Jeff is new to our group. He has experience with painting figures, mostly Sci Fi and Fantasy. Welcome aboard Jeff.</p>At first, Keith Rocco and I did some planning on where everything will go. Keith approved the colors of the sand and water. Everyone liked the TP waves. So, we moved on to other work.<div><br /></div><div>I dug the antitank ditch. Keith provided a photo that shows the anti-tank ditch was lined with wooden log revetments. So I painted a bunch of toothpicks to use for those.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_A-7xA-ja8vECJ-Qe-m7HPAquTDWjILc5EC8sj-vR2DbvdMze_SRn-lWA11O26ywsibiasjdFLElihmthk2d3Ok7MxyGyI6AXAqeGRuWq3LpcJRjstAfgfC3NuH0XyMV1fN0aEGRtvc8OkgS5vZJ1fPomHFNTySjnoSKkPK5BDxmrV8IY6AxL8yVnzIJA" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_A-7xA-ja8vECJ-Qe-m7HPAquTDWjILc5EC8sj-vR2DbvdMze_SRn-lWA11O26ywsibiasjdFLElihmthk2d3Ok7MxyGyI6AXAqeGRuWq3LpcJRjstAfgfC3NuH0XyMV1fN0aEGRtvc8OkgS5vZJ1fPomHFNTySjnoSKkPK5BDxmrV8IY6AxL8yVnzIJA=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Capsized LCVP in primer</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Next, I modified a LCVP to be capsized. John Kephart made a good point about the LCVP sinking aft down because that is where the engine is. So that is how I cut it. This kind of synergy is making the project better. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmRgt7fXxLf-EI9Dz_MB5aROHehKpwr-lHzH4V_91Zd2Vxub5tFQSBI4zmLx61im0MgUXMGq_QwXz2asyiTs9gvzQC6hcQMFTR6rBpcTi_CgGImVhfJ-wye8GwAEfBz2cP1n83u9qrQ9obRorneRN-W-RWGxdrb60LdJzyqzA6mLKyjDZY0cIIGhy4PgES" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmRgt7fXxLf-EI9Dz_MB5aROHehKpwr-lHzH4V_91Zd2Vxub5tFQSBI4zmLx61im0MgUXMGq_QwXz2asyiTs9gvzQC6hcQMFTR6rBpcTi_CgGImVhfJ-wye8GwAEfBz2cP1n83u9qrQ9obRorneRN-W-RWGxdrb60LdJzyqzA6mLKyjDZY0cIIGhy4PgES=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Command Villa after laser cutting</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Then I drew the plans for the command villa and cut it on my laser. The villa is reduced in scale as it will be farther from the normal viewing position and we didn't want it to dominate the hill. All of the German soldiers and weapons will be in 1/150th scale (10mm). <p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2c_CcdTfoxsihclGk0u916tvVrrDFo0-AoVTNtZ0iFywVMth5Dz5B50NcbfWNC0ERRmMnKn1w9fWqZQLBwUgavLMbqKKdk9els7tKSflXVdSz3hxmtaT_QHeWV5iNTsjp1icq48yMfE1uzyZF2-pvIkZ5IFw_iGXz6A72X54UZeEdQ502OZ9Fd1hh6LU-" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2c_CcdTfoxsihclGk0u916tvVrrDFo0-AoVTNtZ0iFywVMth5Dz5B50NcbfWNC0ERRmMnKn1w9fWqZQLBwUgavLMbqKKdk9els7tKSflXVdSz3hxmtaT_QHeWV5iNTsjp1icq48yMfE1uzyZF2-pvIkZ5IFw_iGXz6A72X54UZeEdQ502OZ9Fd1hh6LU-=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keith improving the surf </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Keith improved the surf by painting the thin layer of water that the receding waves leave on the beach. He also worked on the white caps a bit. Those simple additions really helped bring the water to life. The next step will be to add some gloss layers. It was a treat to see Keith in action painting. </div><div><br /></div><div>All in all a great day with some excellent chili and wings for lunch.<p><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjn6Uv5Jx1VMr73JWAKZWjdCetSFF_YBfUXctjoaYjFJ6SQQxp0qaD5qScr3dwqQ0RJaOWm_JHN5L8ttNrJJDfXbZXWAXSoj45wtYXW0zl-kkH-X5YGlbby2AtbduVZ2PbRzcz4xH8gZFb3hA8mHIDXE6nnXoL-QTKJEOzZnaFSryLtXR5rIcIU5_pdND38" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjn6Uv5Jx1VMr73JWAKZWjdCetSFF_YBfUXctjoaYjFJ6SQQxp0qaD5qScr3dwqQ0RJaOWm_JHN5L8ttNrJJDfXbZXWAXSoj45wtYXW0zl-kkH-X5YGlbby2AtbduVZ2PbRzcz4xH8gZFb3hA8mHIDXE6nnXoL-QTKJEOzZnaFSryLtXR5rIcIU5_pdND38=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The water is looking good.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9LthLlwpVbMwkkmVNCJj4TZmuqwLeI4qFNNSGleGYmCFof75oih9LI2sAdQPzAntX9nVh8G6zaJxCxfie0NmIbqv3M1ic5IonEfaDRRS9eLVS1cFgjoxs-mvibso4Vhw39gi7pU1RxQRBSG3-6LCxQD30s6vKWddQOSoTCvcwGaa5ax_wTRlveN350Fp4" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9LthLlwpVbMwkkmVNCJj4TZmuqwLeI4qFNNSGleGYmCFof75oih9LI2sAdQPzAntX9nVh8G6zaJxCxfie0NmIbqv3M1ic5IonEfaDRRS9eLVS1cFgjoxs-mvibso4Vhw39gi7pU1RxQRBSG3-6LCxQD30s6vKWddQOSoTCvcwGaa5ax_wTRlveN350Fp4=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The LCVP isn't finished, but this shows the look we are trying to get. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><p></p></div>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-69512292289338108052024-02-07T23:49:00.001-05:002024-02-07T23:53:07.637-05:00Please don't squeeze the Charmin<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGO2Eg85X8v-ifdcVbHfjS6zWBmPaxfGbwh4JX_-xZO2m_hEhW1ihZjvJXPIxI0mGOs62DRCiRM-2pYH3yMJt3lEFYy3IX8kI_oj4BCSygV6-EWZIoKAM1ib74go0GZND3SBAZzJJn0VhIeH-4J3euF8CpHn6TL7FkJQEP0q19-ZwhMU9WdvkJiYpQ66MT" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGO2Eg85X8v-ifdcVbHfjS6zWBmPaxfGbwh4JX_-xZO2m_hEhW1ihZjvJXPIxI0mGOs62DRCiRM-2pYH3yMJt3lEFYy3IX8kI_oj4BCSygV6-EWZIoKAM1ib74go0GZND3SBAZzJJn0VhIeH-4J3euF8CpHn6TL7FkJQEP0q19-ZwhMU9WdvkJiYpQ66MT=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><br />It was time to hit the beach on the D-Day diorama. <p></p><p>The first step was to shape the surf zone and the ocean with my Rotex power sander. I tried to create a gentle slope to the beach and broad undulating wave-like shapes in the water. I also used the Rolex to shape the fascia to depict the same swells. The Rolex is very aggressive and it left some gouges in the soft foam. So, I added a skim coat of lightweight spackle to fill those. </p><p>I applied a coat of white gesso and then dark blue paint to the water area to seal it and get a feel for how it looked. I did some light sanding to get it smooth. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSVyYbHof_dkH2MLDyHtiTELf2kmbR5pKfuY_U3xxjhOQcUlwJ0WtnYtbphjKrncnzsvPYDg52OdT6zC4Eojle952WsXnvOOZcUB_VfkQC972Fio8X0epGViSpv7X-gr55RFQqqxBxjh23p7kgYVZJB0lWEcJayMa_aMbqaHOG3-sNxkSjEaFgZ8gZqGzH" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSVyYbHof_dkH2MLDyHtiTELf2kmbR5pKfuY_U3xxjhOQcUlwJ0WtnYtbphjKrncnzsvPYDg52OdT6zC4Eojle952WsXnvOOZcUB_VfkQC972Fio8X0epGViSpv7X-gr55RFQqqxBxjh23p7kgYVZJB0lWEcJayMa_aMbqaHOG3-sNxkSjEaFgZ8gZqGzH=w225-h400" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using large brush to <br />shape waves.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Next I added the wave texture to the ocean using papier-mâché. I opted to use the papier-mâché technique as it is very forgiving. It will allow us to make corrections as needed. Plus we can cut through the papier-mâché to embed the boats and tanks to depict rocking boats and partially submerged tanks. We will add wakes from the boats using clear caulk.<p></p><p> I used toilet tissue and dilute white glue to create the wave texture. We had <a href="https://youtu.be/2dvI2m1_6_s?si=tqq88jPWPKDkjjwp">Charmin</a> in the house so, that is what I used. It has a fine texture imprinted on the paper so it takes a little bit of effort to remove that. </p><p>I applied 4-5 layers of TP to each section. Then using a large, sharp brush, I repeatedly poked the tissue to form small ripple texture. Then I went back over the tissue with the same brush to form the larger waves. This involved using the brush to push the TP into larger crests to create waves. I also used my finger to help shape them. The long shore current at Normandy was to the east, so that is how I angled the waves. I consulted numerous photos to get the right look.</p><p>It took two full rolls of TP to form the waves. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1kF1vVys67gTc7sfRTamzOQZgPr9qdg3SgO6Jkox8EmQB6teuP1-lC-q9tliTKrN2X3h2RBnLkGl-1Mnnd26RIUf0HyN9ca8bPY10pvL_QTubXykyYnRfg_vzcYzWVidJWwfCI9mb2das51pFsbM8beNI2-XhXv0r-EhM1Oh05rGV4jI4M5qJXYWqH0jo" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1kF1vVys67gTc7sfRTamzOQZgPr9qdg3SgO6Jkox8EmQB6teuP1-lC-q9tliTKrN2X3h2RBnLkGl-1Mnnd26RIUf0HyN9ca8bPY10pvL_QTubXykyYnRfg_vzcYzWVidJWwfCI9mb2das51pFsbM8beNI2-XhXv0r-EhM1Oh05rGV4jI4M5qJXYWqH0jo=w225-h400" width="225" /></a></div>The waves take fairly long time to dry. So, I proceeded to paint the ground area. I used a mix of pale pink latex paint, desert yellow craft acrylic paint, some water and dark brown tile grout. I thoroughly mixed this into a slurry and painted the ground area. In some places, I applied it too thick, so it cracked as it dried. I added a second thin coat to fill in those cracks. The color is still a bit pink, so we may have to adjust it with acrylic paint after it is thoroughly dried. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6KQZx2i0lMwyLkuV6e2M91GzgqP2tpWLBN_Dga60yM2bxPUsKSRZTiQvWeghZQ9vXxatVCFbiTqoTgeNoO-q7GYoFtCQEDCJzFk3zkGVV4zzOhCVbS43pUxUNAuBv5LtXSNnYgHxmpFIZjDyz1hQegA4QiC1T7cXGoh6MIujFKedq_8kx0JHce5JWmdM9" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6KQZx2i0lMwyLkuV6e2M91GzgqP2tpWLBN_Dga60yM2bxPUsKSRZTiQvWeghZQ9vXxatVCFbiTqoTgeNoO-q7GYoFtCQEDCJzFk3zkGVV4zzOhCVbS43pUxUNAuBv5LtXSNnYgHxmpFIZjDyz1hQegA4QiC1T7cXGoh6MIujFKedq_8kx0JHce5JWmdM9=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The TP/White glue need to dry thoroughly before painting.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Much of the ground will be covered with ground foam vegetation and static grass, but the beach area will be visible.</p><p> I purchased some play sand from Home Depot. I'll use that to create the layer of shingle stones that caused so much trouble for the invading tanks. </p><p> Stand by to see how it looks when painted. Keith is planning on visiting soon to advise us on final colors.</p><p><br /></p>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-43596357768094450382024-02-03T23:02:00.005-05:002024-02-03T23:04:50.077-05:00A Painting Party<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAQs_oFBUWy4OxZEjlvYUAumsJNvQiBcFp-95REUlWQfqPKSDsZ9KH-6WTiL72gfqYtjmU8w5hbO72cGQMNjIIOVNJdPw0tyrebA-VvtCJso0l3pkbnWxkgGMrQrB8nmkUecmUrO3lD5gbmCdU3E_9EDiAwFzItz-WQJpje6jYvNfmff0ByhOE7NBBeym6" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAQs_oFBUWy4OxZEjlvYUAumsJNvQiBcFp-95REUlWQfqPKSDsZ9KH-6WTiL72gfqYtjmU8w5hbO72cGQMNjIIOVNJdPw0tyrebA-VvtCJso0l3pkbnWxkgGMrQrB8nmkUecmUrO3lD5gbmCdU3E_9EDiAwFzItz-WQJpje6jYvNfmff0ByhOE7NBBeym6=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crew</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We had a very successful painting party today to prepare models and figures for the Rocco D-Day diorama. The crew included John Drye, Mark Franke, John Kephart, Tom Karsten and myself.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcvkasxmctV1DJpbOpbcazB01Uv0-roGFr85dH1K_kCpbNKAFv3j2JnHRhjZXvkUFL2zqGQCdD5aFcf2PEOZhThlp8kExkPAlwhGQDxeOZJfqdE07hpMIlOAexVk4tcFBVLE8w4WJeaJ58T0JMKW-zE-VlpXny_DuDfL5-KT3Pq4DtR7YapQAh01Qvjesd" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcvkasxmctV1DJpbOpbcazB01Uv0-roGFr85dH1K_kCpbNKAFv3j2JnHRhjZXvkUFL2zqGQCdD5aFcf2PEOZhThlp8kExkPAlwhGQDxeOZJfqdE07hpMIlOAexVk4tcFBVLE8w4WJeaJ58T0JMKW-zE-VlpXny_DuDfL5-KT3Pq4DtR7YapQAh01Qvjesd=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></div><br />JD and Tom worked on the “boat people” aka soldiers. They finished all of them- about 150 total figures including a few I did. We filled up one boat with 32 infantry and 3 crew. We think it looks pretty good. The plan is to proceed with 4 more boats full of ”boat people.” <p></p><p>John K. worked on the US infantry on land. He will have about 50 done in a week. Some of those are casualty figures. We expect we will need 300. Mark Fastoso and his crew will also be contributing figures. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcmEtBpm8OEmjzALpgHYGsTHx0A0NHxOaXDF1dv-jY-iVD6NDuncfhxvcZUI59H8h1e1MRpTcr38gSWnKC4SZf4vXwwJDHWPmTiwAUlWKqsWLMH-f0bS-r-GPakOnjblUSbcLX4L45FbB0CSEK-fH3H_Dw0Kio3UXjdUMvqZeZOPgsP-x-UDhwG6K510y9" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcmEtBpm8OEmjzALpgHYGsTHx0A0NHxOaXDF1dv-jY-iVD6NDuncfhxvcZUI59H8h1e1MRpTcr38gSWnKC4SZf4vXwwJDHWPmTiwAUlWKqsWLMH-f0bS-r-GPakOnjblUSbcLX4L45FbB0CSEK-fH3H_Dw0Kio3UXjdUMvqZeZOPgsP-x-UDhwG6K510y9=w225-h400" width="225" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9vMgvHLaxP5XYmxeaajTQxhGqaSKQa0NFCUwX0MZSICoWoVvJRL6jTWRgDEHjTsOv-7d5VdrfJ7yPpdKnH1KiFNFWgf_BBourpehshnKcrqyFy-oyzcNNvHjoT2MnHZcd7-o0mS2GQOWqQUZndCRIgPSzTBvk4uKsf51iTBaFzauR3O9GM2z59XuAkPKT" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9vMgvHLaxP5XYmxeaajTQxhGqaSKQa0NFCUwX0MZSICoWoVvJRL6jTWRgDEHjTsOv-7d5VdrfJ7yPpdKnH1KiFNFWgf_BBourpehshnKcrqyFy-oyzcNNvHjoT2MnHZcd7-o0mS2GQOWqQUZndCRIgPSzTBvk4uKsf51iTBaFzauR3O9GM2z59XuAkPKT=w225-h400" width="225" /></a></div>Mark Franke painted the 2 DWF Shermans, and several boat hulls. They are not finished but are looking good. <p></p><p>I finished painting all the boat hulls after Mark left. JD stuck around to about 10PM finish all the boat people. Devotion above and beyond!</p><p>I also primed 75 hedgehogs with rust color. We probably only need about half of them for this scene. Still need the other obstacles.</p><p>Down in Florida, Rob is painting the Sherman DD. I'll get it when I go down there in 11 days.</p><p>I had previously trimmed out the diorama with a ¼ inch hardboard trim. I also added bolts with tee nuts to make assembling the diorama easier.</p><p>We made a lot of progress today. Scenery and structures on tap for next week. There are lots of details and additional items to add.</p><p><br /></p><p>We also started planning for the next diorama which feature the 29th Infantry and Rangers at Vierville. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHAlhRV7VC9v2hh-Dmg4339g4tWLfhvphQvTrW1LlooTT407wglxhmi0Rc0JfOQW6ltCQRkClEfEv1Ye4PkY4JAsSjSHTORTJsxUUAkrzwibjiH7UMepRJQTxEo9b_QEXN5fSoRIKURsTr3BYOK1D50LMCPCjAxgkFPTTvU1jXNLuhOFLgQb49oWeohtiz" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHAlhRV7VC9v2hh-Dmg4339g4tWLfhvphQvTrW1LlooTT407wglxhmi0Rc0JfOQW6ltCQRkClEfEv1Ye4PkY4JAsSjSHTORTJsxUUAkrzwibjiH7UMepRJQTxEo9b_QEXN5fSoRIKURsTr3BYOK1D50LMCPCjAxgkFPTTvU1jXNLuhOFLgQb49oWeohtiz=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><p></p>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-12630102292113076092024-01-31T22:46:00.007-05:002024-01-31T22:53:38.303-05:00D-Day Diorama Taking Shape<p><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjE_HOLToXl2tvZf78azJBjBrzYM2m1S7lK98qTG8IAxdlWcERQS28Spel-JEIr7oOkmf3lnCfvZtUYFtLLOnyErytbKFWqebp3pLhpeZQ6iLeqqgYOmPMgUNmp2fSp0o8vZ89uPhoDUa9Lk3hp6YYAA54wgH7rah6vM2pLSlSpToqx3kftDbydbd3ZuAJG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjE_HOLToXl2tvZf78azJBjBrzYM2m1S7lK98qTG8IAxdlWcERQS28Spel-JEIr7oOkmf3lnCfvZtUYFtLLOnyErytbKFWqebp3pLhpeZQ6iLeqqgYOmPMgUNmp2fSp0o8vZ89uPhoDUa9Lk3hp6YYAA54wgH7rah6vM2pLSlSpToqx3kftDbydbd3ZuAJG=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the view the US soldiers would have had at the eastern end of Omaha Beach<br />at Colleville-sur-Mer.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />I 'm making progress Keith Rocco's diorama. This diorama is also situated at Colleville-sur-Mer like my 75mm diorama, but this one focuses on the beach landing in 1/100th scale. The overall diorama will be 5.5 feet wide by 6 feet deep. The ground scale is about 1/500, while the vertical scale in slightly exaggerated at 1/393. The models in the foreground will be 1/100th scale. There are a few structures on the land side. They might be a smaller than 1/100th scale to better match the ground scale. It will depend on how it looks when we start mocking up that part.<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUipgwLnRLDDIhwKXpW5NwYnq06LU6TeUy7hWnFQw8iivNN60DWCZ6kqQQ4HIjSsz5MM-JMzlYHTwdpDMP_ts5cXjM507IOTHLzhxJDF5OznVxf9LWT95Q9UMO2Xb9Z8HYFOUKYAjAjLQ_-v1Xnn4WwSI4KcuEgzAP1OIw2ZwM2dIIreYNoG-5j4st94Jt" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1697" data-original-width="2048" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUipgwLnRLDDIhwKXpW5NwYnq06LU6TeUy7hWnFQw8iivNN60DWCZ6kqQQ4HIjSsz5MM-JMzlYHTwdpDMP_ts5cXjM507IOTHLzhxJDF5OznVxf9LWT95Q9UMO2Xb9Z8HYFOUKYAjAjLQ_-v1Xnn4WwSI4KcuEgzAP1OIw2ZwM2dIIreYNoG-5j4st94Jt=w640-h530" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aerial recon view of this area before the invasion and before the Germans built most of the fortifications.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBAxEqQyG2uheZwLF6GxpAxus1JIv2wYW1oHad8yIOA7JyK4FBD2W4DBGA-hrjmJ7Vq16sYF5qpWwaOa8Gqy-VVrJUnoKhoCCEiy7RAw2ghFbLqE6ZJYARyQCGBSn0lXzHPEwFVJ6mxWhwupf9aniWU5pYiDtBGfQfQw7ggZtiLIxSFdqR5YS1sV02UDFE" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBAxEqQyG2uheZwLF6GxpAxus1JIv2wYW1oHad8yIOA7JyK4FBD2W4DBGA-hrjmJ7Vq16sYF5qpWwaOa8Gqy-VVrJUnoKhoCCEiy7RAw2ghFbLqE6ZJYARyQCGBSn0lXzHPEwFVJ6mxWhwupf9aniWU5pYiDtBGfQfQw7ggZtiLIxSFdqR5YS1sV02UDFE=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before I shaped the hills</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-19624236142845240992024-01-25T01:31:00.002-05:002024-01-25T01:31:24.459-05:00Bocage Hell - Ambush at Colleville-sur-Mer<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLgKWEibE0A5TCv9mOf1wgg_Qp-goiPMvw_xZZlEXkwX1QgMCO1aMUns7kCthf8eRnXvK_RsKQtzNm_gZuRH0JXifg9lqXNl-ytNbnXR1CvUtydwzs40Fp3VJ2cHPbgtyANcp3DGuy9NA4wPodb5_41wKrm9H9cjqQ2JU1G1I3tKV9d88CEdtib2aS_pA0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4640" data-original-width="6960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLgKWEibE0A5TCv9mOf1wgg_Qp-goiPMvw_xZZlEXkwX1QgMCO1aMUns7kCthf8eRnXvK_RsKQtzNm_gZuRH0JXifg9lqXNl-ytNbnXR1CvUtydwzs40Fp3VJ2cHPbgtyANcp3DGuy9NA4wPodb5_41wKrm9H9cjqQ2JU1G1I3tKV9d88CEdtib2aS_pA0=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>A few months ago, before we started the dioramas for Keith Rocco, I began work on a diorama set on June 6, 1944, D-Day. I was inspired to try this project by some very nice WW2 figures from Speria Miniatures from Sweden. I have used several of their figures for my 1/48th scale Civil War layout. However, this project would be in a larger scale, 75mm or 1/24. I originally planned just a small 3-figure vignette centered around a soldier dragging a wounded buddy. However, I decided to expand the scope of the model when I saw a painting by Keith Rocco of soldiers advancing past a dune at D-Day. So I ordered 7 more figures. I thought that would be more interesting than the beach scene.</p><p>Before I started to painting the figures I did some research on D-Day uniforms. I realized that the Speria figures did not have some of the special D-Day equipment that the soldiers wore. Those items were the life belts, gas mask and gas brassards on the upper arms. Adding those features to the figures at this point would have been quite time consuming. </p><p>So I decided to move the diorama to a point further inland because the US soldiers would have discarded the special D-Day equipment as they moved off the beach. I had read an account of how C Company of the 26th Infantry, First Infantry Division was ambushed by a German machine gun team about one mile from the beach. The ambush occurred at the start of the bocage terrain. The US lost seven soldiers, while the Germans lost one in this ambush, but the whole US infantry company of about 200 men was delayed by the ambush. Such was the fighting in the bocage. It is terrain that favors the defenders. It's a little appreciated fact that the US Army lost about 10 times as many men fighting in the bocage as they did on the beach. The bocage fighting was a brutal, bloody slog.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNnEn3TgOIvApecxE2ky4ABusf9AXepGyVYbG75k7crxR6PhnDvjhAsACTzCNoTTBjsMjriGwkp4fhlh7jfQ1NLG0EY4JE1W4cgpPqFTjGrg36Kkpfmni3XqLvgt4pYFHOlV5Gs_aD6cZZZWFN7cFlvVogTUr4EFlebp8HVRX6THYkM9SPZ9hk4SN-8ENS" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4429" data-original-width="6207" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNnEn3TgOIvApecxE2ky4ABusf9AXepGyVYbG75k7crxR6PhnDvjhAsACTzCNoTTBjsMjriGwkp4fhlh7jfQ1NLG0EY4JE1W4cgpPqFTjGrg36Kkpfmni3XqLvgt4pYFHOlV5Gs_aD6cZZZWFN7cFlvVogTUr4EFlebp8HVRX6THYkM9SPZ9hk4SN-8ENS=w640-h456" width="640" /></a></div><br />The diorama depicts the lead elements of the company trying to fight their way through the ambush in a sunken road in the bocage country. In front there is a US casualty lying on the ground at the intersection of the sunken road and a cross road. The US soldiers would quickly learned that those were danger areas. One soldier is returning fire, while the squad leader is directing the others. In the rear of the diorama there is a medic treating a wounded, panicking man while the assistant squad leader helps control the panicking soldier. Next to them is another soldier dragging his buddy to cover. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdNz26hds3GAQ1vQs58sDoONDfv_C1nI8iJbt7qobOtL9i3ryMqoYPmLHMjtWBBqOH5T26CQbjg27wlHi5ZA5l556_OdFnklvpYda4hvYFtS_ZtCw7H1G7K83EpuBmwHvdb8vfyQjJnNdUtaicOF_rBDL1LKnD9MVLG7OVhEpuVycZNZ3empvfQ2YjQAOO" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4640" data-original-width="6311" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdNz26hds3GAQ1vQs58sDoONDfv_C1nI8iJbt7qobOtL9i3ryMqoYPmLHMjtWBBqOH5T26CQbjg27wlHi5ZA5l556_OdFnklvpYda4hvYFtS_ZtCw7H1G7K83EpuBmwHvdb8vfyQjJnNdUtaicOF_rBDL1LKnD9MVLG7OVhEpuVycZNZ3empvfQ2YjQAOO=w400-h294" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>I think the diorama does a good job of depicting the chaos of combat with soldiers running in different directions. The expressions on the figures are really well done, especially the wounded man being treated by the medics and the soldier running forward.</p><p>I am almost done with the diorama. These are some photos showing the figures once they were secured in their final positions.</p><p><br /></p>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-50088835477442277982024-01-11T23:43:00.014-05:002024-01-12T08:15:50.793-05:00Go wide<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAr0ucOd0PGPO5s1f7Mes7iWdSxULp-MH6mqJe6agRZchP-rGs6lgkSw97RzuiKmj4hpH9Q0r2-reBJIhBWV1AIQp0l9GzgUeg1iFavKAa-Vbj8LIbofeezK8cSlK1EAA9_w3EDPor3F_9yn9plKP2I9-H1UyGuHj9GKKSUGS1TRC1KYo4K7KZJtwCwkFt" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4432" data-original-width="6733" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAr0ucOd0PGPO5s1f7Mes7iWdSxULp-MH6mqJe6agRZchP-rGs6lgkSw97RzuiKmj4hpH9Q0r2-reBJIhBWV1AIQp0l9GzgUeg1iFavKAa-Vbj8LIbofeezK8cSlK1EAA9_w3EDPor3F_9yn9plKP2I9-H1UyGuHj9GKKSUGS1TRC1KYo4K7KZJtwCwkFt=w640-h422" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;">Test shot with new wider angle lens</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: justify;">I picked up a new wide-angle lens today. It is a Canon RF15-30mm lens. It replaces the former RF18-150mm R series lens that I got with my Canon R-7. The RF18-150mm was a very useful lens. It was great for model railroad photography due to its ability to focus really close. However, there were many times when shooting model railroad photos, I wished it had a bit wider angle. This problem stems from the fact that the Canon has a 1.6x crop factor. So, the 18-150 is equivalent to a 28.8-240mm lens on a full frame camera. </div></span></div><p>Unfortunately, I managed to break the RF18-150mm and it could not be repaired. So, I replaced it with a wider-angle lens RF15-30mm lens. This one has just 3 more millimeters on the wide end, but it makes a big difference. At 15mm the lens is approaching fish-eye lens territory. The front piece of glass has a fish-eye concave appearance. It also focusses very close - about 1 inch from the front of the lens. When set to the 30mm setting, its minimum aperture is f32. That is the same as my dedicated EF55mm Macro lens. I almost never use that lens anymore as the RF18-150 and the new RF15-30 are almost as good as macro lenses and more useful due to the zoom.</p><p> I think the new RF15-30 will be a good lens for model railroad photography. The wide angle can create some dramatic shots such as making trains seem longer than they are. However, it also will accentuate any vertical perspective if the lens is tilted up. Trees and vertical objects will appear tilted in shots where the camera is looking away from horizontal. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgesGzyUoWiJd6f4jUvXyVfrBbeBK6t8pQYNN9PPaghOGtEmh2UEtm1rtUBoc4zHf5js8tzQEVw5SZRfsL7j-YZrz7dCsPipAX37ClyFFNYd-MmaNtXaq3kDT7MAE2T2K9QCtep47ZRPxwJb0cbedftTx9d9p7QeJOsOZacTfnSRbdRf4gTred8kej1u-Fm" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4656" data-original-width="6984" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgesGzyUoWiJd6f4jUvXyVfrBbeBK6t8pQYNN9PPaghOGtEmh2UEtm1rtUBoc4zHf5js8tzQEVw5SZRfsL7j-YZrz7dCsPipAX37ClyFFNYd-MmaNtXaq3kDT7MAE2T2K9QCtep47ZRPxwJb0cbedftTx9d9p7QeJOsOZacTfnSRbdRf4gTred8kej1u-Fm=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another test shot. I had to correct the perspective in this image in Photoshop <br /> as this lens will accentuate any vertical perspective if the camera is tilted up. </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-21443127158494061842024-01-03T20:45:00.006-05:002024-01-03T23:17:22.527-05:00D-Day Diorama Project Planning Meeting<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8b8sS-d71hojfGC_PZPxSkacwtxf_tNzEESlvxgTia0qoY5oZ0DBwWCJmeXLSQ-6Ri_BENSgkvGMT9Gy9FG4LSA7Qyvgb77lFuslPPNFukZCzVs_q4ro11GEWKq-IJAaIYXw6uFrQkyNOw1oJaOxNG3oJyo89pPKzmHMZhmSQ3owJ5XQUYC_cU8Lviyep" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="1122" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8b8sS-d71hojfGC_PZPxSkacwtxf_tNzEESlvxgTia0qoY5oZ0DBwWCJmeXLSQ-6Ri_BENSgkvGMT9Gy9FG4LSA7Qyvgb77lFuslPPNFukZCzVs_q4ro11GEWKq-IJAaIYXw6uFrQkyNOw1oJaOxNG3oJyo89pPKzmHMZhmSQ3owJ5XQUYC_cU8Lviyep=w640-h476" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sample of Kent Rocco's D-Day artwork</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Mark Fastoso and I visited Keith Rocco at his home and studio in the Shenandoah Valley to continuing planning for the D-Day Diorama Project. (I mentioned this project in an earlier post <a href="https://usmrr.blogspot.com/2023/12/a-new-project-opportunity.html">here</a>.) <p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjdpKrVjC-voz6lFJPln8yse550igL_0VR4hEBUrrpd2mLmrRNIU02Zl0LZA1sVpoKaglhi3HniIimJOU_dolC-_SfxjV7hVOYGo3JS52MAPkJNOmzkGoFTnOWH9I46iffYy2ohxHcNovYVwWyrE6ZBCr6S55FX2D2hE54Gr-eXlA4LmT0SentIl9gulg6S" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjdpKrVjC-voz6lFJPln8yse550igL_0VR4hEBUrrpd2mLmrRNIU02Zl0LZA1sVpoKaglhi3HniIimJOU_dolC-_SfxjV7hVOYGo3JS52MAPkJNOmzkGoFTnOWH9I46iffYy2ohxHcNovYVwWyrE6ZBCr6S55FX2D2hE54Gr-eXlA4LmT0SentIl9gulg6S" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rough cardboard mock-up of the first diorama </td></tr></tbody></table><br />Keith had assembled a very rough mockup of what he planned for the first iteration of the diorama. I brought some of my 1/100th scale figures, plus a new 1/100th scale model of a LCVP that I printed to use in the mockup. With those we were able to finalize the basic design of the diorama. Keith will send me a drawing showing the exact terrain features that will be included so I can start building it as a fine scale model.<p></p><p> Keith has recently completed two large murals depicting the 1st Infantry Division on D-Day for the First Infantry Museum in Cantigny, IL. He wishes to continue working with this theme in a diorama format. Keith's vision is to build a series of dioramas depicting the action on Omaha Beach on D-Day to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of D-Day this coming June. He plans to make them a traveling exhibit that he can take to various locales to display along with his artwork. </p><p>The first diorama section will focus on the 1st Infantry Division on the east end of the beach near Colleville-sur-Mer. This was the area where some of heaviest fighting took place. Eventually there will be 3 more dioramas depicting other areas of Omaha beach. The dioramas will feature 1/100th scale figures in the foreground and will reduce in scale as one approaches the dunes and cliff. Keith plans to paint a backdrop for each diorama with the correct geographic features. I will be building the diorama bases and the terrain. Mark will be producing video segments that visitors can watch on their phones using QR codes. The videos will help tell the story of what is going on in each diorama. We also have Michael Akkerman advising us on details. He is an expert on the D-Day landings. </p><p>It should be de a first class exhibit. </p><p>HOW CAN YOU HELP?</p><p>This is where you can help contribute to the project. To build this and the subsequent dioramas will require a significant number of 15mm scale US figures in the D-Day uniforms. We are looking for people that have painted or unpainted 15mm US figures and vehicles appropriate to this battle and would be willing to contribute to the project. The figures should be US soldiers in D-Day appropriate uniforms. Sherman tanks with deep water fording kits, landing craft including LCVP, LCA and others. We also need figures in unusual poses such as soldiers wading with weapons overhead, prone, and wounded. We will be doing conversions on some figures to match the scenes. If you wish to contribute to the project please send an email to me at bkempins@yahoo.com</p><p>All contributors will be acknowledged. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to fascinating project.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizDKrfHonMaqQW-uCkApfpNkWqZWBEtwpBU4k03AZJWi_Hmxm82BfYf8ZlyL_nKuc3XSTo3pZ_bgD4MMfdjEHcaEDWaRB3AzraarmXGnt7spEGy5F1QVqfif5p6AD0hZLnS4kO3oe48OZS4zttJECbd1-ZJAb1xcnKipgsIaNb9egtvAxgpGfYjFk8_RM9" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizDKrfHonMaqQW-uCkApfpNkWqZWBEtwpBU4k03AZJWi_Hmxm82BfYf8ZlyL_nKuc3XSTo3pZ_bgD4MMfdjEHcaEDWaRB3AzraarmXGnt7spEGy5F1QVqfif5p6AD0hZLnS4kO3oe48OZS4zttJECbd1-ZJAb1xcnKipgsIaNb9egtvAxgpGfYjFk8_RM9=w225-h400" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A French cavalryman that Keith<br /> is almost finished painting </td></tr></tbody></table>PS. I also had a chance to visit Keith's art studio. Wow, it is amazing. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgS-vdydc3VXDYMewwmQ66HbL-95pCdXpUH6c2ADQUPo4v13QVdCghtldSSYxA8ehCWFV8h3gl15W5RAYsdEPf9rl5s8lC6iMy-iaOoBa8v4v9ZTx1dHhEPifNFQVlk-B5ap2m5gprf-g0SOS1m-CGskNzncsxvPu54FZ2uso-Bvf6XvOzksuGhRczE8UW3" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgS-vdydc3VXDYMewwmQ66HbL-95pCdXpUH6c2ADQUPo4v13QVdCghtldSSYxA8ehCWFV8h3gl15W5RAYsdEPf9rl5s8lC6iMy-iaOoBa8v4v9ZTx1dHhEPifNFQVlk-B5ap2m5gprf-g0SOS1m-CGskNzncsxvPu54FZ2uso-Bvf6XvOzksuGhRczE8UW3=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keith and Mark by one of Keith's latest work.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5Gq7HnHBEfXwJwy1PWWwdqQNf5tr8RvzJK35dJ9piMRUYD8S0TK13QaDikTUKVlABezppHzWAKbmZY9INoxiVXCX5ywviwy0Tlfff26RmR2Y0Z42nMvTR3tZGKiFeQQqqHVTGES6gka5Xs6xb0SqOhdhRcCzVkY1yvs1fLgPtGA0G9LNTvoRJk-Y24G9L" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5Gq7HnHBEfXwJwy1PWWwdqQNf5tr8RvzJK35dJ9piMRUYD8S0TK13QaDikTUKVlABezppHzWAKbmZY9INoxiVXCX5ywviwy0Tlfff26RmR2Y0Z42nMvTR3tZGKiFeQQqqHVTGES6gka5Xs6xb0SqOhdhRcCzVkY1yvs1fLgPtGA0G9LNTvoRJk-Y24G9L=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keith's studio would rival many museums with original uniforms and artwork<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-484420866722910412024-01-03T00:09:00.005-05:002024-01-03T00:15:58.858-05:00Test photo <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7A0zIcdSBXr4RNNOkIC9KpyCN91Bz4WX7HDbJ32T2fb1vGrMheB3qwEJCEGniYGFCQrhYQv3iZsu7oNzEnrQdO1tV5_bVdV5kjY9VGpdfrzCNuCS9pzdZXG4Aprd8Qfmp__v_trpKhnVk7-ZnPQRFdiudtUt6u5X5oZWLS4p1KfwX-jhy7qD22GRNeaKN" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4704" data-original-width="6207" height="485" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7A0zIcdSBXr4RNNOkIC9KpyCN91Bz4WX7HDbJ32T2fb1vGrMheB3qwEJCEGniYGFCQrhYQv3iZsu7oNzEnrQdO1tV5_bVdV5kjY9VGpdfrzCNuCS9pzdZXG4Aprd8Qfmp__v_trpKhnVk7-ZnPQRFdiudtUt6u5X5oZWLS4p1KfwX-jhy7qD22GRNeaKN=w640-h485" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Test shot with trees added in Photoshop</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTj1ZkkSGmg8DwoNhKUTH4CtSuv9KwhtTvUPcziu07oyZWIGE3eEQ8OoVOVM-ZT_GX-V-0nebXf-J_G2xNjOWwE73dqTLdeqF6YE113tROsXR99hTtcCMKZBRV4a8kGfUyxtUPJa-daDrRoDi9IWCsLZNijm681Tk0XOP8_KH4M7apaL5E4TUugFzNS5cE" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTj1ZkkSGmg8DwoNhKUTH4CtSuv9KwhtTvUPcziu07oyZWIGE3eEQ8OoVOVM-ZT_GX-V-0nebXf-J_G2xNjOWwE73dqTLdeqF6YE113tROsXR99hTtcCMKZBRV4a8kGfUyxtUPJa-daDrRoDi9IWCsLZNijm681Tk0XOP8_KH4M7apaL5E4TUugFzNS5cE=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Backdrop trees in progress</td></tr></tbody></table>I continued work on the scenery and backdrops at Mueller's Creek. I suspect it will need about 30 more trees to capture the effect I want. In the meantime, I took a test shot with a train on the trestle. Then I used PS to add some trees to get a feel for the scene. This photo angle is the main reason I added about 4 inches to the foreground scenery.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_PtvESJgzuKQrgQcKVsAf6ZafOx3-98YaDgH30mihqL58AKrENr5ybvfnbZb6Ipw5E2gGCYEj2crl1gYBz3w6LPLlcVlKotE8YeDKq4A6qoALr7fw4WrV2TZjvAi1vAzagn89v2jDbBU00_RN_TNc0R3AhjxtV4rxlASf48_RobDMZdZVkoXFdDyhK2Tm" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_PtvESJgzuKQrgQcKVsAf6ZafOx3-98YaDgH30mihqL58AKrENr5ybvfnbZb6Ipw5E2gGCYEj2crl1gYBz3w6LPLlcVlKotE8YeDKq4A6qoALr7fw4WrV2TZjvAi1vAzagn89v2jDbBU00_RN_TNc0R3AhjxtV4rxlASf48_RobDMZdZVkoXFdDyhK2Tm=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wet scenery - ground leaves and twigs. Looks like a <br />mess now but will be OK when dried</td></tr></tbody></table>This has potential to be a very nice scene. It will greet viewers as the come down the stairs into the layout area.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The top of the hill might be a candidate for an HO or N scale farm house and barn.</div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /><p></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-59034336965752245222024-01-01T23:01:00.010-05:002024-01-02T10:35:20.500-05:00Making some progress on scenery<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The scene is starting to come together. The next step it to make a bunch of trees, which can be somewhat tedious. But worth it when they are done. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="532" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CgZQ153x_KU" width="640" youtube-src-id="CgZQ153x_KU"></iframe></div><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-26455324593208739382023-12-30T23:58:00.006-05:002023-12-30T23:58:57.874-05:00Some new scenery underway<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7TeJnJWDbYvq58EsSLX3D63k9w1om0f3iLhXSVlnqMpRYagl1kRUxDVDgbvUO06IE47Qwc1kniJHCpJ-8Y7nnCIggrrO4vFug30V_0hwO4TswW6b9XFqtnwZVnnX1gDLRO_G09U_nTOuzLkzaXwlgE7Ms5U1n2_b0PWYNJpU-pj4QMWTSGwhHMl8ZjZUX" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2194" data-original-width="4032" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7TeJnJWDbYvq58EsSLX3D63k9w1om0f3iLhXSVlnqMpRYagl1kRUxDVDgbvUO06IE47Qwc1kniJHCpJ-8Y7nnCIggrrO4vFug30V_0hwO4TswW6b9XFqtnwZVnnX1gDLRO_G09U_nTOuzLkzaXwlgE7Ms5U1n2_b0PWYNJpU-pj4QMWTSGwhHMl8ZjZUX=w640-h348" width="640" /></a></div><br /> I finally had a chance to start to work on the scenery by the new trestle. The area behind the bridge will be largely forested. <p></p>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-40963014825745271522023-12-17T22:22:00.002-05:002023-12-17T22:24:05.349-05:00Merry Christmas 2023<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEju_DqmUM9zNVfQzTaLctmopM9MIfQRqGASWAYbBW5AIY9W2nu6W1Q1GoIPLEkI_wKcJI5AZdqLVS622LjFuOPyc5PfhuTB7cImwtTvcnAnxcLyqjJUIc72PdaEyc_1waoJ7a2rKCiZGmmrr8mYGwq-zsWmc_BAor4fscCPsvtJoAcerrZc-r9v0u5bXjid" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3351" data-original-width="4500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEju_DqmUM9zNVfQzTaLctmopM9MIfQRqGASWAYbBW5AIY9W2nu6W1Q1GoIPLEkI_wKcJI5AZdqLVS622LjFuOPyc5PfhuTB7cImwtTvcnAnxcLyqjJUIc72PdaEyc_1waoJ7a2rKCiZGmmrr8mYGwq-zsWmc_BAor4fscCPsvtJoAcerrZc-r9v0u5bXjid=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: xx-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Have a happy holiday </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">from the </span><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: xx-large;">crew of the USMRR Aquia Line </span></div><p></p>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-92221051209194169682023-12-15T23:52:00.007-05:002023-12-16T11:05:32.825-05:00Shadow Box Diorama, "What Have We Done?"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIzdW_AkymLGiXw56-ThCKNUuCVQAOPp3_z4ts8_XRDVYmRMsloJkxYz7eWow_WjFt-q2cRb0hCfzx3U1FaGPs-ytAflpjHBJW9GfPBF87m_sJJ2tzcurGFptkAjhfdjmmQHJ3aAOAuFV_8eiMov7ao6oKfYcS_QklEK2yjNqtS_rwMAFPku146USwVwMQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4562" data-original-width="4152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIzdW_AkymLGiXw56-ThCKNUuCVQAOPp3_z4ts8_XRDVYmRMsloJkxYz7eWow_WjFt-q2cRb0hCfzx3U1FaGPs-ytAflpjHBJW9GfPBF87m_sJJ2tzcurGFptkAjhfdjmmQHJ3aAOAuFV_8eiMov7ao6oKfYcS_QklEK2yjNqtS_rwMAFPku146USwVwMQ=w584-h640" width="584" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p> I am just about done with this small shadow box diorama. It features a figure from Scale75, called "The Casualty Toll." I bought the figure as I thought the pose was very compelling. Later I learned the figure was based on an original painting by Keith Rocco entitled, "Lt. Col. Williamson, 6th Virginia."</p><p>The colors in the box art were quite blue, almost teal in coloration. Keith's artwork in more neutral gray. So I used Keith's colors as a guide. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2vT5vihT9AFEv5768migqfrUTLb0ZS6a-EaXMqDBKi5hyCNMjkr4SJSnuMxDkTJtJ9IqMPxRsq3UjXAOglH0y12rkoT2-bqmIHAuB9eBmN5Yh_IcMuBzmHaJA-Bvnn8rT6LkNdbtCruRJkOjfs5sIZ2rZtEuBePbf-QZGRNIDtj8vDB6k7OBaxLPyJ4T8" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4273" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2vT5vihT9AFEv5768migqfrUTLb0ZS6a-EaXMqDBKi5hyCNMjkr4SJSnuMxDkTJtJ9IqMPxRsq3UjXAOglH0y12rkoT2-bqmIHAuB9eBmN5Yh_IcMuBzmHaJA-Bvnn8rT6LkNdbtCruRJkOjfs5sIZ2rZtEuBePbf-QZGRNIDtj8vDB6k7OBaxLPyJ4T8=w320-h257" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overall box diorama</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I built a small shadow box to display the figure. The scene is nighttime. Lt.Col. Williamson reviews the casualty list from the day's battle. The box is 6 inches wide, 7 inches tall and 4 inches deep. I added a black acrylic front, but I think I will change that as it is very hard to keep clean. It shows every fingerprint and it is reflective. I am thinking perhaps a veneer of dark walnut instead.<p></p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgam_4SMEezTC7P2aJVme-S9AXCJzgfvscMql4sGpZlT-2ZKuK99HFkb9USJoLaSi-vYlb4VAc760uYWqPXiY3uOAKD4k3OJj0LF8zgCC5LxBFpNIEJEdoZKdo_XhvruLDStonNfQUg7gSAKyNK5YxUva33sEklRQIiRfVH5_9OlojyToaI9owc0FpDr79s" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgam_4SMEezTC7P2aJVme-S9AXCJzgfvscMql4sGpZlT-2ZKuK99HFkb9USJoLaSi-vYlb4VAc760uYWqPXiY3uOAKD4k3OJj0LF8zgCC5LxBFpNIEJEdoZKdo_XhvruLDStonNfQUg7gSAKyNK5YxUva33sEklRQIiRfVH5_9OlojyToaI9owc0FpDr79s" width="320" /></a></p><p>I added a battery powered puck light with LEDs that can change colors to the top of the diorama to provide the moonlight. To reduce the intensity of the moonlight, I sprayed the diffuser of the puck light with a few coats of Tamiya clear blue paint. The puck also has a remote to control the colors. </p><p></p><p>The campfire started as a tea candle. I took it apart and powered the LED that came with it with a 9V battery. I used a 22ohm resistor in series with the LED as I wanted the light to be brighter than it was with just the small 1.5 volt disk battery it comes with. I experimented with different resistors to find one that worked. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPuyCzUi-8J0ztVEpXM-uW9NsGXDiWKnEBABsJTisQ9UG5Jz6OfWCUhNY8OgxQm34c2VFKTbe22srAAsMOHsMl1ok4o7iUGSt2exYF3JI-chFeozuee8LHQaOhAvg6m6FzFJn0_Pcbas4703QFmSwkijf4pnod-O_GLefPhIU_ucap-N69Pe19XdNUqIpN" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3140" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPuyCzUi-8J0ztVEpXM-uW9NsGXDiWKnEBABsJTisQ9UG5Jz6OfWCUhNY8OgxQm34c2VFKTbe22srAAsMOHsMl1ok4o7iUGSt2exYF3JI-chFeozuee8LHQaOhAvg6m6FzFJn0_Pcbas4703QFmSwkijf4pnod-O_GLefPhIU_ucap-N69Pe19XdNUqIpN=w288-h400" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before adding additional<br />tongues of flame<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I used the cover of the tea candle that is shaped like a candle flame. I added additional tongues of flame to that using hot glue. I painted the flame with orange, red, and sienna inks. There is no smoke on the diorama - I added that with photoshop. </p><p> I found some twigs in my yard to use for the firewood. I cut them into appropriately sized pieces. I used my soldering iron to scorch the logs. My shop seemed like burnt firewood, so appropriate.</p><p> The intensity of the flame was reduced when I painted the flame with the ink. So, I sprayed some orange ink on the scenery to enhance the light from the fire and make it blend better with the backdrop. I also sprayed the grass in the backdrop with sienna and dark gray to reduce its saturation to look more like moonlight. </p><p>I used the tree stump that comes with the figure. I added ground cover of dried leaves, some static grass and vegetation from Silfor obtained via Scenic Express. </p><p>The backdrop is a simple photo composite. </p><p>It is very difficult to photograph this diorama due to the colored lighting and spill light from the room. I shot the lead photo is a dark room. The sky in the backdrop looks much more luminescent when viewed in person. The camera can't capture that glow. The acrylic front causes reflections that are distracting in photos. </p><p>I haven't come up with a final title yet. I like, "What have we done." But I'm still thinking about it. Suggestions for title are welcome. </p><p><br /></p><p>`</p><p><br /></p>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-47504000972501587872023-12-13T20:51:00.005-05:002023-12-13T22:21:20.937-05:00A New Project Opportunity<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpFMzk_IlYE18pOZWaTZf5PyOwskHfVFs_3q5vQ0ywS_ydwExZ4rdx5OdiWUn3JRMkxgk394ov1WGEFAM4NSZZkQ6MdIt9hG2br6OJvmprGytz91Tdf4rEEklHD2wfXPMWKWJ7BM-74iWbeRqgXrN6so6ArD8wZ7KgW3d32ht0Q9-n174p5GOMw6P8Gdik" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1662" data-original-width="2881" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpFMzk_IlYE18pOZWaTZf5PyOwskHfVFs_3q5vQ0ywS_ydwExZ4rdx5OdiWUn3JRMkxgk394ov1WGEFAM4NSZZkQ6MdIt9hG2br6OJvmprGytz91Tdf4rEEklHD2wfXPMWKWJ7BM-74iWbeRqgXrN6so6ArD8wZ7KgW3d32ht0Q9-n174p5GOMw6P8Gdik=w640-h370" width="640" /></a></div><br />I had the pleasure of hosting Keith Rocco and Mark Fastoso today for a visit to the Aquia Line and a discussion about a new project. <p></p><p>Keith is a very well known artist that specializes in military history. He has produced hundreds of paintings of many subjects especially the <a href="http://www.keithrocco.com/">American Civil War and Napoleonic W</a>ar that are available as limited edition prints. Many of those prints are also available in compilation books. He also has completed several spectacular murals including some at the <a href="https://pamplinpark.org/things-to-do/national-museum-civil-war-soldier/">The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier</a>, Petersburg, VA. His latest murals are at the <a href="https://www.fdmuseum.org">First Division Museum, Wheaton, IL. </a> Several of the dioramas I have built have been inspired by Keith's work. </p><p>Mark is an Emmy award-winning documentary executive producer at Alabama Public Television. He also designs wargames and hosts the Youtube channel, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@MarksGameRoom">Mark's Game Room.</a> That is a Youtube channel devoted to wargaming and military history. It is know for extremely high production values and detailed historical analysis presented in a fun and engaging way. </p><p>We started the visit with a tour of the Aquia Line. Keith is not a model railroader, but is very knowledgable in the history. I think he enjoyed seeing the layout. I was extremely flattered when he said he liked my backdrops. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9hJ8d2T9I83cDiz-8G1diZVAoup8utPgRgHjFIpcKWD4-ZMKCJxGz1a10_EukE2w2qJZSANnuYOtB3X7SEu80RNfdkqny4sE4T5MHhmHuy_h9tpjYXyUwC03J4gE5-3OII-Ow_o77AjtxKV6V07NBfhA4jsgvkIXhxmN6YRSRDcqTO5GwvVTGtkv6vMq5" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9hJ8d2T9I83cDiz-8G1diZVAoup8utPgRgHjFIpcKWD4-ZMKCJxGz1a10_EukE2w2qJZSANnuYOtB3X7SEu80RNfdkqny4sE4T5MHhmHuy_h9tpjYXyUwC03J4gE5-3OII-Ow_o77AjtxKV6V07NBfhA4jsgvkIXhxmN6YRSRDcqTO5GwvVTGtkv6vMq5=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are using some of my 15mm terrain and figures <br />to get a feel for the scope of the project.</td></tr></tbody></table>After viewing the layout and running some trains, we sat down to discuss a new project idea. Keith wants to create several large dioramas depicting the morning of D-Day, June 6th, 1944. The project will be a collaboration between Keith, Mark and his gaming group, and I. The dioramas would be a traveling show to accompany some of Keith's art work. <br /><p></p><p>After bashing around some ideas we decided we would build several portable diorama sections in 1/100 (or 15mm) scale. The exact details are still in the design phase, but I am excited to participate in this joint project. My job will be the bases, terrain, and structures, Mark's group will provide the figures and vehicles. Keith will do the design and paint the backdrops. It will be fun to see this develop. </p>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-4433289891390812362023-12-12T23:23:00.007-05:002023-12-13T00:35:12.074-05:00Some new photos of the layout<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0tUn3--qE-Vg9kErLBqlyaV9uFp05fOSiprAdnI3PCjeEvmbnCCCP2Z2Vxsg1USlToXtjhuxVG5-9qCmCFY8c1f0EXMeiVuQV-2oSEVrr814S9X6hBnf03hWAbKhAwP09dGm5v7RKM_LKi13XyewJfotu1QKhufmPiAcUvQtOZ6hdouw5B-rXlYucIEDg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="5033" data-original-width="6960" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0tUn3--qE-Vg9kErLBqlyaV9uFp05fOSiprAdnI3PCjeEvmbnCCCP2Z2Vxsg1USlToXtjhuxVG5-9qCmCFY8c1f0EXMeiVuQV-2oSEVrr814S9X6hBnf03hWAbKhAwP09dGm5v7RKM_LKi13XyewJfotu1QKhufmPiAcUvQtOZ6hdouw5B-rXlYucIEDg=w640-h462" width="640" /></a></div><br />I spent the past few days shooting pictures of the layout for an upcoming article. Even though the Aquia Landing area isn't done, this picture captures the look and feel I am going for. It just needs more of everything. <p></p><p>I used PS Generative AI to extend the water into the aisles in the photo.</p><p><br /></p>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-5166772637348011252023-12-03T20:58:00.002-05:002023-12-03T20:58:59.049-05:00Sharing the Word on Civil War Railroad Modeling<p> </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqfWsQlc4Bn0EJrOfjb7cvRR9REksXgsCkErrDR4GQ4gZuBsZ3cGW2WPeOO3Z7McTRXiVy-_HYI64z6JJnFGq0CMuDnf0KPm7vVFIrW4C1-x5EEI-SJ8K2HRcOLebhtvFGu_O8BOkiTh-fiE6h41rOcSpntkVNVLd8LPDTKhMIAOWtlCZ3yFVI2r9S98o6" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="1280" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqfWsQlc4Bn0EJrOfjb7cvRR9REksXgsCkErrDR4GQ4gZuBsZ3cGW2WPeOO3Z7McTRXiVy-_HYI64z6JJnFGq0CMuDnf0KPm7vVFIrW4C1-x5EEI-SJ8K2HRcOLebhtvFGu_O8BOkiTh-fiE6h41rOcSpntkVNVLd8LPDTKhMIAOWtlCZ3yFVI2r9S98o6=w640-h372" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">I donned my ACW Generals uniform to present my talk at Leesyylvania State Park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><p>It was a busy week for sharing the word of Civil War era model railroading.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkN1zO_YGftgWXmzXCqu7w-HoWeNlSJdURQdv-_rrHgGtbZaSKepJnK58t9JrMkWwtUMmbuQVmMnPHJhxY1ltGfcGic1VUcI7l_9OgHlc_sThQz5b7X3RqtMK7KxqF2DzcWd5SJVWAPVUSJln3S2fI1maSD91UNbyErJqZj3EV6MJv9mAYHHJxPZ6UV6Hl/s1612/IMG_0036.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1612" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkN1zO_YGftgWXmzXCqu7w-HoWeNlSJdURQdv-_rrHgGtbZaSKepJnK58t9JrMkWwtUMmbuQVmMnPHJhxY1ltGfcGic1VUcI7l_9OgHlc_sThQz5b7X3RqtMK7KxqF2DzcWd5SJVWAPVUSJln3S2fI1maSD91UNbyErJqZj3EV6MJv9mAYHHJxPZ6UV6Hl/w381-h400/IMG_0036.jpg" width="381" /></a></div><br />It started last week when my son and his family were in town for the holidays and a conference. On two evenings we ran trains for the entertainment of my granddaughter, Ruka, and her parents. She seemed to be fascinated with the trains despite just turning one year old on Monday. <p></p><p>The visitors continued on Friday when Jack Brown, his wife and their friend John Carroll visited the Aquia Line as part of a weekend trip to the Washington, DC area. It was Jack and John's second visit but the first for his wife. We had a nice visit.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>On Saturday morning I presented a talk on Railroads of the Civil War to a group of 15 people at the Leesylvania State Park visitor center. The visitor center has a nice museum with lots of information about the history of the land that comprises the park. It was a pleasant surprise as I did not know that there was a museum there. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjD9i_yhAxzoFcJdjkLkhroEq_aQSePO5FKBwj9rFo4D986DvW8byfICAZpRlLX74z_8hg4shDH77mn4MS5WjGSLZTcYwJMBkRiiHNr64AyKptgfQz-3GnyCeHlczse6blhk93vVTifC3oTsvdDUPvg69AfLVmQvsLLrQUoG76qj2fd0r1JtKE-4lZ7tNo" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="740" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjD9i_yhAxzoFcJdjkLkhroEq_aQSePO5FKBwj9rFo4D986DvW8byfICAZpRlLX74z_8hg4shDH77mn4MS5WjGSLZTcYwJMBkRiiHNr64AyKptgfQz-3GnyCeHlczse6blhk93vVTifC3oTsvdDUPvg69AfLVmQvsLLrQUoG76qj2fd0r1JtKE-4lZ7tNo=w400-h244" width="400" /></a></div> I learned from their exhibits that the Union gunboat Jacob Bell was involved in a small skirmish at Freestone Point. It remained in the Potomac River for much of the war. It would be a good candidate for a model of one of the gunboats that protected Aquia Landing. It was about 141 feet long, so not too big. Perhaps I will replace the Passaic with the Jacob Bell.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBRMXx_-7lFbRr-VzjTwlxzwZ_DFbkHMcwN_NKTphE8WMrtaXYG4Kt6wSG6O7Ko6gHh3ttVZxK4leonjodsHgKn10lM7lK-32lckABs5sobRFBpvnkO1-QvLPiPtoG4Nt3tztz4fdahMnaG6-6stlBHFZIP5mcCog_v7SzBBr-Rc2VhYeNR_Q4FQX74AJf" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBRMXx_-7lFbRr-VzjTwlxzwZ_DFbkHMcwN_NKTphE8WMrtaXYG4Kt6wSG6O7Ko6gHh3ttVZxK4leonjodsHgKn10lM7lK-32lckABs5sobRFBpvnkO1-QvLPiPtoG4Nt3tztz4fdahMnaG6-6stlBHFZIP5mcCog_v7SzBBr-Rc2VhYeNR_Q4FQX74AJf=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div>On Sunday I hosted an open house for the Aquia Line Railroad. I had 25 people sign the guest list. Five of the guests completed the scavenger hunt check list. I think that was popular with the wives as they all tried it. One couple stayed the whole afternoon looking for every last item. <p></p><p>Thanks to Bill Mosteller and John Steitz who ran the trains during the open house. </p><p>Alicia made cookies, which appeared to be a bit hit as none were left at the end of the day. Bill also brought some cookies.</p>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-71713202227065433332023-11-16T16:55:00.003-05:002023-11-16T16:55:40.242-05:00Upcoming Events<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8CYOvR4rXj1fVhxRmI9Uxz97UacLNZoy4HQIwCYqKdp7pcuLsFYlz7LMgz2R_RiSVzVu0QPvIJxqQkw7IkWdUAy_ROkyTIhfdQB3mEPe3MuAWjlqzHbXw0sPR4s9BjpGM4Nou1xBG7Gq7-XQEF45t0RbvilDmfas7PULgLn6W-cMEweWgDhLDz9VFLvEb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="1330" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8CYOvR4rXj1fVhxRmI9Uxz97UacLNZoy4HQIwCYqKdp7pcuLsFYlz7LMgz2R_RiSVzVu0QPvIJxqQkw7IkWdUAy_ROkyTIhfdQB3mEPe3MuAWjlqzHbXw0sPR4s9BjpGM4Nou1xBG7Gq7-XQEF45t0RbvilDmfas7PULgLn6W-cMEweWgDhLDz9VFLvEb=w640-h430" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /><p></p><p>I am scheduled to present a talk on Railroads of the Civil War at the <a href="https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/event?id=2023-10-14-18-31-46-015991-064">Leesylvania State Park on 2 December at 1000AM.</a> This talk is aimed at the general public and will cover a variety of topics related to the development and operation of railroads during the Civil War. The talk will conclude with a selection of photos from my model railroad. Please see the link above for details. There is a parking fee for each vehicle, but the talk is free. I hope to see you there.</p><p>Leesylvania Park is the site of the former Confederate Freestone Point Battery. Established in 1861, the Freestone Point Confederate Battery was part of the five month Confederate blockade of the Potomac River. Union ships shelled the battery several times with little effect on each. When Union soldiers made it to shore during the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cockpit_Point">Battle of Cockpit Point in 1862</a>, the batteries were abandoned. The earthworks survive to today as part of the Leesylvania State Park and were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.</p><p>On December 3, I will be hosting an open house to give folks a chance to visit my model railroad. The time will be from 1-4PM. If you read this blog, you are welcome to attained. RSVP to let me know if you are planning to come.</p><p><br /></p>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-47750440180834030312023-11-15T16:57:00.004-05:002023-11-15T17:00:10.340-05:00Great Lakes Getaway 2024<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzIGy75rYHLrKoppCRGPCFdJb1Z9miO53FLF2PycPdcMkkp4wdR6zJokHE5Z9na_kqbVTr8rjygCleVJ8QajRY-DU1dPk2IMrMb0CUEblOwYoXN4_USl64UbrWraKS3vURG4iZG3-1D74aJPrrGV5dGosayU4SRNXt915vM0ItB-PtJrMd-28edz5EIwPw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzIGy75rYHLrKoppCRGPCFdJb1Z9miO53FLF2PycPdcMkkp4wdR6zJokHE5Z9na_kqbVTr8rjygCleVJ8QajRY-DU1dPk2IMrMb0CUEblOwYoXN4_USl64UbrWraKS3vURG4iZG3-1D74aJPrrGV5dGosayU4SRNXt915vM0ItB-PtJrMd-28edz5EIwPw=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><br />I attended Great Lakes Getaway 2024 last weekend. I and 21 other out-of-town guests had the chance to operate on up to 5 great layouts in the greater Detroit area. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3_Cw4LTBKbXELmD_J3Qk-BPtjXv9ZogjKujZ17yMhu6WH68El8PPQ_0WiYpab6iFwpHptZMgJ3Td8rvbu0PH29VvE4NgCb5lD9fGUn7JLNISO1ZTVIYDdvqbExSPKQJfusjqxt_G3VqqPy0tYTdBp8W80FL8zuWU2RC2gzykNW5VjvwQpsiLPZ2D45wMQ" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3_Cw4LTBKbXELmD_J3Qk-BPtjXv9ZogjKujZ17yMhu6WH68El8PPQ_0WiYpab6iFwpHptZMgJ3Td8rvbu0PH29VvE4NgCb5lD9fGUn7JLNISO1ZTVIYDdvqbExSPKQJfusjqxt_G3VqqPy0tYTdBp8W80FL8zuWU2RC2gzykNW5VjvwQpsiLPZ2D45wMQ=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></div>On the first day I operated at Doug Tagsold’s C&S Layout today. It is a spectacularly beautiful model railroad. It is also one of the more complicated Timetable and Train Order layouts that I have run. There is lots to think about as you chug along or wait for meets. I ran an extra ore train that was basically swimming upstream against several scheduled trains. The long runs between control points combined with the slow speeds are unmatched in any model railroad that I am aware. Definitely one of my favorite railroads to operate and visit.<p></p><p>The day capped off with a fun group dinner. The food and company was great but the dang musician was so loud, my ears started ringing. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDcsdJL2P8dmuO2V9bssIrWPT96KEoMzdH8MzlidqO9VHnWRuFlG_6m-M0Fv3TUNCe_g7_d9aMLTBCEdV0_kJYYdh1rCcW6vetuUuDCFxYwJIywoyGHTPXB7t_jIxJ9HKdtj5KsPvgEDF2fmZpGRwp72ihpkkbEZv0x64veGohnVm-U9pcw5bA8oVPbDPL" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDcsdJL2P8dmuO2V9bssIrWPT96KEoMzdH8MzlidqO9VHnWRuFlG_6m-M0Fv3TUNCe_g7_d9aMLTBCEdV0_kJYYdh1rCcW6vetuUuDCFxYwJIywoyGHTPXB7t_jIxJ9HKdtj5KsPvgEDF2fmZpGRwp72ihpkkbEZv0x64veGohnVm-U9pcw5bA8oVPbDPL=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from my office for the day</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQd6r0nsIYf2-9sk3CVNuq6WHQNZT936v6xyeoGh0vwQaeaSV4LA0RcNoF-I0nDSImktENtV4n8lYwqSRWfJou4HA_mGqp1zHRKWr0IvxLPIiIxWQN8bryXYOMQ75AakGLcZiTkMnZIQUMLQ-edmqJ6BhgOQdWKrmfyF5oF61YxrT6sXxcd_s0HQ4ojrCi" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQd6r0nsIYf2-9sk3CVNuq6WHQNZT936v6xyeoGh0vwQaeaSV4LA0RcNoF-I0nDSImktENtV4n8lYwqSRWfJou4HA_mGqp1zHRKWr0IvxLPIiIxWQN8bryXYOMQ75AakGLcZiTkMnZIQUMLQ-edmqJ6BhgOQdWKrmfyF5oF61YxrT6sXxcd_s0HQ4ojrCi=w225-h400" width="225" /></a></div><br />On the second day I operated on Mike Burgett’s beyond museum quality C&O layout. I am proud to have contributed to it with some structures and signals via Alkem Scale Models. <p></p><p><br /></p><p>I did my favorite job, West Clifton Forge Yard. That job builds trains and weighs coal hoppers. It all happens from one seated position which I do like. It really feels like a real railroad when you operate at Mike's. This railroad with its dispatcher office and tower has to rank as one of the best in the country. </p><p>That night I presented an after dinner talk to the group on an update on the Aquia Line. Travers Stavac also presented his plans for his new layout that incorporates some of Paul Dolkos's former layout. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicqxtvizvjiM1HKH9mU3SsEzmD5uX2xe5qXkaiS5D398OoHVa5Vc1pIOWlPxvilPEOm5Bq_ghvOv3Sz-AaPsx58Oax4uNlQY4xCLqW3Z91jLJTSuiFaEckB73Amf2Rinvz6HM4JYgX23KojGYTrSgmwyvxAWpnwpnUyLahxCHNWtVrBjHfyfewACA8jYcq" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicqxtvizvjiM1HKH9mU3SsEzmD5uX2xe5qXkaiS5D398OoHVa5Vc1pIOWlPxvilPEOm5Bq_ghvOv3Sz-AaPsx58Oax4uNlQY4xCLqW3Z91jLJTSuiFaEckB73Amf2Rinvz6HM4JYgX23KojGYTrSgmwyvxAWpnwpnUyLahxCHNWtVrBjHfyfewACA8jYcq=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></div><br />Last layout for my trip was Bill Neale’s wonderful PRR Panhandle division. This was my second visit to Bill’s layout. This time I ran a through oil train, and a coal shifter. The pièce de résistance was being engine crew on a massive 45 coal hopper train with three crewmen each running a PRR decapod- 2 on the head and one snapper (aka pusher) on the rear. As an extra treat, Bill’s wife, Terry , provided a tour of their birdfeeders in the back yard and pointed out some of the birds we saw.<div><br /></div><div>Three awesome railroads in 3 days. The Michigan hosts are also great hosts. Thanks to them for hosting a wonderful weekend.<br /><p></p><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjU0bvGbVavQZvejsHT2q4rmEVMyNC9oryvgvH8PsmjfOfaWUuNUSRt2Zml4uFk7EyCZa9emQUBNs4QmognIc2-9Vw8cR6mEEiNaclTdtCbVDT6suVLANiSH0usBwVDjg2QeK96bM5riCnAWrb7NaqHVZBIZL_dZnyNDWF3vomZASGQ78y4bLXD7JU-buKW" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjU0bvGbVavQZvejsHT2q4rmEVMyNC9oryvgvH8PsmjfOfaWUuNUSRt2Zml4uFk7EyCZa9emQUBNs4QmognIc2-9Vw8cR6mEEiNaclTdtCbVDT6suVLANiSH0usBwVDjg2QeK96bM5riCnAWrb7NaqHVZBIZL_dZnyNDWF3vomZASGQ78y4bLXD7JU-buKW=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two decapods on the head and one one the rear with 45 coal hoppers. </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p></div>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-14878791201869102232023-11-05T23:10:00.005-05:002023-11-06T00:46:29.753-05:00Joint Potomac and James River Division Meet and other travels<p><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh44dAXPaFHDJmqFMCsV_gWYP_R-Fj0jU8pv0eJoF72ZvTFfx4L77Fct-eLWFqGAv_jbon9t45JNOB5TzfQBrhqiEPchujVgfsYCu7fUDspuISBhxrrFgqs0sCVh84-vgKUntNqssTUKENkCZ7-1GlkvFpqago6sdhW2zmQeMT6INoNEJJn6dALUIpgNpjz" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh44dAXPaFHDJmqFMCsV_gWYP_R-Fj0jU8pv0eJoF72ZvTFfx4L77Fct-eLWFqGAv_jbon9t45JNOB5TzfQBrhqiEPchujVgfsYCu7fUDspuISBhxrrFgqs0sCVh84-vgKUntNqssTUKENkCZ7-1GlkvFpqago6sdhW2zmQeMT6INoNEJJn6dALUIpgNpjz=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dioramas, which feature Sherman tank models, on display next to actual Sherman tanks</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I attended the joint Potomac and James River Division Meet last Saturday, 4 Nov 2023. That meet culimated a busy period of hobby related travel.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwIMaI2vY-m_xFCOK7wvYn-0U3r90nivBUUjGnT44HRG1097t4Lr9VKrbf8LQ7uleN8kxP5ysLxSi3C3pOdILJxXA5MReA5WmI4GszUOE8W7hRq06MAbVEPrgO6oPsfoJbamv2z_s6XagtXYrrJ__-J8ZE6yHWuWwbRe41cHWIlKxx5OrlROmeNh1g6GXB" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwIMaI2vY-m_xFCOK7wvYn-0U3r90nivBUUjGnT44HRG1097t4Lr9VKrbf8LQ7uleN8kxP5ysLxSi3C3pOdILJxXA5MReA5WmI4GszUOE8W7hRq06MAbVEPrgO6oPsfoJbamv2z_s6XagtXYrrJ__-J8ZE6yHWuWwbRe41cHWIlKxx5OrlROmeNh1g6GXB=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlie's Layout is the top floor of a large 3 car garage.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />To briefly recap, I drove to Memphis, TN via Lexington, KY (where I visited Chase, Muzuki and Ruka) to attend the ACWRRHS annual meet from 12-15 October. The highlight of the meet was to be two op sessions on Charlie Taylor's Memphis and Charleston Model RR. We got to run trains one day. Then Charlie and his wife contracted COVID (fortunately not serious cases). So we had to resort to alternate plans. Those included a joint build of TTRAK models in the hotel, and I did a presentation on the latest news on my layout.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgloiXp5Q4cgrJL-N2zW6cC8pt9grAG4QQaBl7FmKRGg6vX1FE3HqiJhrjJyZqSqA8Q8vJoFR6uqyxVc0bJbI3ZdZMD6EKsjqlWRRdhrQxGuDMAWFoTEA9tWVKGWP-DdchMMJOwLNzeSRi4ybASydhhDM67C-hyWzXBQNTscfk_XQjO0q489rJkPGvVbDgY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgloiXp5Q4cgrJL-N2zW6cC8pt9grAG4QQaBl7FmKRGg6vX1FE3HqiJhrjJyZqSqA8Q8vJoFR6uqyxVc0bJbI3ZdZMD6EKsjqlWRRdhrQxGuDMAWFoTEA9tWVKGWP-DdchMMJOwLNzeSRi4ybASydhhDM67C-hyWzXBQNTscfk_XQjO0q489rJkPGvVbDgY=w225-h400" width="225" /></a></div>While in Memphis, we ate BBQ, spent an evening on Beale Street listening to music, and squeezed in some rail fanning. I also visited the massive Bass Pro Shop in the pyramid. <p></p><p><br />On Sunday I drove to Birmingham, AL. I picked up Alicia at Birmingham airport. We then spent the week with Danica, Adam and Merritt. Alicia returned home on Tuesday for a doc appt. So I had to baby sit Merritt by myself for a couple days. It was tons of fun. </p><p>On Friday I drove to Fort Moore in Columbus, GA to meet my brother, Rob, to attend an armor model contest and open house at the US Army Armor and Cavalry Museum. I was there earlier in the year, but it was great to revisit with more time to look around. We brought some models to display. </p><p>We also managed to get in a round of golf at Maple Ridge GC. I actually played pretty well for a change. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhou2w_M_zFcelObRp5fO0PPajgI65fHB_esnkiphorgsZlQP8XcGVkuOfGJmb3FCJS7TLCSScxSuRLP0A9ivzmRM-enuXZSu7cxD1Ewhout03ivGhh7y7FqszdXDD7x3eluJ72kJUDqYex_2ELj_nSATGvMKeBwixUlAI6q5SFGc27za1DrcDBKE3Zpjfx" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhou2w_M_zFcelObRp5fO0PPajgI65fHB_esnkiphorgsZlQP8XcGVkuOfGJmb3FCJS7TLCSScxSuRLP0A9ivzmRM-enuXZSu7cxD1Ewhout03ivGhh7y7FqszdXDD7x3eluJ72kJUDqYex_2ELj_nSATGvMKeBwixUlAI6q5SFGc27za1DrcDBKE3Zpjfx" width="320" /></a></div>The show was fun. We didn't get any awards, but we did get to get close up looks at the vast collection of armor they have on display. <p></p><p>One other unexpected highlight was that I got to meet some customers of my Alkem Scale Models DODX flat cars. David Perkins even had some on display. He really lobbied me to continue to produce those and other DODX cars.<br /></p><p>On the drive home I made three stops in Virginia. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWiIyj92McZrzWNmYBjR0PVcvslazA4_nj4NjyQCG7NY6qk3cjbqqGdHToFY-1Q6dwFUHtas_Espge5DOYtt0HJZrDFLWVJVN-rJ4t2UHLRoTgQxT59dYImz5LIH8B8Xi_vWFHWBAqksAIXQiOWajix2kK7lju0I_DAByFE1Z5txa_gALjrvyr0xgaMxNc" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3788" data-original-width="7738" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWiIyj92McZrzWNmYBjR0PVcvslazA4_nj4NjyQCG7NY6qk3cjbqqGdHToFY-1Q6dwFUHtas_Espge5DOYtt0HJZrDFLWVJVN-rJ4t2UHLRoTgQxT59dYImz5LIH8B8Xi_vWFHWBAqksAIXQiOWajix2kK7lju0I_DAByFE1Z5txa_gALjrvyr0xgaMxNc" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>First was to Drewry's Bluff. This was the site of a famous CSA fort on a steep bluff overlooking a sharp bend in the James River. In May, 1862 there was a battle there when the Union Navy tried to break through to Richmond, VA. The fort held and the Union Navy pulled back. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaDz7HtB3_2XhvuMLfnE81rQGlu9fzNIZChdViFKl5Hl6x8bWMUPtXTyhJpXNcoFbvX58Ix9_puU4BjBAE6wGZ6L2OonsYO4oR2P-33VNDKiuQO6-zzgjfBIY6oXROkAP5djEkvAIHdVWjjmc8klHx46rh4xE6_b5Fq5GqhPhckiKdte_-IeMMD5D8O4EB" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaDz7HtB3_2XhvuMLfnE81rQGlu9fzNIZChdViFKl5Hl6x8bWMUPtXTyhJpXNcoFbvX58Ix9_puU4BjBAE6wGZ6L2OonsYO4oR2P-33VNDKiuQO6-zzgjfBIY6oXROkAP5djEkvAIHdVWjjmc8klHx46rh4xE6_b5Fq5GqhPhckiKdte_-IeMMD5D8O4EB" width="320" /></a></div><br />The National Park Service has preserved the site and has a recreation of one of the heavy guns that defended the fort. Other than the dirt mounds left by the entrenchments, not much else survived. The bluff is very steep. It is obvious that this was a strong position, at least from river attack. <br /> <p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjQClPlfC5l_z9k1ZDQQQzHyo0j28TbNny_cbacm-VOKNvnHXZOpZ-3jGpngp0wLlL9LIH2FYjr7IcnOg3HddwTcJjkdGiMtSqYOvJc83ONFY3D4Ha545-nl6ysKqtdAT6hNOg24pM9hnYIaRZNojuJmBgenE-d2__ILBQixZdyniQ8zFcQu9Tkw42X93H" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjQClPlfC5l_z9k1ZDQQQzHyo0j28TbNny_cbacm-VOKNvnHXZOpZ-3jGpngp0wLlL9LIH2FYjr7IcnOg3HddwTcJjkdGiMtSqYOvJc83ONFY3D4Ha545-nl6ysKqtdAT6hNOg24pM9hnYIaRZNojuJmBgenE-d2__ILBQixZdyniQ8zFcQu9Tkw42X93H" width="640" /></a></div><br />Next stop was at Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond. The state and the NPS have opened a new museum there. Some of the original brick buildings are still present. The iron works underwent significant expansion after the civil war, so it is difficult to envision how it looked at the time of the war. But, the NPS have two dioramas of the works. One depicts the appearance during the civil war and the other about 50 years later. I did get an answer to a question that had been nagging me for some time - there was no rail spur directly to the works during the civil war. Wagons and canal boats were the primary means of transport to and from the works. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixeJfyPyvOZYW6F9h_eWjC7gYEf2DUrQP2ph1Ic3-lZ1D07_TWVhHdMRntgNTabDN6Le6IlBHeVJofoQZky2gqyFrsoEuk4g4ukuwmjJ9CDjgcg1fJtySMUOijCzonWhVNOPDjyBm3wn7BhsiNtVC5Sa9dTw5zIkyztyW9CG7pmf3HasE9lqB0gEpRkJqy" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixeJfyPyvOZYW6F9h_eWjC7gYEf2DUrQP2ph1Ic3-lZ1D07_TWVhHdMRntgNTabDN6Le6IlBHeVJofoQZky2gqyFrsoEuk4g4ukuwmjJ9CDjgcg1fJtySMUOijCzonWhVNOPDjyBm3wn7BhsiNtVC5Sa9dTw5zIkyztyW9CG7pmf3HasE9lqB0gEpRkJqy" width="320" /></a></div><br />The museum was pretty good too. Not as extensive as the Pamplin Museum of the Civil War, but with several interesting exhibits. Some highlights to me were the uniforms of several notable rebels both male and female, Jeb Stuart's boots, and a period field desk. There was also an interesting exhibit on the rise of paper money as a result of the civil war. <p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCyiw8YKqLa37UWmY3kSQ5j-95kgSrhILM48HVvqVJhfn9K9U8Yr2kC7Xf4F0tuCHqVd1olVNP-sNyQrEPCN3muZI0US4xTsTpixDiCBZN7N0IseWzxwQNLf4SVapTln3XkoGhdaIq4-7EvWrhkxDoMtSOfqrot8GG9SEsKr_TSAUXuIWn3jQS0zFlHsl5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCyiw8YKqLa37UWmY3kSQ5j-95kgSrhILM48HVvqVJhfn9K9U8Yr2kC7Xf4F0tuCHqVd1olVNP-sNyQrEPCN3muZI0US4xTsTpixDiCBZN7N0IseWzxwQNLf4SVapTln3XkoGhdaIq4-7EvWrhkxDoMtSOfqrot8GG9SEsKr_TSAUXuIWn3jQS0zFlHsl5=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTAdgVpqNZiQSYov2sj9-IjHDQNmtdfKhLitNplZCXX8Oclw7pmKx7AiSZa1zPj-pvthK6GEOG8fPPN-u3aeFuvoRR2g-4f0-J3Orvhm26DSNxT3g__YEjnSBeqvfBNoxVSFVNx7TefHhkrT0U9ZS3Mtq3wmrf5Fj4m13Ksh0gv-kT4vdibQYaAYE7wV8h" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTAdgVpqNZiQSYov2sj9-IjHDQNmtdfKhLitNplZCXX8Oclw7pmKx7AiSZa1zPj-pvthK6GEOG8fPPN-u3aeFuvoRR2g-4f0-J3Orvhm26DSNxT3g__YEjnSBeqvfBNoxVSFVNx7TefHhkrT0U9ZS3Mtq3wmrf5Fj4m13Ksh0gv-kT4vdibQYaAYE7wV8h" width="320" /></a></div><br />Last stop was a visit to the Stafford Civil War Park. This park sits is situated on 41 acres that hosted the Union Army's 11th Corps, 1st and 3rd Divisions, following the December 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg. You walk or drive to 8 different stops to view the remains of several union army camps and entrenchments. The sites are well marked with signs and replica guns and shebangs (temporary huts built by soldiers for housing). Like Drewry's Bluff, I was impressed with the roughness of the terrain, The entrenchments would have been very difficult to assault. <p></p><p>I had two weeks at home to recover from the trip. That included surprise laser surgery to repair a small hole in my left retina. I was not having symptoms from the issue, but my ophthalmologist noticed it during my regular eye exam. It pays to get your check ups. My vision is back to normal.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSzwXyU6QHzM1mKbUviT9hpoQ0hbIYe4G18Z6Kaq6NSOOORQaaFeZO2oqFe149yNdklaAWdlN2En_VP4WinZxl55d4ywAYEXQfQcUfOOtUTFKbZLlOxmyKgEJ6tDkHKAIiyDku7_DeECWBLthyPxez0Fgvq6Poz0MYKhWS7LXMUUrBSvhsb-cThX_U5Rv/s4032/IMG_6723.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSzwXyU6QHzM1mKbUviT9hpoQ0hbIYe4G18Z6Kaq6NSOOORQaaFeZO2oqFe149yNdklaAWdlN2En_VP4WinZxl55d4ywAYEXQfQcUfOOtUTFKbZLlOxmyKgEJ6tDkHKAIiyDku7_DeECWBLthyPxez0Fgvq6Poz0MYKhWS7LXMUUrBSvhsb-cThX_U5Rv/w640-h360/IMG_6723.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sean's layout building - Wow!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TVNW26ZR4M7HHVDanCjB9RTBIoBTuNFg1u5xztfHRLrPh9mbGq6DxJUplLEp7n7czJv9sYCS_SGBvx6ShYV1uONb5ADBuIPEPsyZFhNDJodwqHTeMoyy3qlSe_BeMmPOmuvytpa2bowcYCInqjNtD1igi2SKS58z_QZ53GVI_rjDx4fEcnp3TDL0pF8P/s4032/IMG_6734.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TVNW26ZR4M7HHVDanCjB9RTBIoBTuNFg1u5xztfHRLrPh9mbGq6DxJUplLEp7n7czJv9sYCS_SGBvx6ShYV1uONb5ADBuIPEPsyZFhNDJodwqHTeMoyy3qlSe_BeMmPOmuvytpa2bowcYCInqjNtD1igi2SKS58z_QZ53GVI_rjDx4fEcnp3TDL0pF8P/s320/IMG_6734.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div>This gets us to the Joint division NMRA meet. I got there a bit late so was only able to attend one clinic. Mark Gionet described how he scratch built a lattice truss step bridge. Then it was off to lunch and some layout tours. I visited Sean Hoyden's massive NS layout under construction in a separate outbuilding. <p></p><div>He lives near the Chapman's Mill in Thoroughfare Gap. This was a stone mill built before the civil war. Of course, this was the site of a civil war battle. But there is also a nature preserve and hiking trails. I need to go back with my birding camera. NS B Line passes by the mill and you can see the mill from I-66. I drove by this dozens of times, but never stopped to take look. </div><div><br /></div><div>Finally on the way home I stopped at Ernie Little's HO layout. Ernie is the current president of the Potomac Division. He has a nice layout in part of his basement.</div><div><br /></div><div>So we are caught up for now, but I am leaving on Wednesday for Great Lakes Getaway. Hopefully I will get a chance to operate on some of my favorite layouts in the US.<br /><p></p><br /></div>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-45037247039108442552023-10-08T18:08:00.005-04:002023-10-08T20:49:54.254-04:00A Haunted Train? Op Session 26<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNHN3CPRjLW71xc3IYeyBqBPe-LaxQVuGOEtHr1uz5pyWU1UgMOw6G7dj2wl31hoIdxaL1E4e753LAc8sxOjw56Ebek7GN8qIXsa7XxM6SRUm7p2mu1YM2VBg2f8fhrAS1i0jPJY4wckD9Uc8CpZeLIqfXiknktRqc40YKjel0iSR4Gg1c2nIcXiW042CU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNHN3CPRjLW71xc3IYeyBqBPe-LaxQVuGOEtHr1uz5pyWU1UgMOw6G7dj2wl31hoIdxaL1E4e753LAc8sxOjw56Ebek7GN8qIXsa7XxM6SRUm7p2mu1YM2VBg2f8fhrAS1i0jPJY4wckD9Uc8CpZeLIqfXiknktRqc40YKjel0iSR4Gg1c2nIcXiW042CU=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMgAGwm9wLiTuLtPjACGFt0akBrnRg6AG1yVKXpX887_hUoOgh6CRo10NufKInb-Ue3afsA5TUWYMQmLiFcthsdD2JCbnPgx9y6bgsVGvmcLJgC16O1PhW9FfVHCYGL-7G2dQxhG0kLFdVfFEIPQ_10tM5Z2luJeG5cWppjm6YqrleuRXJVZ7LSW4nhFub" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMgAGwm9wLiTuLtPjACGFt0akBrnRg6AG1yVKXpX887_hUoOgh6CRo10NufKInb-Ue3afsA5TUWYMQmLiFcthsdD2JCbnPgx9y6bgsVGvmcLJgC16O1PhW9FfVHCYGL-7G2dQxhG0kLFdVfFEIPQ_10tM5Z2luJeG5cWppjm6YqrleuRXJVZ7LSW4nhFub" width="135" /></a></div><br />It might still be about 3 weeks until Halloween but some crazy gremlins haunted the layout today. <p></p><p>It had been about 6 months since the last session. Some of the track was shockingly oxidized and dirty. It took me about an hour to clean up the track and wheels. But all was ready when the operators arrived.</p><p>Previous operators Len White, John Steitz, Ben Sullivan and Kelly Regan joined two first timers, Phil Taylor and Bill Mosteller. They got right to work.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPAglIdUn40dsWpdIG512PqIVn_n6jExc60VSv_XqIH9aHY67P2NNWzcaRMKhYnTEdOJwWmGJhzf1O3w1EYltDhFCT-S5bTEssiZvrfu7e1_7Q5J82nA3JsNcHbYC-gCWGgt0tmS4aEbcYsh0gDHTj6XCCAYbT6NVVm8kFCymmHoaskFf84uVJQBoxYX_b" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPAglIdUn40dsWpdIG512PqIVn_n6jExc60VSv_XqIH9aHY67P2NNWzcaRMKhYnTEdOJwWmGJhzf1O3w1EYltDhFCT-S5bTEssiZvrfu7e1_7Q5J82nA3JsNcHbYC-gCWGgt0tmS4aEbcYsh0gDHTj6XCCAYbT6NVVm8kFCymmHoaskFf84uVJQBoxYX_b=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></div>We organized into two 3-man crews. John, Kelly and Bill made up one crew, while Ben, Phil and Len made up the second crew, which events would show to be the jinxed crew.<p></p><p>The first crew ran pretty well except that engine Haupt had some issues about half way through. So I swapped it out with McCallum.</p><p>Meanwhile crew two with Engine Fury proceeded well until the first gremlin struck. One of the axles on car 1445 fell out of its truck while switching Aquia Landing. This truck is an arch bar truck that I scratch built. A glue joint between the side frame and bolster failed allowing the side frame to flex and wheel to fall out. It was a simple fix to re-glue the failed joint. This failure never happened before.</p><p>Later as that train arrived in Falmouth the draw bar between Fury's tender and engine fell off. This was also an easy fix. It seems that the screw that holds the draw bar had loosened. This also never happened before but again was an easy fix,</p><p>Finally, as crew 2 were wrapping up their run for the day, their train stalled in the Clozet tunnel. It was very perplexing as the engine was responding to throttle and seemed normal. It turns out that there was another locomotive in the tunnel. Somehow Engine Whiton was inadvertently energized and left the engine shed. It derailed as it passed the turnout to the engine shed, but continued riding the ties until it entered the tunnel and collided with the other train. I don't think anything like this has happened before. Was it a Halloween ghost train or a rebel attempt to highjack the railroad? </p><p>Other than that, it was a fun session. </p><p>. </p>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-57678608648841587072023-10-08T17:30:00.007-04:002023-10-08T17:30:43.289-04:00National Capitol Model Soldier Society Annual Show 2023<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidP-avNmX1CyENkOOaeWyER697hrI82GlHNrTkDr1CYXr5eqzhlBS8TNoMCUpiiNIcssjBJYo4ImexdZ48xKWANx9OB4M0ijOPxNS-ZXtXB6D1YOK9smpy_kI4W0Hvvsn9jZu-ZwTLLVKLzmUUP2owVX_xXG38sos0xboEUMFSEuqx5Dn5_VdpUOWbcX8j" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidP-avNmX1CyENkOOaeWyER697hrI82GlHNrTkDr1CYXr5eqzhlBS8TNoMCUpiiNIcssjBJYo4ImexdZ48xKWANx9OB4M0ijOPxNS-ZXtXB6D1YOK9smpy_kI4W0Hvvsn9jZu-ZwTLLVKLzmUUP2owVX_xXG38sos0xboEUMFSEuqx5Dn5_VdpUOWbcX8j=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The show had an official photographer to shoot pictures of every entry.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> On October 1 I attended the National Capitol Model Soldier Society Annual show. It was well attended with 72 individual exhibitors and approximately 310 models on display. I brought three models to exhibit, the 1/32nd scale Land Merrimack artillery gun and two dioramas, High Road to Rome and Oracle at Delphi. You can find more information at the <a href="https://www.ncmssclub.org/annual-show">NCMSS Webpage</a>.<p></p><p>I was busy as a judge during much of the event, so I didn't get too much time to look at the awesome models. I did take a few photos. These models below received gold medals. I was happy to report that all three of my entires also received gold medals. The High Rome to Rome also received the special award for Victory in Europe. </p><p><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWNdsUvh6gpDgDxxqWF9Lzgio6UHP-Bu6n7LjpexJMlGVCijXLRF3elkOiHINsmLdkE_IWBVNuilb8DLNe-I9w-ss8XyhTN8rOG0y_eBpjnBmUhLnowAG_o_1Tz2qf6CTMjmp4lwLfFyohbHuEJo-LLJux4OR18FLEz27YqM6GhB4d3cP09UG0tMt3IGym" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWNdsUvh6gpDgDxxqWF9Lzgio6UHP-Bu6n7LjpexJMlGVCijXLRF3elkOiHINsmLdkE_IWBVNuilb8DLNe-I9w-ss8XyhTN8rOG0y_eBpjnBmUhLnowAG_o_1Tz2qf6CTMjmp4lwLfFyohbHuEJo-LLJux4OR18FLEz27YqM6GhB4d3cP09UG0tMt3IGym=w180-h320" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gold medal winning bust by Brian Howard</td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPV11_A3aOYVsa8xJ4zfGWIccVTGzL_tA3JvGbxokETvIZk4XrneCsxsC59J4V0IFivEu3ntc8hImS5KZXZwQlzGrj3ybvK1xYW7HTi-8mADyqZfpECkB2bzrVkPoH6w_DQFaoBRibZC3bkJgOL9VHxeF_g3DiMjtGykX3J9Jd2pK3uV4fGR5wSG5CC1Ws" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPV11_A3aOYVsa8xJ4zfGWIccVTGzL_tA3JvGbxokETvIZk4XrneCsxsC59J4V0IFivEu3ntc8hImS5KZXZwQlzGrj3ybvK1xYW7HTi-8mADyqZfpECkB2bzrVkPoH6w_DQFaoBRibZC3bkJgOL9VHxeF_g3DiMjtGykX3J9Jd2pK3uV4fGR5wSG5CC1Ws=w180-h320" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gold medal flat depicting Saladin by Greg DiFranco. I thought this was a very impressive piece. </td></tr></tbody></table></div><p></p><p> </p>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.com0