1:48 Battle of Britain Diorama

[zak]

Hi all,
Sorry for the lack of posts lately.

I am just getting over the flu, spent most of Christmas in bed, still I built this before Christmas but was not sure whether to post anything or not. I am not up to modelling as yet, just taking it slowly.

Neil sucked me into his Battle of Britain stuff, it seems I am now a member of the SIG - lucky me.

I started by building a Control tower in card from GPM from Poland.
It seems to be a card copy of the 1/72(76) Airfix one, even down to the runway bearing.
Further research leads me to believe that this is not a control tower that existed during the battle of Britain, and so back to the drawing board.
This is actually 1:50 not 1:48, but the difference is quite small.

[zak]

If you were at the last modelling day then you will have seen me sticking small bits of card to larger bits of card to make a better fitting control tower for the BOB period.

The carcass of the building is card and this is overlaid with brick sized pieces of card.
Conveniently in 1:48 scale, 1 ft  = 1/4 of an inch, bricks measure 9in x 4 in x 3 in and so the small card chads measure 1/16 in x 3/16 in.
They are stuck on with PVA glue trying to keep the courses as straight as possible.
After completion they get a coat of Shellac/knotting to stabilise the card a bit more.

[MSea]

I know its time consuming - but the individual bricks look great.

[zak]

Thanks Martin.
First mark lines on the building, apertures already cut out.

Cut out individual bricks, with a scalpel and ruler. A sharp blade is essential
The white pot is the PVA applied with a brush.
The PVA is applied to a small area of building.
The bricks are picked up on the scalpel point and applied.
Quite tedious and time consuming, but therapeutic as well.


This is the bottom storey of the watch office/tower. 1959/34
Square plan 22 ft x 28 ft
They were built in brick and concrete and I believe there was one at Driffield.
Throughout time these buildings have been adapted and converted to suit more modern flying.

[Bigkev]

Hi Zak,
Hope you are feeling a bit better.
This looks fabulous!
It will be very impressive once complete.
Will you be doing some Nissen Huts, Parachute Store, NAAFI, Aircraft Revetment's, to complete the diorama, it'll only take you a week or so......Only Joking!!!
Get well soon, but with this build, Neil should be overjoyed!
Bigkev

[zak]

Hi Kevin, improving every day.
Don't think this is happening now, remember it was all a month ago, I am playing catch up.

Here is the tower added to the watch office.
The glazing is clear plastic sheet, glazing bars are from this styrene strips.

[MSea]

Excellent model - BUT what will Neil be getting you to do next, now you are a members of his SIG ??
I was thinking of starting a SIG -- "The strange, weird and who would want to make a model like that" SIG   think it sounds like most of my models - hohoho

[zak]

Excellent model - BUT what will Neil be getting you to do next, now you are a members of his SIG ??
I was thinking of starting a SIG -- "The strange, weird and who would want to make a model like that" SIG   think it sounds like most of my models - hohoho

I think that there may already be one of those, run by Terry Campion- GSIG of Goth, right up your street.

[zak]

The control tower work in progress, figure gives some idea of the size.
I have added an interior of sorts - last two photos show this.

[zak]

Tamiya 1:48 British Light Utility Car 10HP.

Lovely little kit, all you have come to expect from Tamiya.

It still needs a small amount of dry brushing and weathering.

[zak]

Here is the Airfix 1/48 Albion 3 point fueller.

[zak]

Airfix 1:48 Bedford MWD.

[zak]

Here are some views of the diorama as it progresses.
The hangar is a card kit from Poland.
No suitable aircraft available as yet, others will supply those.
I have also made lots of bits and pieces to go inside the hangar.

[MSea]

Excellent work - thought it was a photo of a real hanger on first look. 
Will you/Neil be employing Pickfords to get it to Telford - hohoho .

[zak]

Excellent work - thought it was a photo of a real hanger on first look. 
Will you/Neil be employing Pickfords to get it to Telford - hohoho .

Thanks.