Panzerpaul

As requested, here are some of our recent pictures. You will note that some show a dirt street in the village and then others where we have installed concrete cobblestone (pink color). The buildings also received concrete foundation pads at this time. Everything now sets flat and the streets add a lot of character. The low camera angle does help a lot with trying to recreate the illusion of battle. Some of these pictures have been posted before, but I hope you enjoy them anyhow. Look for the "Bad willy" picture

Our buildings are made from 1/2" plywood and either covered with a stucco type paint, plastic sheeting replicating brick and stone (also roof tiles) or some were just painted with an outside quality paint and had wood trim glued over. We are trying to cast a building in 3/4" thick masonry, so that we can leave it (and many more if this works) setting out all the time. Right now we have to pack all the buildings and dioramas away after each battle. And even though we have a large storage shed at the bttlefield, its still a pain to set up/tear down each time. Normandy in Fall of 44 is the theme we chose. There are probably 800 plastic trees planted by now.

If any of you are going to be in Denver, please give us a shout. We'd love to show the battlefield. PP

Panzerpaul

More pix

BiggTony

That is some beautiful work! I wouldn't be able to resist pretending to be Godzilla!
Who's the lucky guy that has that in his backyard?!lol

I'm moving to you where you are! Gotta go let the wife know!

Panzerpaul

Few more

Panzerpaul

Last few

BiggTony

So, how often do you guys set this up? Obviously this is outside and you have to take it down due to occasional bad weather. Do you guys go through the tedious job of setting this back up like this every time?

Panzerpaul

FRAG has a lease of a 3/4 acre land parcel from one of the local school systems and we have been there for 10+ years. It is fully fenced with barbed wire on top of chain link, but that still has not stopped the occassional thief. We are thinking of getting a junk yard pit bull for protection. We also have an 8x12 storage shed and about 50 feet of work tables. The land is actually twice the size that you see in the very first picture, and if we had the time, talent and money we could create an open rolling battlefield like the Russian steppes, which would then allow more accurate use of Russian armor against German. So, some of you please move here and give us a hand .....who needs wives anyhow ?????

Everything but the buildings and dioramas are left in place year round (trees, bridges, walls, etc). We set the buildings out each time we battle which us usually the last Sat of each month (weather permitting). Yes it is tedious set up work, thus we want to try the idea of constructing concrete masonry buildings that we can leave out full time. This is still questionable since on occassion we have a foot or two of snow burying it all, and that could take its toll even on concrete.

Just as the rest of you, we very much would like to have an indoor battlefield, then creative juices could really flow and much more detail could be added.....i.e. little people in the town, telephone wires, lots of junk laying around (including more dead horses and all that stuff the Germans hauled here and there), permanent camps (tents) and fuel dumps could be made and of course running rivers with pontoon bridges....there is no end to it.

So, all one of us needs to do is win the lottery and erect a FRAG building. PP

Rebellion13

wow, thank you so much for taking the time to post these pics. That is truly a great looking diorama. amazing detail, and like I have said before those camera angles are excellent.

Cheers,
Wade

BiggTony

That is friggin awesome! You guys went all out. I can't imagine the emotions that would run through me if something that I crafted got stolen.....it's not like you can go out an buy another at the store. The fact that your typing on the computer id a true testament of your will power, me on the other hand, I'd be in jail! lol

As for constructing with masonry. In my opinion, you should consider using gypsum cement or hydrocal plaster (same thing). Its smooth and holds detail far better than industrial cement. Much more dense and practically waterproof once sealed (used for casting purposes.)

Your absolutely right....who needs a wife!! Although she's hangin on by a wire with the naggin, butthere are two things that keep her around...alimony and .......well, you know, tee hee hee hee.

ArmChairGeneral

Inspiring work pzpaul, I am sure we all wished we lived closer

oztruck

Great photos of a lot of wonderful work. Very well done. You already have the buildings (masters) what you need now is to mold them. Once you have the mold you can cast as many as will fit in your area. I have now switched to building all of my new buildings out of cement. They are as solid as a rock. If you run a tank into them they don't move, if you kick them you get hurt, not the building. you can even light fires in them.

At the moment I am carving the detail in but it would be a lot finer if they were cast. Looking into some masters and then a lot of RTVR

Panzerpaul

That's a good looking scene you made......gives a realistic feel. Tell me a little more about the type cement you used and did you use any reinforcing wire mesh? PP

oztruck

How I do it one wall at a time

It is your everyday builders cement (White), mixed 1 part cement 3 parts builders sand. Mix it well then slowly add water till it is wet/sloppy but not liquid.

I tip the mix into a frame mounted on a solid piece of 1/2 inch board about 3 1/2 foot by 2 1/2 foot and with a boarder of about 1/2 inch thick.

Give it a good shake to get it to settle and remove and trapped air.

When it starts to go off mark where the doors and windows are going to be. Also mark any other detail you might want to add.
( you will know when to do this by when you mark it the lines don't fill with water)

When the cement is hard enough cut the door ways and windows all the way through but leave the pieces in place.
( you will know it is right when you cut through down to the board and it stays cut))(work slowly here so as not to weaken the wall)

Then after a bit longer scribe in the brick/stone texture.
(you are getting good at this now)

Then after a bit more time lightly brush the surface with a very small broom to give a bit of texture.

Now leave it for a few days. The longer the better.

Keep the cut out windows and doors and any other bits you have left over, break them up with a hammer and use them as rubble.

I cant give you any times, as the cement will dry at different rates depending on humidity, how wet it was to start, how hot it is ETC ETC.

Panther G

I have to say that which ever one of you guys or group of guys that make your scenery are true artisans. Everything is just amazing. It would take most of us years to do anything half that nice. Un freakin beleivable I commend all of you.

Panther G

I eally cant decide which picture is my favorite. I like the last one with the Panther but the colum of Shermans about to cross the bridge is a formidable sight . All those E8's are scary. LOL

Rebellion13

In the first grouping of pics, I love the low level angles, and also the "sniper" positions looking down on the center of town. Makes me want to get on a plane and and see it first hand. Outstanding.

Cheers,
Wade

HAL_HUSKER

what a beautiful pics... awesome work!!!
no words.

yellowshaker

My Feedback: (1)

That work is stunning!!

pcomm1

Completely stunning work. I'd move my tanks to Denver in a heart beat, but my married leash won't stretch that far.

John

tankfanatic

Wow! Those are awesome! You've got intense skills!

SCAT PATTON

Supper nice and great tips! It does take a lot of work and time to set up and tear down. I must say concret buildings that can be left out side are starting to look more and more attractive.

tailend charlie

My son would have a field day on this magnificent battle field. Great job!! Real dedication. Really like the photo angles.

SCAT PATTON how hard would it be to make them. I would be in.

karel47

Awesome that village, much details in very detailed battlefield, just no words a real MASTERPEACE

SCAT PATTON

It depends on the type of construction you do; detailed ply like FRAG, Cement as shown above or exspanded foam like SCAT. They all have pros and cons. What ever you decide would be cool. Let me know if you need help.

ksoc

Steve,

Could we use the existing molds with Fixall cement with some fiber mesh reinforcing? Any idea how rough it would be on the silicone?