Toy Soldier displays part 2

This is a follow up to the post last week concentrating on displays I had done using W Britains figures. This post is about a similar process but using Collectors Showcase American Civil War figures. Both these displays that I cover here are for the same customer. They are both the same sort of size- 60cm long and 30cm wide. The figures are about 60mm tall so it gives you an idea what is involved.

These were both great to make as all the figures are in position so I can do as much texturing of the groundwork without worrying about where a figure will stand. I did this one about a year before the next one so I learnt a few things and I think it shows.

This layout has the Confederate High command overlooking a charge down the hill into a Union skirmish line full of Sharpshooters and Zourves.
There is a ruined cannon in the scene but rather than wasting a good Collectors showcase metal piece I found a cheap plastic model, painted it and knocked it around abit and it worked fine.

I used various flocks and underbrush effects. I have a static flock applicator that makes the long flock pieces stick up just like grass so gives very good effects- ideal for these sort of layouts. It was an expensive piece of kit but worth it if you are doing alot of that sort of thing.

The figures are all from the Collectors Showcase range of ACW figures. I did this diorama quite a while ago now so all the figures have sold out but I used them straight out of the box with no modifications or repainting. I hope I displayed them to tell a good story.

The rocks are plaster casts from the Woodland Scenic range of rock molds. I use them all the time.

Looking at the number of photos I have included of the first dio, I will leave this post as it is and do another to cover the second layout I mentioned earlier. I will try to post that one tomorrow.

Toy soldier diplays- part 1

I have been making dioramas and layouts for the 54/60mm collectors for a few years now. Most commissions involve making the layout or diorama ready for the collector to place his figures where he likes. Occasionally I am asked to make a layout with the figures built into the diorama. I have done 5 or 6 of these now and really enjoy doing them; I don't have to worry about flat areas for figures to be displayed and I get to see the finished item with the figures in position.

I have already covered one of these jobs in detail- the Gandamak diorama that you can see under 'layouts' heading of previous posts so these next posts won't go into too much detail- just lots of photos.

The first layouts cover what I have done with W Britain figures. This layout was over 1 metre long but only about 30cm deep so the British had a very thin line of defence behind their sandbags and boxes.

You can see that I could go to town with the ground texture so could add lots of stones and long grasses and bushes. I had alot of fun with this layout.
These next two are only 30cm x 30cm bases so could only get a few figures on.

I think the combination of the landscaping and having the figures built in brings the whole scene alive. I hope I get more of these in the future so if anyone is interested then just get in touch.
This is part one of two so the next one is covering two ACW layouts I did for a customer.

Watermill in 28mm

I have had this project made and delivered for a few weeks now but haven't got round to posting pics etc.
Dave Imrie saw the English Civil Wargame that I had done the terrain for at Salute 2011 and he liked the mill I had done there. A couple of months later he officially commissioned me to make one for him along with  4x4ft terrain boards. I finished it just after Salute this year so the whole process took just about a year!
Here is the overall board:

The 4 boards are my usual 595mm x 595mm size and 50mm thick. They are made from a frame of mdf and a base of hardboard. I then fill them with polystyrene and then add what I need to make the landscape that has been ordered. The whole thing is very robust and give very clean tough edges- there is more chance of the boards damaging you than you damaging the boards. This job saw me finish off with my usual mix of green flock- 3 shades with the first layer being dark green followed by a lighter shade, finishing off with a highlight of very light green. I then soak it all in watered down PVA glue to keep the flock in place. I always paint the earth before I flock so overtime if some flock is lost the earth showing through still gives it a good look.

The river is just painted polyfilla which is then varnished. I do use clear resins for water effects but only for small areas. I find if you get the colouring right then a good paint job makes a very effective river.

The mill itself is stone finished so I covered the foam board skeleton of the building with Daz Pronto (air dried clay). Once it was dry I was able to carve the stone pattern into it. It takes ages but is worth the effort. The sandstone colour is achieved with a yellow ochre base coat, washed with a raw umber and then dry brushed with a couple of shades of cream. The final touch is a bit of weathering with some raw umber- water streaks, splash marks- that sort of thing.

The outhouses were brick and I used brick embossed plasticard for them.
Some quick notes on some of the details
the courtyard tiles are from a dolls house supplier and they are sold as kitchen tiles. They are small pieces of real brick so the texture on them is wonderful.
Guttering from Skytrex and their railway range
windows are my own resin bits.
A small kitchen garden made from a kit that I can't remember the details of now.

Just to finish off with a few more pictures

That is it for this one. Dave is planning to use this for ECW gaming I think but I have made it as generic as possible so can be used for all sorts of periods.