THE
STORY:
Late
fall 1944, central Russian front.
Near
the front lines, the air and ground crews prepare the Blohm und Vos BV141B
observation aircraft for a mission
to spot for artillery, while conferring with the army commanders.
The
asymmetrical BV 141 was unusual to be sure, but very practical for the
observation role, since the big glazed gondola gave excellent unobstructed views
at nearly 180 degrees.
It
was never put into production, but the various prototypes were pressed into
front-line service, and even carried 50Kg bombs for extra good measure.
This one has survived for a full year on the front lines, a testimony to the
rugged construction and good maintenance it received.
The
Horch command car has just returned from a recon mission; the Wespe
self-propelled 105 mm howitzer readies for firing; and the crew of
a Panzer IV Mobelwagon 37mm flak tank keeps a close eye on the skies.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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THE
KITS:
HPM
Blohm und Vos BV141B with Koster guns; photoetch parts are
included in the kit; Black Magic masks make painting the big clear
gondola a little easier.
Bandai
Pz. IV Mobelwagon w/ Tarmac 37mm flak gun and Tarmac flak crew sets #1 & 2
Bandai
Wespe self-propelled artillery w/ Scale Model
Accessories crew figures
Gaso.Line
Horch command car (resin).
Preisner, Bandai.
Monogram and other figures.
THE
BASE:
The
round diorama base began its existence as a cable reel, then as a kid's school
project. Then I commandeered it for my diorama.
The
terrain is styrofoam with various materials added as dirt, ground litter, and
foliage. I used everything from household items like coffee grounds, used
tea leaves, and kitty litter, to real materials like real dirt, twigs and
gravel. I also used a few commercial diorama products like Woodland
Scenics ground cover and a Heki grassmatt. The road with the wheel ruts
was made with plaster mixed with dark brown acrylic paint. Some of the
shrubs are from cut flower greenery. The white is fake snow from a spray
can.
Steve
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