Small Scale Military Headquarters

Well, actually, I got several. I've been meaning to build myself some sort of diorama base, and I finally bought the lumber and began construction. It's 24" X 60", 5mm plywood on a frame of 1" x 2"'s. There are two supports under the middle of the board. I didn't bother getting precise with the placement of the screws, this thing won't need much in the way of structural strength, and the screwheads will all be covered, so looks won't matter much either.



I look forward to building this up, as I've been working on it in my mind for quite some time now. Eventually it will be an Iraqi street scene. I'll keep you all posted on how it goes...

MV

Need some buildings?

You don't need no stinkin buildings, just change the scene to "The Iraqi desert.

TTT

Everything is a work in progress. Desert is what I've had so far, but there are only so many ways to display a tank in the desert before it all starts looking the same. I'm going for an urban setting that I can change around from time to time.

MV

Or put a sheet of glass down and pretend we nuked them

flyboy_fx wrote:Or put a sheet of glass down and pretend we nuked them

....oookay then.

Ruger wrote:Well, actually, I got several. I've been meaning to build myself some sort of diorama base, and I finally bought the lumber and began construction. It's 24" X 60", 5mm plywood on a frame of 1" x 2"'s. There are two supports under the middle of the board. I didn't bother getting precise with the placement of the screws, this thing won't need much in the way of structural strength, and the screwheads will all be covered, so looks won't matter much either.

I look forward to building this up, as I've been working on it in my mind for quite some time now. Eventually it will be an Iraqi street scene. I'll keep you all posted on how it goes...

MV

I actually thought about doing the same thing. I have an Abrams here that i want to turn into a Spartan Brigade Abrams during their second Thunder Run into Baghdad.

This is a cool project, can't wait to see your work!

Ok, as much as I'd love to just whip this all together and wow you all with my amazing diorama skills, it doesn't look like that's going to happen. First off, there's no way that this thing is going to come together with any sort of speed, I always seem to get busy with something or another. Secondly, since this is after all, a hobby, I like to take it easy and relax. Thirdly, I'm still in the "rough draft" stage of planning. And finally, I have yet to aquire any amazing diorama skills.

Since this is a work in progress, I thought I'd post some of my rough draft ideas, and let you guys comment. I think the basic street layout is pretty set. The general idea is that the side towards the viewer (me) will be roughly half of a large street, going left to right/right to left. A smaller street will "T" into that street, splitting the remaining landscape into two blocks. Like this:




Where bare wood represents road surface, whiteboard representing "city block", and the fancy mosaic, well, a fancy block.

My thoughts are that one of these blocks (left) will be fairly empty and used as an open air market, with carts and vendors selling all manner of crap. I'm toying with the idea of having that area divided into "stalls" for different vendors with FOV sandbag sections, if I have enough (HA!). Here's a rough idea:







The fancy mosaic I figured for a park/plaza area, likely with a fountain in the middle. As so:




The large remaining block would house some sort of building(s). Perhaps a restaurant or cafe which could have outdoor seating near some planters with trees.



Those are my ideas so far. Feel free to let me hear your ideas. I'm trying to go for less of a "war-torn" Iraq, and maybe show more of what would have been a nicer area in better times. Mind you, it will still have American tanks rolling through, but hey, I know I'd like patio dining that had armor rolling by, so perhaps they might too!

MV

So no one has any thoughts on the basic layout? I should go ahead and start making my city blocks? I would just hate to get past a point of no return and then have one of you guys rattle off some great idea that I hadn't even considered.

I toyed with the idea of a bridge, or maybe half a bridge, especially one the side road that meets the main road. Maybe over an irrigation canal or the like, but I'm not sure I have the room for it. Or the skills, but those I can only aquire by trying...

I might try to find a way to make the "mosaic plaza" a bit larger so that it's the same size as the other blocks. I like the idea of a continuous curb line, but then, that's what I'm used to living here. Over there things are different, and irregular street edges might seem more at home. So I might not.

What I do think I'll work on is dinner. I'll worry more about the 1:32 world later...

MV

I like what you are doing. If you had that Middle eastern PTE building that is suppose come out, that would fit well with what you are making.

What you have layed out so far looks great,take your time and keep a going,looking forward to seeing it develope.