Figures, Dioramas & Scenery Latest Topics

Vietnam War era models

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:50:04 +0000

Hi All,

I tend to build in themes, and one of my most recent is the Vietnam War, 1964-1975. So far I have about 15 built models in this collection, with about another 5 or 6 waiting to be built. I'll start off with my North Vietnamese Air Force. Aircraft Collection in 1/72

Left to right, Mig 17, Airfix, MiG 19, KP old tool kit, and MiG 21F-13, Revell.

Unfortunately the nosewheel just snapped on this one!

All three are hand painted with a standard brush. Mostly out of the box, apart from the MiG 21 which has a tank from a Fujimi kit and missiles from the spares box.

German Assault Troops

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 12:39:08 +0000

These are Tamiya 1/35 figures.

A tribute to my dad (1)

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 17:58:34 +0000

Here's a small diorama I must have put together twenty-eight years ago for my father's 65th birthday. My wife made the tent.

My dad passed away last November (aged 93) and my sisters and I am currently clearing his house. This was returned to me. There was so much I got wrong, but my dad was happy with it.

I went on to make a better diorama in 1/35.

D-Day Air Assault Set 1:72

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 19:55:35 +0000

This is Airfix's 75th Anniversary 1:72 D-Day Air Assault Set A50157A which I'm finally getting around to building as my offering to commemorate this the 80th Anniversary of D-Day.

I've already built the aircraft, Airfix's excellent kit of Hawker Typhoon Mk.Ib ...

and the Airfield Utility Vehicles of Standard Tilly, Bedford MWC and BSA M20 motor cycle.

I am now working on the base, which I've secured to a frame and while awaiting the glue to dry, I've made a start on the RAF figures. It always surprises me just how long painting these little figures take and how careful you have to be in handling them before the acrylic paint cures, as it so easily gets brushed off.

The RAF Brass / Officers ...

The Aircraft Armourers ...

The Dispatch Rider who wishes he'd taken the BSA!

I'll share more as I progress.

El Ferdan 1952

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 18:33:01 +0000

The inspiration for this diorama was my dad's pictures of his time in Suez, stationed at El Ferdan.

I gave him the dio on Father's Day 2018.

This was returned to me following my dad's passing in November (aged 93). Some figures have been repositioned.

Airfix multipose British infantry 1/32

Sat, 25 Nov 2023 21:02:15 +0000

I used the same pose for the two figures . Thus is my remembrance piece . I have tried to convey that although they gradually fade from memory we will remember .

The base is a mixture of real sand from Normandy mixed with other mediums .

Help fixing models to base

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:52:12 +0000

I have started to make a base to display a couple of my completed 1/72 scale aircraft. I intend to try my hand at some weathering on the base, trye marks etc. However my question is what's the best way of securing the models to the base?

Thanks

Rob

Newest group

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 19:43:00 +0000

These I got off E Bay by 3DJson. I don't know a lot about them, but they seem to be decent.

These are for a future project, any guesses?

Randall

A50162A D-Day Operation Overlord Gift Set

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 19:45:34 +0000

An attempt to make this gift set less toy like and more of a model in its own right. To do that the allied kits cannot be used without major surgery to the moulded base and making the landing craft waterline models. So, aiming for D Day -1 0r -2, weather permitting. The bunker can't have openings so that had to be walled in.

The 'tubs' for radar and AA couldn't have been cast in one so weld seams added.

And the beach needed obstacles, so....

Still a lot to accomplish yet. Have already 'dremelled' shell impacts on bunker frontage, may add some exposed rebar to one or two impacts.

Andy

Allied Air Assault

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 22:57:47 +0000

Under new management as the Luftwaffe have moved in. Thought to do something with it a bit different. Was a bit of fun during these long, cold evenings. Haven't painted the Luftwaffe figures yet but will populate it when the light improves. Mixed up the dark yellow for ground vehicles as I had no colour references. Ground work is a mixture of coffee grounds and tea leaves dehydrated and coloured with acrylics and set in diluted PVA with washing up liquid to break the surface tension. More work needed but it's a start. And, a bit of weathering here and there needed.

Andy

Water effects

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 18:41:42 +0000

i have just made my 1st Diorama and need a bit of advise please. To seal all the scenery in place can I use mod podge? If so do I dilute it 1st? Also i have also bought some woodland scenic realistic water to pour the river. Can I pour that on top if I’ve sealed rocks with mod podge and if so can you layer it for deeper water.

TIA

Airfix 1:12 James Bond & Oddjob 007 04402

Sat, 20 Sep 2025 21:01:49 +0000

I’ve been a James Bond fan since I saw the double bill of Dr No and Diamonds Are Forever in the mid 1970s. I have every model of Bond’s DB5 ever produced by Corgi since 1965 and a collection of original 007 Corgi models on near permanent loan to my local Toy Museum in Sidmouth. My book case sags with the weight of my book collection and my 007 scale modelling stash is equally eye watering.

With time passing, as it does, so quickly and the loss of family members and friends becoming an all too frequent reminder of one’s short existence, I’m feeling the need to dive into this stash and reunite myself with my love of Fleming’s Bond, James Bond!

So, here’s the 1965 kit, re-released in 1998, of Bond and Odd Job. This is going to be a real challenge for me as I can just about make a 1:72 or even a 1:48 figure look just about passable but I’m already finding this 1:12 model a bit daunting!

I’ve got the figures glued together and the largest seams filled. Time now to give them a coat of primer. I’m thinking of white which will best suite their shirts but all suggestions and recommendations welcomed. I’m out of my comfort zone here!

Airfix 1/32 French Grenadiers of the Imperial Guard (51460-6)

Sat, 13 Apr 2024 12:12:45 +0000

Not a full set, but a restoration.

Summer dress

Winter dress

with a sepia wash

Tour de Corse Car Rally Diorama

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 20:25:28 +0000

I have for a long time wanted to create a water splash scene involving perhaps a military vehicle or rally car fording a river or stream. When I started my Group B WRC (World Rally Championship) Project earlier this year, I had a plan to use an MG Metro 6R4 for just such a diorama. In my youth, I had a black and white photo of such a scene from the 1986 Lombard RAC Rally and felt I could recreate it in model form. Events then overtook me when I built Heller's Peugeot T16 ahead of the 6R4. On finding it such a basic kit and the 6R4 so detailed, I made the rash decision to use the 205 in the water splash scene and to keep the 6R4 as a pristine display piece. What I had not, however, considered is that the 205 decals were for a car from the 1986 Tour de Corse. The Tour de Corse is known as the "Rally of 10,000 Corners" and is traditionally a 100% tarmac event. Unlike gravel rallies, where organisers often route cars through shallow fords or streams, the Corsican route stays on narrow, winding mountain passes; with no water splashes!

For my base I had intended to use a new Heller "Diorama Campaign" plastic base, perfect I felt for a water splash scene but probably a bit rough for an asphalt road scene. Feeling that I still had a water splash in me, I did not, therefore, want to mess with this pristine base and so sought out a used one that I had not had on display for many years. It was laid out with a muddy WW2 scene containing an Airfix M18 Hellcat and Tamyia Jeep. This would certainly need some work!

I removed the resident models. This was no easy thing having been mounted in a generous covering of Vallejo's diorama mud! The next task was to fill in those ruts and potholes and lay an asphalt road. I used Polyfilla (powdered with water) as the hardcore and then cut a piece of P400 sandpaper for the asphalt surface. I cut, where a single strip of paper was too short, the join with wavy cut so that it would be less noticeable when painted. This was glued over the dried Polyfilla with PVA and left weighted down overnight to cure.

The next task was to refresh the surrounding landscape which, from photos I'd seen of the Tour de Corse, should be grass with a few scattered rocks and scrubby trees. To protect the newly laid road I covered it with a piece of kitchen paper. I was perhaps a bit over enthusiastic with the scenic glue as once I'd applied the base dirt layer I had to quickly remove the paper to prevent it sticking to the road! It had, however, done its job and kept the dirt and boulders off the road. The final action was then to airbrush the black asphalt colouring for which I used Vallejo's Tyre Black.

As I'd used plenty of scenic glue, I decided to make use of this now and apply the grass. Learning from my previous error of using kitchen paper, this time I cut a piece of card to protect the road from any stray grass, especially as later I would be using static grass layering spray to build up the scene.

I used summer and spring 2mm grass for the area closest to the road and 4mm autumn grass along the back to give a bit contrast and depth. I had thought I would leave a bit more of a rock face to the raised edges along the road, but my earlier generous application of glue meant that the grass clung to every surface! This is OK though as on the lower sections of the course, high grass banks are also a feature.

I then had that fun bit of removing the masking tape from the frame and replacing some of the scrubby looking trees and bushes. The next task will be to paint the crowd of encroaching supporters for which I am using some fabulous figures from PJ Print, and then prepare the car for action.

Spitfire Squadron

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 16:36:17 +0000

I was just responding to a thread on military vehicles which brought my mind back to a diorama I created a year or so ago. I called it “Spitfire Squadron” and ran the release of its many parts via social media. It’s very much a mismatch of eras as I both wanted to show a Battle of Britain dispersal area and the introduction of the first bomb carrying Spitfire Mk.Vc . The premise of the diorama is that this is a pre D-Day view, with Spitfires being loaded up for attacks on enemy infrastructure across the channel, and military bigwigs coming to discuss some element of the upcoming operation.

Once completed, I stumbled on a video that a fellow modeller had done to show of their airfield diorama and I thought I’d like to have a go at this myself. This is where the mismatch of eras really kicks in, as I used the soundtrack from that amazing 1960s film the “Battle of Britain”. I tried to post the video here, buts it’s just too large, so if interested in seeing it, I’ve a copy on YouTube and have pasted the link below. I’m just sorry I can’t provide popcorn 🍿😊

D-Day Operation Overlord Gift Set

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 19:37:15 +0000

I'm completely new to modelling and about to buy my first kit, the Operation Overlord gift set. Before I do I'd like to try and sort out what scale it is. In the bottom left of the box it states 1:76, however, the smaller print states the Higgins LCVP and Wil ly's MB Jeep are both 1:72. The technical information on the website also states 1:72.

I'd be very grateful if someone could clarify which scale it is.

If I happen to enjoy making this model, and if I happen to do okay, then I may purchase other D-Day diorama's to expand the display, and I obviously want to stick with the same scale throughout.

Thanks in advance.

D-Day TRIBUTE

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 12:06:44 +0000

My little D-Day tribute,

Danger UXB

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 13:19:18 +0000

Just a little side project whilst paint / glue / decals etc dry on other builds. An Amera Plastics base and house. The house is pressed plastic sheet therefore it has no depth, so Tetrion / Polyfilla used to give depth to the walls and a few tweaks to make it look like a building, ie door, chimneys, fascia boards. Airfix Pak 40 and crew and an Academy Kettengrad and a Fuijma 20 mm make up the objects, oh and a spare bomb!

Weathering powders galore used on this, some dusted, some in decal fix and some in matt varnish.

The hardest part with plastic bases is not the lack of details but the lack of texture. So, in places dehydrated tea leaves and coffee grounds as well as brick dust have been decal fixed here and there. Don't know if the pix show that I have tried to individually colour the sandbags so that they don't look uniform in colour.

Now for the next proper build.

Andy

Trooping the Colour

Sat, 14 Sep 2024 09:50:03 +0000

Two sets of Bandsmen (S1) with more than two sets of Guardsmen (S2)

Travelling Crane

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 20:04:40 +0000

Airfix HO/00 Travelling Crane (Pattern No. 205)

I can recall the dockside travelling cranes at Great Yarmouth in the 1960s. At that time, members of the public could freely walk amongst the working dockside machinery. Health and Safety were unheard of; it was the individual’s responsibility to take care of themselves and not rely upon others. One day I’d like to replicate the scene in the form of a model railway.

WWII Gurkhas 01754

Sat, 07 Dec 2024 13:52:45 +0000

Throughout history there are many examples of foreign units serving in the army of a country, but by the 20th century this was rare. One such example that did persist is the Gurkhas, who were renowned as fierce hand-to-hand fighters. They were a martial race originating from the poverty-stricken country of Nepal. They had been a recognised part of the British Army since the 19th Century, seeing action on many fronts. They saw action in several theatres of World War II. Their most famous exploits were in the Western Desert, Italy (especially Monte Cassino) and with the Chindits in Burma. The 9th Gurkha Rifles served with the 11th Indian Division in Malaya. A corporal was known as a naik and wore a khaki drill shirt and shorts (or Bombay Bloomers) with short puttees, 1937 pattern web equipment, special web pouches to carry the magazines for his Thompson sub-machine gun, and a web binocular case. His kukri and felt hat (with green rifle patch on the puggree) identify him as a Gurkha. To date this Airfix provides the only set of these men.

The Chindits were named after the griffins that stood guard outside Burmese temples. They were a multi-national long range penetration group for operating behind enemy lines. Their clothing was originally mainly standard issue, but after months in the jungle, uniforms were reduced to rags.

New Zealand Artillery gunner, 1940. On arrival in Egypt, New Zealanders were issued with British khaki-drill uniforms but retained the slouch hat with coloured puggree. The equipment was 1908-pattern web with gas mask in the ready position.

The complete set together.

Queen Elizabeth 1 - Famous Women of History 1/12th Scale

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 10:06:15 +0000

Good morning all,

As a fairly new returnee to the hobby after many decades away, I have been slowly building up a stash of models, enough to cover me until well into my dotage.

A couple of months ago I managed to win a few models in a job lot off a certain online auction site, and one of them was a pre-loved Queen Elizabeth 1 1/12 scale figure. It was advertised as already partly built, and my intention was to see if I could strip it apart, clean it up and sell it on, but the parts were quite fragile, and some were never going to clean or come apart, so I thought I would complete it.

Not being a figure painter of any worth, I thought it might at least be a practise piece, but anyway, here she is in all her regal glory. I tried to stick to the box colours in the most part, but didn't like the parrots colouring, so improvised...

As Good Queen Bess was known for her pasty white make-up, I was tempted to just completely paste her face with white paint, but I am assuming this is her in her down time, makeup free.

The final model looks okay on a high shelf, and from several feet away is quite passable, but the photos highlight areas I need to improve on in future figure builds.

Glen

54mm Airfix figures

Wed, 28 May 2025 22:56:56 +0000

Good evening I thought I would show my latest 54mm French grenadier figures .

i have adapted three of them to make different regiments . Some Historex parts were used as well as different arms and hands to try and make the general pose not look the same

Aircraft Air & Ground Crew

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 11:58:31 +0000

With the recent interest in the new figures to support aircraft dioramas, perhaps we could use this heading to group our efforts.
I plan to upload my initial efforts as soon as we finish shopping.

Airfix NATO Infantry 1:32 - painting suggestions

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 23:44:34 +0000

Dear All,

I finally managed to find a set of the rare Airfix NATO Infantry 1:32. I am looking for suggestions for painting the figurines' uniforms. Apparently there is not much on the Internet on this topic. I am using Humbrol colours, but I welcome suggestions formulated according to any colouring brand or also expressed in general terms. Thank you very much in advance!