"The war has just ended

Thank GOD I made it through

Now is time to lighten my load

And come back home to you"

My main purpose is to tell my audience what I feel about war. I always try to understand what those soldiers are going through during the war. About leaving behind family, love ones… missing them so much all because of some selfish human being who started war for their own interests.  I am not that interested in war history but more into feelings. I hope that I can use my skill of modeling to tell some stories so as to let my audience ponder over it.  

IDEA

Simple and clear cut. That was what my "coach" who guided me in modeling always tell me. I always respect modelers who have the patience and skill to come out with a big diorama. But big dioramas usually satisfy visual needs and lose concentration in story telling. As for me, my purpose do not required such big project. What I need is a simple vignette, clear enough to tell my stories.

 My "coach" gave me a figure when he came back from Euro Militaire. When I got the figure, I ask myself, "What would make a soldier smile?" The first thing that came to my mind was, "Going Home". At the same time, I was doing my first superdetailed model with photo etch part, which was a Tamiya Willy jeep. So I decided to put them together to tell a story of a GI who is going home to see his love one. That is how simple my idea is.

PLANNING

I want a small base. One that is just enough for my jeep and figure. I hate empty spaces when doing vignette or diorama. It often breaks the connection in the flow and also spoils the outlook of the model.

Next, I have to decide on the smaller items lying around the vignette. These items had to be more "friendly" than "military". Something more warmhearted like a bouquet of rose which I made myself using cigarette paper. The rose is to show that there is a celebration for the end of the war earlier and GI got it as a gift from the civilian. And also some left over wine after the celebration too.   

There is also some German stuff as souvenir for exchange with a board written "Buy & Sell".

I scatchbuilt a duffel bag with tissue paper and plasterine. This is to place beside the figure so as to show that he is ready for home. As the figure is holding a cup of tea, my "coach" gave me a small tea pot which he scatchbuilt, to be place on the jeep.  

To make the vignette interesting, I added a duck taking a peep at engine compartment of the jeep. Trying to find some goodies or being a busybody? 

Finally I needed something in height. Height is a very important element used to attract attention. I choose a telegraph pole from Italeri for this purpose.

CONSTRUCTION

Model

 Tamiya, Jeep Willys MB ¼-ton 4x4 Truck

The model is detailed with Eduard PE set. This is my first successful attempt on PE set. I also scratchbuilt the wing nut since the PE set do not supply them. Some wiring in the engine compartment with reference from books. By the way, I am not very into detailing. Just trying them out for fun.

I usually handpaint my models after spraying the base coat since I am unable to do pre/post shading with my airbrush due to the lack of a regulator. But for this time, I tried out an alternative method.

First I basecoat the model with Gunze Sangyo Surfacer 1000, then I do the pre-shading with black pastel chalk and black oil wash. After darkening the corners and recesses, I misted over the whole model with “olive drab” using an airbrush. After that, toning and weathering is proceeded with oil paint, acrylic paint and pastel chalk.

Figure

Royal Model, U.S. soldier at break WWII

Figure is built straight from the box. Painting is done with acrylic paint. Methods use is a combination from Sheperd Paine and from the book Realistic Military Figures by Lynn Kessler and Don Winar. This figure is very well sculpted. Really enjoyed making it. The insignia on the arm is a decal from Velinden Production.

Groundwork

Wall putty is use to form the ground thickness. Sand and stone are from our mother nature. Bonding of ground materials is done with PVA glue. The tree on the background is a plant call “Sea Form”. This is the most realistic plant, which I can find to make 1/35 scale tree. Just below the telegraph pole, you can find some barbwire, which I made using copper wire.

Finally, putting everything together. For the jeep, figure and the telegraph pole, I pinned them down to the base with needle. Small items are fixed to their position either with superglue or PVA glue.

The overall vignette looks simple, as I wanted. Although it is small, there are many interesting things around the vignette to absorb the audience’s attention and thoughts. Hope you would enjoy this vignette.   

INFO

·        Product used       : Tamiya, Jeep Willys MB ¼-ton 4x4 Truck

: Tamiya, Livestock set

: Eduard, PE for Tamiya Jeep Willys MB

: Royal Model, U.S. soldier at break WWII

: Italeri, Telephone poles

: Verlinden Production, Printed accessories, Allied

  Roadsigns Normandy to Berlin

·        Scale                 :1/35

·        Reference :Jeep goes to war by Will Fowler

                   :Essential Military Jeep by Graham Scott

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Special thank to my "coach", Calvin Tan for his guidance in miniature modeling. I would have quitted 4 years ago without him.