Plan of attack: I will model the red outlined section, including the balcony with the quad 20mms and a flak Zwilling in the roof..

This is the excellent Takom 1.35 scale Flak Zwilling kit that is going into the roof pit..This is the Tamiya 1/35 scale Flakvierling with added Master Models brass barrels..

Here is the segment so far. The swallows nest positions are temporarily in place on the outer balcony. The whole structure will be covered in plaster and weathered..

When the segment is finished, I will add 2 front surface mirrors on both sides to create the illusion of the whole roof.. Tune in for updates..

Wow, now that's going to be a real monster project! Following with interest.

what a massive under taking , wish you well ,

CapnMac82

Looks good so far. Have you started stocking up on Feldblau for all the troopies? The Flakvierling is old but good--I'd be sore tempted to show one of the 20mm dismounted and field stripped for a good cleaning. Can't help but think that you'll need a 1/72 copy of the full thing--it would only be 12" x 30" :)

 

more progress.. The unfortunate thing about building a model this large is that you sometimes exceed the conventional limitations of the vehicle you intend to transport them in. I discovered that the flak tower segment was too tall to go in the bed of my covered F-250 and too wide to safely put it in the crew cab..So.. I hinged the base with a piano hinge. I will make the upper sections removeable and now everything will fit in reasonably well.

Here is a mockup of the roof in styrofoam. I will use this as a template for the actual roof which will be a combination of craft plywood and plaster. The saucer represents the relative position of the flak pit with the wood projections representing the slots for the barrels at the top and the ammo elevator cuppola on the bottom quarter.

Hello claudez,

you've got a very ambitious project going on! As for the concrete, maybe you would like to check my page about building an old french bunker:

http://www.vietnam.net.pl/M55mod3en.htm

Hope it helps you, good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

This is going to be one great project to follow. Great work so far.

Robert

Thanks, Pawel. I appreciate the link to your project. it is very similar to what I am intending to do. I will be using Durham's rock hard water putty. Is there a trade name for the acrylic putty you used? THis stuff I am using is good, but yellow in color. If it were grey it would make life so much easier.. regards, Claude

Modelrob

This is going to be one great project to follow. Great work so far.

 

Robert

 Thanks.. I just hope I do it justice.

 

Hello Claude!

Your construction looks good, nice, solid work!

I don't have the brand name on the stuff I used - I bought it locally and it was cheap, generic stuff. It came in many colours - I took the sand coloured variant for the ground work, and for the concrete I took the white variant and then I applied black wash several times. I have made the wash myself by mixing future and water 50-50 with a very small quantity of acrylic black paint added. This gave a very nice concrete colour.

Hope it helps you - good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

Eagle90

Claudez....I am in complete awe! What a wonderful build! LOL! And I'm apprehensive in starting a small dio!? :) I'll be watching this for sure! Super work man! I don't think Anyone has asked this yet, sorry if they have, but, where are you going to display this when you're done? Either you have a mansion (and an understanding other half! LOL!) or you have other plans for her. Just wondering. Can't wait to see the reactions you get if you take it to a show! Again, awesome work! Thanks for posting! Eagle90

 

Thank you very much. I have been wanting to build this tower ever since I discovered it existed playing the old Medal of Honor Airborne game a few years back. Don't be intimidated by the prospect of a diorama. This is only the 4th one I have attempted in my 48 years on the planet. My plan is to get it finished in time for the IPMS National Convention this August in Columbia, SC. After that, I may take it to a few shows locally and then retire it to the World War 2 Museum in New Orleans, if they'll have it. Yes, I have  a very patient and supportive other half, but this thing (so far) is about 22 inches tall, 24 inches deep (not counting the balcony) and about 37 inches across. I don't want to test the limits of her understanding, so it will find a home somewhere else..

Thanks for the kind words. I think I might be just a little crazy..

Claude

Pawel

Hello Claude!

Your construction looks good, nice, solid work!

I don't have the brand name on the stuff I used - I bought it locally and it was cheap, generic stuff. It came in many colours - I took the sand coloured variant for the ground work, and for the concrete I took the white variant and then I applied black wash several times. I have made the wash myself by mixing future and water 50-50 with a very small quantity of acrylic black paint added. This gave a very nice concrete colour.

Hope it helps you - good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

 

 Thanks , Pawel. it has proven to be an interesting challenge. I am using Durham's Rockhard Water Putty, a powdered mix that you blend 4 to 1 with water. It dries well, but it is a deep yellow color so I will be painting it after it cures.So ar, this thing is stryrofoam, plywood, and aluminum angle. ( I'm trying to keep it strong, but light. I 'll have to carry it by myself..) I apprecite the link to yor build. It lets me know that I am on the right track.

Thanks again for the resources. Have a great day!

Claude

Too funny!  That is the first thing I thought of when I saw it..."that looks like the tower you can chute into on MoH!  Brilliant!

Your plans sound great!  I was hoping you'd take it to some shows.  It is too spectacular to not show off.  And donating to the WWII museum is awesome!  I'm sure they will greatly appreciate it.

Little crazy?!  Absolutely brilliant is what I'm thinking!  It's a great subject and you're doing a great job of building and preserving history!  Looking forward to seeing the progress.

Eagle90

I hope you do get her done in time for the Nationals. I'm hoping to make it down for them and see her first hand. 

Gamera

I hope you do get her done in time for the Nationals. I'm hoping to make it down for them and see her first hand. 

 

I have to. I've got 96 days.. It WILL be at the nationals. ( It will be my first National convention appearance also) thanks

Claude

Well, I started laying out the Flak Pit, so I can start working on the ammo lifts, shell bins, ready racks etc.. plodding ever onward..

RudyOnWheels

Absolutely amazing work. I look forward to seeing it in the magazine when she's done!! Rudy

 

Claude

     Strted fleshing out the flak pit last night. Still got a long way to go..Added the radiating shell storage dividers.( which have to be height adjusted). Then have to detail everything.. Gun partially disassembled for improvements..

added a working searchlight just for giggles..