1/72 Fast Roping Diorama Done 9 May 2010

That sounds really cool. Its nice to hear about some more 1/72 stuff going on. Ive never used and HQ72 stuff so I dunno about the quality or anything but you could always scratchbuild you own. Google image some pics of Middle Eastern buildings and work from those I think.

As for the helicopter I remember someone posting a picture of a Navy helicopter dropping cargo from a cable onto a ship deck. It was held up in the same way through the cable which was a piece of brass wire bent to shape and painted. It was really well done, maybe youve seen it already. 

Also what troops are you planning on using to pose fast roping out? I would like to know what your using because Id also like some poses like that. I think Revell Germany has some figure sets of KSK troops rappelling but Im not 100% sure.

..about scratchin' your own...Baseline Hobbies had one that was pretty convincing, but good luck even finding them on the web. They're out of Mineola NY (LI) and can be found in indexes of FSM and other mags sometimes.

I honestly think that, given the typical fsimple, flat angles and plaster construction of most buildings there, it would seem that SB'ing them would be easier--and probably faster. Especially in 1/72.

That sounds unusual, so it'll be challenging and rewarding. What are your thoughts about the big rotor? I was thinking motorized, but it'll wobble around too much on top of the ropes. Hold on guys!

 

I did think about the rotors, but I really don't think that'll work w/ them spinning.  It would look awkward if the rotors were moving but the guys were stuck on the ropes...

 As for the figures, I am probably going to use a mix-match of sets, most likely from RoG, Caeser, Prieser (if I can find a set), CMSC, and putty.

Another building question:  Would styrofoam covered with wall spackle or something like that be the best way to go about the construction?

 

Thanks,

Austin 

Okay, well, I moved on to sketch the diorama with Google SketchUp (the free version) and the UH-60 will be the MH-60K, figure poses will differ, but will remain similar, but this is what I came up with:

 There would be one guy about mid-way down on each fast rope.

 

The corners seem to be empty though, as it is just the building, helicopter, and figures right now.  What would be the best way to fill that space (wall, shrubbery, or what?)

 

Thanks,

Austin 

Off your drawing there what I would do is have the fast ropes coming down onto that upper level. Not the roof but that 2nd tier. Then finish the building down and just have maybe .25 " around the building. The action and attention is the fast ropers. The building would server as scenery AND as the base.

My and as a designer, not a dio builder.

It seems to me that this dio is very unusual because it has several layers of interest, separated top to bottom. My gut reaction is that the helo is where the eye goes first, then follows down to the ground. The landscape has to be as boring as possible: the fast roping is the whole theme. Otherwise the eye will be jumping around. For instance the guys attacking on the ground (at what?) would be a distraction.

So keep the ground simple. Don't make it a set. If there is a building, which I consider maybe a bit much, make sure it doesn't matter.

EDIT: kcmat came in before me (gotta be a term for that?) the base is just that, the story is the helo and the troops going in.

arkhunter2002 wrote:

Okay, well, I moved on to sketch the diorama with Google SketchUp (the free version) and the UH-60 will be the MH-60K, figure poses will differ, but will remain similar, but this is what I came up with:  There would be one guy about mid-way down on each fast rope.   The corners seem to be empty though, as it is just the building, helicopter, and figures right now.  What would be the best way to fill that space (wall, shrubbery, or what?)   Thanks,   Austin

 

Are you trying to make the fast roping seen from Black Hawk down???

No, something more modern (2000's), with a location that is plausibly in Iraq/Middle East, although a ton of inspiration comes from that event.

Bondoman, I don't understand 100% what you're saying about it being a bit much.  Do you think it would be a bit much if I just used the idea if I just made them fast roping onto the building?

BTW, this was why I choose to originally make them fast roping off to the side of the building (I couldn't decide if I wanted them fast roping actually on the building or right next to it)

 

 

So, kcmat, would be suggesting something along the lines of this:

 

Thanks,

Austin 

  

Yeah I think that pic itself would be a great dio. Dont really need alot (if any) detail around the building. Just the building it'self. Then you can play with the height of the chopper. A little higher than in the pic would give a little more sense of what those brave men do. Of course height may be dictated by the wire.

Eitherway dont take all this as 100%. Bro it's your art and you can paint the picture as your inspiration tells you! Thats the beauty of it. If you want some of the road down there then build it!

Just show us some pics of it! 

Still really haven't made up my mind on where they'd be fast roping too...

Personally, I thought it would be too tall if they were fast roping onto a building, but all I need to do is shorten the fast rope...

This is the building that I re-sketched, and am drawing 1/72nd scale plans for it right now.  I am planning on adding a limited interior (there the squares on the sides are windows w/ glass, where as the second story, there's not going to be any glass)

This is a completely new sketch with a new blackhawk, that has a more accurate length than the other one that I was using... 

Take care,

Austin 

Okay, so I converted all of the 1:1 scale stuff from Google Sketch to 1/72 and drew it out on paper.  I made copies, then cut them out, and taped them together with tamiya tape.  It was a little bit larger than I had imagined it, and there wouldn't be any room for the fast ropes to hit the ground, and make everything fit.  These pics are taking on a 12 inch x 12 inch board:

Take care,

Austin 

Tactically, it makes more sense to rope onto the building and clear it downwards, rather than from the ground up. Like the pic on here shows, it is a method used. As long as the roof is usable. 

Well, this might not be quite what you're looking for, but I scratchbuilt a similar style building not long ago.  Mine was 1/35, but the methods are the same, and mine was set in modern Africa, but the architexture is similar.  Anyways, I made the basic shape out of some old lego bricks, leaving door and window holes.  I then spackled it, and left rough brush marks in it.  Next came the door, the roof and window shutters made from some popsicle sticks I hacked up. I added some out of scale, but cool looking, screen in the windows, and then added little bits like ladders, posters, graffiti, etc.  The corrugated metal roofing is from lead foil from wine bottles, and the tarp is tissue paper and glue method. The low blue "railing" is another old lego piece.  Voila, a nice little building, with $0 spent for me. 

Now I've just got to finish that dio up........Hopefully this helps a bit.

That diorama looks really good Ian. Are my eyes playing tricks or do the two guys standing by the front of the truck in need of heads?

Yup, they're currently headless. The whole thing is waiting for a bit more work.

Okay so I started construction today.  I am using cellfoam (?) or something like that.  It is a fairly strong styrofoam.

It is held together by staples right now, becuase I am testing different glues right now on scraps, although I read that gorilla glue works. The structure is the top part (where the guy is standing next to)

 

Comments and Critiques welcome,

Austin 

Arkhunter,

all the comments about ropping on to the roof are pretty much SOP.  In Iraq the unit i was in allways roped in guys on the roof,  the ropes come in different lenghts.  So even if the Helo was only 20 feet of the ground you would some times have a big coil on the rooftop.

 Usually the Pavelows would just land somewhere close and let off troops to secure the surronding areas

daylight fast rope

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EotYOpAAihw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT0_zi8TxsQ

NVG fast rope

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htqYWmbnpkU&feature=related

 

Can't way to see more progress great planning it sould be awsome when your done!

Jose

 

WOW...you have skills...

Update 17 Jan 2008

I think I did a descent job at getting the feel for the stucco with wall spackle thinned with water.  I think it might be too big for 1/72.





I sprayed it with primer, and will be seeing how good paint looks on it soon.  That is my second step of the testing process.  First, I start with scraps, then the second step is the top structure, and the last step is the first floor.

I re-cut out the first floor walls, this time with some interior.




For supporting the model, I am using steel wire.  I think the coils are a tad large (but still feasibly accurate, so I am not too concerned about them)


and how I'm thinking of positioning the MH-60K:


The MH-60K is a in the process of being refurbished, so it doesn't look too good right now.


Then the next part of the diorama.  The figures.  Most likely they will be rangers (due to the fact that they have a more standard dress code for combat.  I will have them wearing ACU's and tan helmets, with the IOTV as the body armor.)

Here are the legs of one Soldier.  Except for the feet, the figure was completely sculpted by me, which is my first attempt at sculpting legs.  It still needs some cleaning up and minor detailing, but I am happy with the overall shape/size.  


IOTV (improved outer tactical vest):


Take care,
Austin

This is coming along nicely. I had a thought that it could be really nice to have a base that fits tightly around the ground floor of the building, that way the upper floor balcony hangs over the edge of the diorama and the helicopter can hang out even further. Think about the house Falling Water and you'll see what I mean.

It would be a way of opening up the three dimensional space, without the restrictions of a base frame holding you back. Just a thought. 

Some impressive beginings here...I would tend to agree with you on scale, however--the buildings look a little large for 1/72nd...based on the size of the doors/windows in relation to the blackhawk...what fig set are you using?

vespa boy wrote:

This is coming along nicely. I had a thought that it could be really nice to have a base that fits tightly around the ground floor of the building, that way the upper floor balcony hangs over the edge of the diorama and the helicopter can hang out even further. Think about the house Falling Water and you'll see what I mean. It would be a way of opening up the three dimensional space, without the restrictions of a base frame holding you back. Just a thought.

Nice dio, Frank!!

I think you oughta introduce a mockup of your bird at this point. It'll hopefully help you eyeball the proportions. As a general rule in model buildings, selective compression is desirable. In other words exaggerate the height relative to the plan area by reducing the footprint of the building. Otherwise you are going to end up with a whole lot of roof. Not that thats a bad thing, and remember to detail it up. I would ask those brave gents who've looked down on this what might be up there. I'd think a dish for sure, maybe beds, hmmm...

Oh wow, long time, no update.  Anyways, here it is in short:

I just glued the first floor walls together.  I think I will just order a set or two from PDI to add to the interior versus try and scratchbuild a bunch of chairs and such.

However, I made two things that will go on the roof.  Ignore the red paint on the the tarp, because I cleaned it off.  The blanket is tissue in white glue/water, painted with oils, and the tarp on the left is the same, but painted with acrylics/given an oil wash.


This is where I think I will put these items.


another "vision" picture

Still lots more ahead of me.

Take care,
Austin

About the two items on the roof (looks to me like a couch with a tarp/blanket over it and a bed with a blanket pulled back), don't forget that the UH-60, like most helos, have an INTENSE rotorwash, especially when combat loaded and hovering OGE (outside ground effect) because of increased throttle required to keep it in the air.  So the blankets and tarps would most likely be LONG gone.  To see what I'm talking about, look online, find and watch a video of a Blackhawk doing a roll-on landing in the desert or approaching a target for a fast rope operation.  The movie "Blackhawk Down" also effectively shows this rotorwash effect.  There is a cloud of dust/dirt/debris that preceeds the rotor disk and creates a brown-out condition initially, then as the hover is held, things clear up a bit (the movie doesn't show this very well)--but the rotorwash blows anything not nailed down far, far away. 

Just a long-winded thought (sorry ), but nonetheless...the couch and bed look great! Excellent job making them!!  The -60 looks friggn awesome so far and I can't wait to see more on this dio!!  Where'd you find the crew figures?  You're making me want to pull my Blackhawk off the shelf and start working!!  Keep us posted!

I thought about the rotor wash, so I may just end up having the blanket be flying off of the bed maybe caught up on the wall or something, but the tarp (idk what's under it) I will have tied down.  I am going to try and make a TV that was sitting on the blue tarp that got blown off.  As for the brown out, I think thats where photoshop will come in.

Thanks,

Austin 

Hey guys, its been a really long time, but I've started college and ROTC, and I've left all of my modelling stuff at home, but over my 2 week Christmas break, I got to work on it/in a sense started over.  I ended up buying some HQ 72 buildings at the IPMS-USA Nats last year.  Well, I've scrapped my older building and am looking at a few ideas.  The size of the building is pretty small, but I find it advantageous to keep the diorama focused.  I guess I am directing this to those who know, is the building too small, or is it just right?  I compared it against Italeri's Berlin house (much much larger, a bit too big IMO), which could pass as a training building or what not, but forgot to take pictures.

 

The helicopter pictured is a UH-60L that I'm working on too.  I still plan on using an MH-60K though.  And here's some of my sculpting on the figure front. 

And my first ever attempt at a head in any scale (man 1/72 is TINY!)

 

Comments and Critiques are welcome.

Take care,

Austin

Love that foam for structures...

I really liked what you were doing with your first building, but I do understand the need sometimes to start fresh!  VERY WELL DONE on the figure sculpting!  You are right--1/72 is tiny and you are off to an OUTSTANDING start on making your own figures!

Off topic--have you contracted with ROTC yet or are you just trying it out?  I did ROTC for 2 years in college and had a blast, got out before I contracted, but a few years after college I enlisted and went to OCS.  Was actually going Aviation to fly the -60, but paperwork got fouled up and now have my paperwork in to go MP.