"Death in the Courtyard" *finished, more pics, page 15*

Luftiger, try it; I promise you'll be pleased w/ the results...also, don't forget to add plenty of white glue to your Celluclay mix---this helps prevent too much shrinkage and reduces the chance of curling and lifting as well...

doog, many thanks...I just flat-laquered the hay in place and it seems to be working...time to pour some Celluclay soon!!!

Manny, I have to say that you're just outdoing yourself on this one! Breaking new ground and taking chances--and it's paying off big time!

You "da MANNY"!!!

That hay really looks tremendous now! It really looks real! The wagon too is just really outstanding! 

Hans von Hammer wrote:

...working on the semi-nude chick that will be taking cover in the hay while the lead is flying.. Allow me to help ya with some reference material...

Roll Roll Roll in ze hay

Cart looks greay manny.  Im just curious how your going to put down the groundwork niceley without getting it all over everything else, masking tape or some such nonsense that I will hear nothing of? 

...working on the semi-nude chick that will be taking cover in the hay while the lead is flying..

Allow me to help ya with some reference material...

Mobious wrote:

Hay Manny,  Really looking good. The wagon is spot on MR. These pics really look great. The finish on the wagon is stunning. Looking forward to seeing the bombshell in the hay!  Best Regards,  Mobious

Especially the part about the bombshell! Sex and violence how original!

 Hay Manny,

 Really looking good. The wagon is spot on MR. These pics really look great. The finish on the wagon is stunning. Looking forward to seeing the bombshell in the hay!

 Best Regards,

 Mobious

Thanks, guys...this type of wagon seems to be designed where the "pull pole" only traverses left and right--no "up and down" on this one...got what I feel is the right amount of hay in...tamped it down some and tweezed out the major fly-away pieces...will let it settle overnight and then give her a spray of flat laquer...also added graphite to the contact portions of the metal wheels...things should start happening faster now...working on the semi-nude chick that will be taking cover in the hay while the lead is flying...

Roll, roll, roll in the hay....where are the girls at???

Hay....looks great. The usual Manny masterpiece in progress

Rounds Complete!!

Hey Manny,

Looking sharp!  One question: is it 'natural' for the tongue of the wagon to stick out the way it does?  I would have assumed it to be hinged and, absent a draft team, that it would rest on the ground? 

the doog wrote:

Looks great, Manny--that rebar idea is comletely unique, IMO. The hay looks good for starters; you should experiment with using a diluted white glue to bond it together--I think you don't want it too "fluffy", but having some weight as it lays. YOu might be able to accomplish this with white glue? Or perhaps even appropriately colored paint?

Mobious wrote:

Hello,  MR, Just 2 things 1)Was wondering if there will be more hay in the wagon, IMO it looks a little on the empty side. 2) Also IMO it needs "weight" for lack of a better word. Not sure if that is what you intend to do by "setting it" with dullcoat.  The wagon turned out really well. Glad to see you successfully conquered your "fear of the wagon". Looking forward to progress pics on this dio.  Thanks MR for doing a WIP. Have seen several of your dio's and they always are a pleasure to view.  Mobious

 Hello,

 MR, Just 2 things 1)Was wondering if there will be more hay in the wagon, IMO it looks a little on the empty side. 2) Also IMO it needs "weight" for lack of a better word. Not sure if that is what you intend to do by "setting it" with dullcoat.

 The wagon turned out really well. Glad to see you successfully conquered your "fear of the wagon". Looking forward to progress pics on this dio.

 Thanks MR for doing a WIP. Have seen several of your dio's and they always are a pleasure to view.

 Mobious

I'd say a good deal of good progress, Manny.

The sprue/rebar idea is new to me...pretty clever.  Looks like you've gotten the wagon under control.  Another idea for your chipped/worn paint.....give the wagon a light wash of thinner, let sit for a moment, then give it a whitewash using acylics.....wait for a bit, then take masking tape and tap it over the surfaces.  The acrylic paint doesn't want to stick very well over the thinner washed surfaces and the tape will pull off irregular splotches/chips - maybe next time.

Hairspray would work to "style" your hay. 

best,

Rick

 Wow that is a vast improvement on the hay! It really looks the part now.  Funny thing was while I was browsing the update my wife saw your sprue (rebar base) She had to ask me what you were thinking? It looks awful! 

I explained to her that is was to make the ground stick to the base and she shrugged and left. 5 minutes later came back and ask for your address. Seems that I had left an old box of sprues and parts in her closet. Thought you could use them for the rest of the countryside!

Very interesting technique. It's all coming together, gonna look real cool.

Steve

Thanks, guys. 

A quick update now that I am past my wagon fright...glued sprue "re-bar" down on the dio base to provide something for the celluclay to "bite" into...elevated the small building and water pump so that the celluclay wouldn't ride high on them...also wanted to show a little bit of undercut on the pump base where water has eroded around it over the years (something I have seen a lot in Europe)

...started experimenting also on how to best fill the wagon with hay...found that the stock length of material I had needed to be cut into shorter pieces for it to "lay right"...will add more hay to this base layer as I progress...thinking of "setting" it with dullcoat...

Manny - Looks FANTASTIC!!!!!!!  We have all had those moments where we were ready to send the model to the cannibal point. Sometimes it's best to walk away rather than throw away. In your case your fought through and came up with a winner.

I think it has gone from trash to a focal point.

Very nice

Rounds Complete!!

Not only does the wagon look fantastic, your pictures have improved as well. Whatever you may have done with the settings, it worked. The images are much more true to life.

That wagon really does look great. Kudos for stickin' with it, and congrats on a great result.

panzerguy wrote:

Throw some hay and a couple of top heavy blondes in there and that thing will be perfect

 Remember, NO NUDITY! LOL.

 Best Regards,

 Mobious

Mobious wrote:

Hello,  Very nice! Grab some apple cider, a tractor, throw in some hay and it looks like a "Hay Ride". Looks great, MR. The weather beaten wood is top notch. A little more steel color in the wheels would be nice.  Looking forward to updates.  Best Regards,  Mobious

Thanks, Mobious...actually I will add graphite to the wheel face where it would contact the ground to give it a recently used look...the hay-stack will be added once the wagon is in place...thanks for looking in!

 Hello,

 Very nice! Grab some apple cider, a tractor, throw in some hay and it looks like a "Hay Ride". Looks great, MR. The weather beaten wood is top notch. A little more steel color in the wheels would be nice.

 Looking forward to updates.

 Best Regards,

 Mobious

the doog wrote:

YES!!!! !!!! That's the ticket, Manny! WOW! That looks great! It really looks old and weather-beaten! The wheels too--OUTSTANDING! You get an "Honorary Weatherhead" cartificate for this one, Feld-Marschal!

I even discovered a cool trick to get a peeled whitewash: slather the cursed wagon in white acrylic paint...let sit for five minutes, then plunge said wagon into a tumbler full of cold water and swish it around...pull out and let air-dry...that's basically what you are seeing (although I did it three time)...still need a little detail clean-up, but MAN...ya'll don't know how relieved I am that all of you feel it looks okay......whew!

Special thanks to RickLawler, doog and Vespa for "pushing" me outta my comfort zone a little...they were right... 

YES!!!! !!!!

That's the ticket, Manny!

WOW! That looks great! It really looks old and weather-beaten! The wheels too--OUTSTANDING!

You get an "Honorary Weatherhead" cartificate for this one, Feld-Marschal!