Painted side walls a nuetral grey colour.

Took it easy over last two days. At first I forgot about it, but on the 24th, a friend called by to say 'happy birthday'. Time sure does flies. Yesterday was ANZAC Day, so it was time to show face, respect those that served, and chat with other veterans.

I Say !

 If I ever get to your part of the world again I'll have to spring for rounds for everyone .Whatta beautiful job . Peter , you never cease to keep me amazed !

E.J.

 I know it's down there . I think New Zealand 

Peter, It is coming along fantasically well.  There is so much eye candy that perhaps the patrons of the museum will be looking at all the details instead of watching the bridge actually lift.  That is the hallmark of an excellent work of art, that you see something new each time you look at it, and it is no stretch for me to say that what you have is a work of ART.  Bravo sir.  

Tanker - Builder

I Say !

 If I ever get to your part of the world again I'll have to spring for rounds for everyone .Whatta beautiful job . Peter , you never cease to keep me amazed !

Thank you T.B. for your kind words.

Hope you do turn up at the museum. Would be good to meet you.

ejhammer

Where is this museum this diorama is going to? I would love to see this thing in my travels. EJ

Will be finished some time this year, and will be in the Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum, NSW, Australia. 30 kms south of Byron Bay.

New Zealand ????! Now, now. be a good fellow. 

mmthrax

Peter, It is coming along fantasically well.  There is so much eye candy that perhaps the patrons of the museum will be looking at all the details instead of watching the bridge actually lift.  That is the hallmark of an excellent work of art, that you see something new each time you look at it, and it is no stretch for me to say that what you have is a work of ART.  Bravo sir.  

Thank for kind words.

Perhaps the camera view has tricked your perceptions of how it really looks.

Been busy with other aspects of life which has priority over the model. As a result, I have still worked on the model but paying more attention to personal aspects of the diorama.

Muz (Murray), a good friend, has for the last ten years been fighting cancer. In the last month his health has deteriorated drastically. He has been tied up with the specialists, and while waiting for progress reports I have been tinkering with small scale builds for the diorama.

Muz loves fishing, and has caught (and released) some huge fish over the years. The diorama needs a recreational fishing boat around the boat ramp area. On a subconscious level, I was building this fishing boat as a result of having Muz in mind.

Made this dinghy/tinny from Masonite, scarp wood and paper clip. I discovered that Masonite is quite easy to shape by carving.

Originally I was to add a few children swimming around, but soon discovered that nobody swims in the river due to the Bull Sharks. Some of them have been caught near the Wardell bridge.

So I decided to try and make a shark from DAS clay. I was not too pleased by this medium. soon learnt that there is other stuff more pliable and sticky. As a result, I had to make extra parts and then glued into place after it was dried.

I made sure it was a big shark.

Muz had a good laugh at this. He also told me since the boat is under 5 m the two guys in the boat ought to be wearing inflatable life-jackets. So I painted them on and added line to the fishing rods.

Their gonna need a bigger boat. Couldn't resist.

Sorry Mate !

 I owe you a Pint !

Oh Brudder !

 Now , what are they gonna do with that critter ? Yeah I know about those type of sharks . Been told that They is always hongry ! Didn't believe it .

  Went diving one day and only lost a fin . Kept the foot but barely , It was a close one . One hit a poor sod further down the coast . He didn't make it . Darned near bit him in half!

 Gotta say Peter , You keep going and you'll be known for your humor too . Nother awesome build ! 

Tanker - Builder

I owe you a Pint !

Get him a Victoria Bitter, he's worth it

Aha !Cap'n Mac !

Amen to that !

modelcrazy

Their gonna need a bigger boat. Couldn't resist.

I don't think they will ever haul in a big shark again.

Tanker - Builder

Oh Brudder !

 Now , what are they gonna do with that critter ? Yeah I know about those type of sharks . Been told that They is always hongry ! Didn't believe it .

  Went diving one day and only lost a fin . Kept the foot but barely , It was a close one . One hit a poor sod further down the coast . He didn't make it . Darned near bit him in half!

 Gotta say Peter , You keep going and you'll be known for your humor too . Nother awesome build ! 

Thanks T.B.

We have shark lines just out pass the breakwater along our beaches. Orange buoys mark where the baited lines are. Once a shark is caught, a wireless alarm is triggered. A trawler then comes out to take the shark into deeper waters several kilometers from the shore, and released. Last week while sightseeing the beaches I saw a Bull shark, next to an orange bouy, leap out of the water and twisting in the air, as if trying to unhook itself. It was a big shark, about 8-9 feet.

CapnMac82

Tanker - Builder

I owe you a Pint !

Get him a Victoria Bitter, he's worth it

Muz's health, of late, has deteriorated drastically (cancer). He and his wife have relocated to live with family. All our friends most probably won't be seeing Muz again.

Muz, and other road cyclist friends have asked me to add cyclists to the bridge diorama. I had not been able to find any road racing cyclist, or bicycle, models at 1/72 scale as of yet. So I have been delaying to make a model myself. Muz's condition urged me to give it a go, so I asked him to send me an email of him and his bike, so I can add him to the diorama. He will be waving goodbye.

That's a great tribute. Nice work on Muz.

Very poignant and very cool.

Also, fantastic modelling work on the bike.

Bravo.

Peter ;

 That is as nice a tribute to a friend as I have ever seen . I hope someone does one of me at my bench at the Museum when I leave here .

 It's hard to lose friends , especially long time ones . At my age it happens to often . Good on you mate ! ! 

Peter ;

 The biggest problem with Bulls is that they will strike anything and they can survive well in Brackish and Fresh water for a time too . That part is what makes them dangerous in ways a great White or Hammerhead are not .

 The last hammerhead I saw was attacked by a smaller White .The white got a mouthfull of the hammerhead's head on one side .We got out of the water instantly then . Can you say feeding frenzy ?

 The White shot in from nowhere that day . The " H " head and his ( or her ) buddies had been hanging around for a while . Didn't bother any of us except a Brush - By every once in a while .

 Sad to say .If we as a group of nations don't curtail Shark hunting for fins , they won't be around long . All in their own way are Beautiful predators !

Thank you @modelcrazy, @mmthrax, @sharkbait, and @Tanker-Builder for your kind comments.

Will get back to this build shortly. Had a break by building something different, the U-2540 sub with interior.

The shire council snuck in a floating wharf while I was away.

Glad to see you back Peter.

Yeah, welcome back!

Where have you been?

Looking forward to more progres here!

Paweł

Oh Gee !

    That looks like the Guest Dock at my marina was . ( Wish I still had the place ) 

Pawel

Yeah, welcome back!

Where have you been?

Looking forward to more progres here!

Paweł