1/72 Fast Roping Diorama Done 9 May 2010

Thanks!  Happy Thanksgiving to you too (and everyone else)!  I have some more giving to do too, giving of pictures that is!  I did a semi "photoshoot" of this dio...  How do you guys take pictures of your 1/35th dioramas!?  I feel like this is too big for any of my lights or backdrops that I usually use for 1/72 models...

I threw on a windshield from the earlier MH-60K that I was planning on using.  Anyways, I got it all glued up today (the top pieces are still loose...)

Then the last of the figures that I need to finish for the diorama...

School's going well (same with ROTC)!  I got my lowest grade on a test in statics which was an 88%, so I'm pretty excited about that, plus Russian's going a lot better than I was thinking it would.

Bonus:  here's that figure from above along with another one that I did the next day, and then I started this third guy.  Not sure when/how I'll be using them...

Take care,

Austin

Last update until 2010!

I'm guessing it'll be 7 days work to finish up the exterior of the MH-60K before I am ready for paint.  I'm aiming to have this ready to paint by the next update (semester break) and painted over a spring/midsemester break next year.  Then I'll finish up the building over the summer and voila, I'll be done (finally!)!  I've been using PE from three eduard sets, the MH-47E exterior, the SH-60B, and the UH-60A (really old brass looking stuff)

I started two more figures just with the base coat of green grey and flesh tones, and will be doing more individually later.

The building is on a temporary hold as I acquire and test acrylic paste for stucco instead of Mr. Surfacer.

Without further ado, let the pictures come (again, they aren't the best in terms of quality, but I tried...)

Take care,

Austin

Amazing Austin!
It looks like you're getting there.

Well, here's my update after 4 days at home...Just progress on the blackhawk.

I still need to clean up some painting on the tail rotor, other than that, it's good to go...

I tried to filter fade, but idk how it turned out.  I'll be doing more mixing and spraying I think, especially with certain areas on the tail boom and such.  I'll have to do a bunch of testing on scrap plastic first though...

The main rotor needs the yellow stripes (although I'm gonna make it more of an olive color) and then I need to spray the other parts of it steel and pick out a few other details...

It almost looks complete...lol If only the building was easier...

Take care,

Austin

Oh and another project....

...you're going to need glasses after this project .... HAHA!!!!

KUDOS Austin!!! This is the coolest #$%* I've seen in a LOOOOOOOOONG time! Well done.

Okay, so after the forums switched over, I didn't visit here much, and started posting more at armorama.  However, since I'm at school, and I go through modeling withdrawals here, I ended up on fine scale tonight., so why not post my progress.. The helicopter is about 98% done.  There still a few things that I have to paint still...

I'm redoing two of the figures, the two on the ground that are behind the finished guy.  Here's their current state:

Then I finished up building on the helicopter:

And then painted it:

Then decaled and finished it up:

Then added all of the little things:

Then put everything together for a couple shots showing total progress (the tires are just space fillers):

Take care,

Austin

Really nice weathering on that helo- looks great- as do the figures, I'm right there with you in the modeling withdrawal category.

Haven't been here much myself, but I do come back over here to seen THIS ONE in particular. Nice to see the update and NICE JOB!!!!

I'm still amazed at the 1/72 figs .... Awesome work!

Thanks Chris and Scott.

I can't wait until the long Easter weekend, but literally every class has something due before the break, and in two classes I have tests (strength of materials and statistical process control).   I ordered some stuff from Tracks n Troops (specifically some OKB Grigorov PE) that I'm pretty excited to see in person over break.

Take care,

Austin

yeah, i was wondering where this was at. nice to see an update (not that i can talk). im with scott...if you dont need glasses after this one i dont know...

Thanks camo,

I've been working on the figures as well as some decals for a UH-60 from the Colorado NG, which will be one of my next builds...

I dislocated my shoulder while lifting on Friday, so yeah, progress will get even slower, not to mention a big test tomorrow and another one on Tuesday.

Here's where the figures are as of now (I knocked off one of the guy's hands...)

Take care,

Austin

Hey, first off, the diorama looks fantastic.  What colors did you use for the ACU uniforms?

Thanks.  I used Vallejo paints and they were Green Grey, Stone Grey, and Deck Tan.

I haven't updated this in a while apparently, but I resculpted two of the figures and finished up the dio.  Now I'm working on varnishing the base....  So here's the initial finished pics and hopefully by next week I'll have the varnishing done and have the building mounted, and pictures to prove it.

Anyways, I'll take it step by step in two posts.  First up, the resculpted figures and the building...

<intermission>

</intermission>

Hope you guys like it, cause I love it (although I might be slightly biased).  I've been posting various stages of this on about 4 different websites, and there's some overlap of people between such sites, but each one has been able to guide me to the end result whether it be sculpting or building construction or the size of the fast ropes, etc...  So a big thank you to everyone who watched and helped me!

Take care,

Austin

WOW!! Now that looks great! I still can't believe how tiny it is.

I really like how you have the corrugated roof blowing off from the rotor wash

Very well done and great work getting the Blackhawk balanced on the fast ropes, it fits in perfect with the whole dio and doesn't look model-like as the result of a stand. If you get a chance to take it out to a show I'm sure you'll walk away with some nice awards.

Any time for a new project or.. what's next?

DAMN!  I really liked how you made the helicopter hooving over the roof using just the ropes!  Priceless...

Thanks guys.  I tried fooling around with some HDR stuff, and it didn't really turn out too well, but here are the pictures with the base attached.

Anyways hope you all enjoy!

Take care,

Austin

Been checking this out for a long time..good to see it done...OUTSTANDING WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It really came together.....

Outstanding work, Austin .... simply outstanding.

May just have to give this a go in 1/35 as we talked about way back when .... HAHA!!

Nice job, buddy. I'm almost speechless .....

Now this has been a long time coming!   From the pics I see it looks pretty good---would like to see some close-ups of the crew and figs...

One addition that I  think would make a world of difference would be to replace the static rotors with either a clear disc to represent movement or try to replicate those PE "moving props" that really look like they are turning...

Hi Austin,

Honestly when I was going to view this post I was expecting guys hanging from the side of a cliff...Lo and behold!!!...it's a helicopter suspended in mid air. I must commend you on a very good execution. The rope lines that help to support the heli is so thin and almost the right scale to pull off this mid-air trick. I also like what you've done with your 1/72 figures... so many in different poses.

You've given me inspiration to also suspend my 1/72 UH-34 in mid-air for my Vietnam Dio build. Thanks for sharing this build.

Cheers,

Richard

This is cool and impresive in this scale. Its similar to another one I think I saw here months ago, but this is much better. The other i think was 1/35 but was pretty toy-like. You got all the angles right--cool action--very neat model

Thanks guys!

Manny, anyone in particular?

Take care,

Austin

very cool austin. glad to see this one completed. i dont know how you did it with such a small scale but fantastic none the less.

Perhaps the ol' clear plastic sheet to simulate the spinning rotors. A smaller base is a good idea. I still think you need some street level action - curb, thrashed pick up truck, shrubs etc. Random and simple is better than tidy and contrived. The indian rope trick is a great idea. I may have to use microscope slide covers to support the aerial action on my 1/72 dio...or really thin tempered wire if I can find it.

arkhunter2002

Thanks guys!

 

Manny, anyone in particular?

 

Take care,

Austin

The discussion of "spinning" props vs "static" props has been talked about over and over ..... IMO I think that HVH said it best awhile back when I was considering whether to do the same thing on another helo .... maybe it was my "Littlebird" dio ... I can't remember. Basically, the idea is that the model/ dio is a snap-shot in time. When I thought about this, it made me think that if the props where spinning then the guys should almost be "moving" on the fast ropes!?!

I think that in some instances, smaller A/C like single engine fighters, etc, spinning props look really nice. However, w/ something like this, something w/ a lot of action and movement, I think that the previous thought is more "appropriate".

Again, VERY nice job on this one Austin. I've been staring at my 1/35 UH-60 thinking about it, but I'm not going to copy the idea .... I'm thinking more about a sling load op. Great job and thanks for all the inspiration....

I cant wait to see the base.  The rotor thing is a toughie. Use clear discs and they'll dominate the model; do nothing and it looks kinda half-baked (in my opinion). I dont agree w/ the post about a "moment in time". I'm not sure how permenantly the rotors are attached to the chopper, bu you could try clear discs that have beeen muted a bit to eliminate the shine and perhaps lightly paint or draw on blurred blades. Experiment and see how it looks. Or you could craft something like on PropBlur.com: P-E brass with carefully sliced props. You'd have to use a material or techniques that wouldnt let the blades droop. Good luck. Still a great dio.  

You could always R/C the dang thing and have it actually hover there .....

There's also a good idea about this subject in the current FSM mag. It was a really good reader tip from Ken, found on page 54. Give'r a look and see what you think.

... bottom line ... to each is own. Change it or keep it, you've done a fine job.

Bocks Suv

Or you could craft something like on PropBlur.com: P-E brass with carefully sliced props. You'd have to use a material or techniques that wouldnt let the blades droop.