“Big Fish” Revisited
Five months ago, I posted the Headlines article, “Big Fish” - Rotterdam Oude Haven 1952. It depicted the salvage of a Heinkel bomber (Revell 1/32 modelled) into a small Dutch port several years after WW2. Having lived with the diorama for these past months, I decided that it needed further detailing, and further refinements to existing areas.
You can revisit the original article at http://imodeler.com/2014/03/big-fish-rotterdam-oude-haven-1952/ to see the differences and, hopefully, to note improvements:
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for the water texture I used the craft material, Mod Podge, applied by brush over the original resin base in seven coats to achieve that familiar choppy-sea effect;
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the skulls were sourced from a firm in Germany (the only place I've been able to find skulls in this scale); the ribcage and other bones in the open coffin are made from wire;
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wicker baskets, closed coffins, dog figures, additional figure in rowboat, additional vegetation and other miscellaneous detailing added complexity and depth;
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the prostitute and dockworker were moved from the back of the wharf to the side-front of the composition to add interest in an otherwise isolated corner;
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the 'sparks' from the cutting torch look less coarse when viewed as Mk1 Eyeball than through a macro lens, but I thought I'd share the detail.
Originally, most figures and equipment were de-pinned from the set and stored separately, but I found that repeated handling of these led to damage of smaller parts, and so elected to fix them to the base, with only a couple of figures and the two cranes to be stored separately. The main wharf section is modular as before and simply lifts off the base for storage.
Having completed the exercise, I feel more confident that the diorama is now of exhibition standard.
Impressive looking diorama, Rob...the time and effort put forth is definitely apparent. The attention to detail is outstanding. Very believable-looking 'water' as well I might add. Very nice work, sir.
Great work Rob. I still admire the fact that you "sacrificed" a big impressive model - the He 111- to build this diorama. I'd have been too feart! Do you have any pictures of it before it was incorporated into the base? I really like all the new imbelishments you've made to the original.
Thanks, Gregor. No, no earlier photos of the Heinkel. It was planned from the start that a complete wing and the back of the plane would be removed along panel lines, with foil layers added to simulate sheared metal skin, and naturally without the rudder and rear planes it became more manageable and compact for the diorama. Even so, the scene is still 670 x 930 (around 2' x 3').
Wow! So you bought the Heinkel with the idea to model it as part of a dio from the start! Again, being primarily an aeroplane modeler, I dunno if I could have cut it up, and modelled it damaged like this. Did you build in all the cockpit details seeing as its upside down?
Yes, primary details anyway. As I knew the perspex would be modelled as 'fogged' by saltwater, there was no point in fine detailing. Ditto undercarriage.
The idea from the start was (1) bomber wreck (2) harbour scene (3) harbour life. As I made the frame and settled on final dimensions, I sketched out the scene, to establish working areas, and then planned the scratchbuilt sections, and found various other items - equipment, scenery, figures. Naturally, it's important to create dramatic emphasis and not to simply shove a bunch of unrelated items together and hope for the best.
If you look at the original Headlines article there are links to the WIP threads, which show some of the issues involved:
http://imodeler.com/groups/work-in-progress-aircraft/forum/topic/heinkel-harbour-diorama-part-1/
http://imodeler.com/groups/work-in-progress-aircraft/forum/topic/heinkel-harbour-diorama-part-2/
I got the kit for £28 at Telford last year, so initial investment was minimal. Of course, then there's all the other gear...
Man, thats a power of work you put in there, and it shows in the finished article. Well done.
Wouldn't have thought you could improve the original but you certainly did. Unbelievable attention to detail.
Great job Rob.
The re-positioning of the figures and the other added pieces made this master piece even better mate.
Well done sir.
You've put a lot of thought into revising this diorama, Rob, and the results are extremely worthwhile, definitely exhibition standard.
Love the dock popsie!
Yes unusual figure (literally), in white metal from Aurora Models in Japan.
Rob,
Loved it the first time I saw this and like it even better the second time.
Cheers, Frank.