DBMiller's End Is Nigh

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Sun Jan 01, 2017 1:50 pm

I will be posting some more info as I collect my bits together.

Lysus · Post by **Lysus** » Sun Jan 01, 2017 5:24 pm

Well, I don't need to see what you're planning before I sit in for this. I'll be over here

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Sun Jan 01, 2017 5:26 pm

Lysus wrote:Well, I don't need to see what you're planning before I sit in for this. I'll be over here

Let's just hope my plans are not bigger than my ability!

Lysus · Post by **Lysus** » Sun Jan 01, 2017 5:30 pm

DBMiller wrote:
Lysus wrote:Well, I don't need to see what you're planning before I sit in for this. I'll be over here

Let's just hope my plans are not bigger than my ability!

You and me, both!

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Mon Jan 02, 2017 1:29 am

Just as a teaser here is the first part of my diorama! Yes, it's an empty coffee tin. And no, it's not because coffee will be in short supply in the end. Although that is bad enough!
I'm also trying out a special look for the photos in this build; a bit of a grunge look (bleach bypass filter) and a ratty border. Just to keep the mood depressed.

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Mon Jan 02, 2017 1:50 am

Come on ya tease, we wanna see your bits!!!

Lysus · Post by **Lysus** » Mon Jan 02, 2017 2:03 am

Twokidsnosleep wrote:Come on ya tease, we wanna see your bits!!!

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Mon Jan 02, 2017 2:28 am

Lysus wrote:
Twokidsnosleep wrote:Come on ya tease, we wanna see your bits!!!

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Mon Jan 02, 2017 3:37 pm

My, my, what dirty minds.

Here are the 'bits'. Make of them what you will because I'm not telling just yet!

These are bigger than I wanted. I'll have to size them better in the future.

ScaleModelJedi · Post by **ScaleModelJedi** » Mon Jan 02, 2017 5:10 pm

Will certainly be keeping an eye on this, looks very interesting

Lysus · Post by **Lysus** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 4:08 am

Dirty minds, us? Never!

Sometimes.

So many bits...gonna be a great SiG.

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Mon Jan 09, 2017 6:13 pm

Oh I am still so out of it from being sick all last week! I was so looking forward to this build and nothing!

Today I have enough energy, and my lungs are clearing out enough, to give it a start. At least a small start.

My two characters: A man and his dog. Waiting on the end.

My idea is to rebuild the winter uniform to look like a bulky hooded sweat shirt - perhaps with a team logo - and a baseball cap on his head.
This is not a lone soldier defending a post. No zombie apocalypse; no hordes of starving masses trying to take what is his; no enemy invasion a la Red Dawn. It's just a guy trying to live out the rest of what ever life he has left as the world collapses.

Time for a nap.

Lysus · Post by **Lysus** » Mon Jan 09, 2017 7:26 pm

Very "The Road," I like it

Augustus · Post by **Augustus** » Tue Jan 10, 2017 7:21 am

Aarrgghh, I've seen these Russian Zombie dog experiments, 'orrible I say, 'orrible, cutting dogs heads off and keeping em alive, or transplanting em on to other dogs, 'orrible I tells ya!

Post by **Stokesy44** » Tue Jan 10, 2017 9:37 am

Intriguing!

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Tue Jan 10, 2017 2:50 pm

Augustus wrote:Aarrgghh, I've seen these Russian Zombie dog experiments, 'orrible I say, 'orrible, cutting dogs heads off and keeping em alive, or transplanting em on to other dogs, 'orrible I tells ya!

Now, now. That dog is perfectly happy and in no pain. It should go on to lead a long (ish) and normal (ish) life.

NorthernModeller · Post by **NorthernModeller** » Fri Jan 13, 2017 3:43 pm

Ohhh yes, this is awsome, I love the idea

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Sat Jan 14, 2017 11:25 pm

I've been trying to re shape the German winter gear to look like a large hooded sweatshirt. There was molded in detail that didn't fit the idea of a modern pull over so I used Milliput to cover it up. As you can see I haven't quite got the hang of. I think it will work though - after a bit more tweaking. The baseball cap didn't come out too bad though. It was a German cap to start. I just rounded it out and added a button on top.
I've also started work on the gear that will fill out the scene.

Tiger213 · Post by **Tiger213** » Sun Jan 15, 2017 8:38 am

I like the changes you made on the german guy, well done

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 2:08 pm

Here are a couple of my references for the diorama. My idea is that the character in my little vignette lives in a large culvert. There will be modifications like walls and barriers as well as other, more homey, touches made to the area. No water though - things have dried out a bit.

Here is a VERY rough mock up to see if it will fit on the base. It looks like everything will fit. I don't want a bigger base because I want it to look a bit closed in.

ElCapitan · Post by **ElCapitan** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 2:12 pm

Such a great idea, I could never come up with something like this. Can't wait to see it taking shape!

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 4:57 pm

Really like where you are headed with the diorama

The culvert from a can idea is genius!!!

wappynutter · Post by **wappynutter** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 6:24 pm

Think i'm gonna float around to watch this build up, and i have been absent for the last few months with Mojo-gone-itis...

Hoping your going the way of the " Rusty oil drum with fire burning " at the entrance and a dimly lit interior very similar to the sewer dwellers living under the strip in Vegas..

" I am Legend " springs to mind..
Gonna be epic for sure, good luck buddy...
Happy Modelling..

Lysus · Post by **Lysus** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 6:36 pm

Be right back, I need more popcorn...

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Sat Jan 21, 2017 6:46 pm

A bit more on the build! I want my painting to show up so no funky look to the images this time!
Some jigsaw work on the can (not the coffee can from my earlier post) and instant culvert!

First round of painting on the bits.

Now the difficult part! I'm not too good with people as it is but a dog - that's hard! First draft is not too bad so I'm on the right track. The man's clothing is coming along but the pants are a bit darker than I was thinking and the white sweat shirt needs work. The cap is just way wrong.

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Sun Jan 22, 2017 7:16 am

That's what the tin is for

, very clever idea all that ribbing shape in side of the drain

, it's beginning to come together nice,good luck with the rest of the build.

SergioSolo · Post by **SergioSolo** » Sun Jan 22, 2017 11:54 am

That's what I call an epic diorama in progress

Tiger213 · Post by **Tiger213** » Sun Jan 22, 2017 12:09 pm

Very nice, I like the idea with a can

Post by **Stokesy44** » Sun Jan 22, 2017 1:04 pm

Genius.

What a cool idea.

Bissyboat · Post by **Bissyboat** » Sun Jan 22, 2017 3:21 pm

Simon6483 wrote:Will certainly be keeping an eye on this, looks very interesting

Same here.

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Mon Jan 23, 2017 4:32 pm

The burn barrel is coming along. Stippled Testors enamel rust and black pastel powder for scorching.

I was going to print a decal (some sports team) but found a better pair in a set of Flanker decals! So, second run at the figure and he has a Bat Man sweat shirt! Also, another run at adding depth (and dirt) to the clothing. The hat was going to be a base ball cap but I'm in the process of changing it to a work hat with ear flaps. The face - well, at least he has one. Those are hard to paint!

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Mon Jan 23, 2017 6:53 pm

Figure looks great.
I can totally see the hunter's hat thing he has going on

Lysus · Post by **Lysus** » Mon Jan 23, 2017 7:19 pm

That can and figure...way beyond what I could produce. Awesome work, DB!

Bissyboat · Post by **Bissyboat** » Mon Jan 23, 2017 7:58 pm

The modifications on the figure is brilliant. The Batman logo on the hoodie is a nice touch. It´s all looking very good.

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 12:46 am

Close to wrapping up the bits. The character still needs work, especially his hat. The dog isn't too bad. The rest is almost done.

NorthernModeller · Post by **NorthernModeller** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 12:48 am

Loving it mate, it is coming along great, love the batman hoodie

Lysus · Post by **Lysus** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 12:57 am

NorthernModeller wrote:Loving it mate, it is coming along great, love the batman hoodie

Right? Brilliant detail.

Bissyboat · Post by **Bissyboat** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 2:53 pm

Looking like a proper scallywag. Really cool.

mperegrinefalcon · Post by **mperegrinefalcon** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 5:46 pm

Following excitedly. I've never been brave enough to try to modify figures.

Lysus · Post by **Lysus** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 10:21 pm

I modify them in the sense that I butcher them. This looks so good it makes me want to try again.

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Fri Jan 27, 2017 1:53 am

Getting a much better idea of how I want the base to look. I need to add the two end border strips then prime the wood for the groundwork. I used the can as a "cookie cutter" on the foam to get the right size. That worked well although I think I need to cut the top down a bit.
I'm thinking about using celluclay for the base ground with patches of snow and gravel.
The burn barrel and pail of snow for melting are for scale.

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Sat Jan 28, 2017 6:24 pm

I'm using foam core board for the frame work around the Styrofoam. I saw a video online showing how to use foam core for gaming buildings and am trying that technique. You cut one of the edges the width of the piece that butts against it, leaving just the paper outside. That hides the foam along the edges of the building. The video used hot glue for attaching the pieces.
I've got a few more sections to cut out and then more Styrofoam for the 'concrete' sides of the culvert.

SergioSolo · Post by **SergioSolo** » Sun Jan 29, 2017 11:56 am

I saw your pictures on Facebook. Great stuff!

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Sun Jan 29, 2017 3:55 pm

Sergiotron wrote:I saw your pictures on Facebook. Great stuff!

Thank you! And thank everyone who commented. It really helps!

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Mon Jan 30, 2017 3:17 am

OK, more work on the culvert and base.
I didn't like the natural metal of the can, it looked too shiny for scale. I primed it, sprayed the exposed end with Metalizer Buffing Stainless Steel, then gave it a quick polish with SnJ metal powder that I've had forever.

I figured the guy would need a walkway for the culvert. So I used wooden coffee stirrers - split and stained. He's about as good a wood worker as I am.

Now I've finished off the main work on the culvert surround. I've never done this before so there are some scrappy bits but over all I'm pretty happy. I will have to prime it and add concrete texture to most of it and a dirt road across the top.
It's not glued to the base and the culvert surround is not glued to the Styrofoam yet. I'm hoping that once the texture is added it will look more unified.

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Mon Jan 30, 2017 3:49 pm

You are doing great again, love the originality of the diorama materials
Having flashbacks to sunken Star Destroyer build

Bissyboat · Post by **Bissyboat** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 8:24 pm

I like where this dio is heading. Looks great.

DBMiller · Post by **DBMiller** » Fri Feb 03, 2017 4:29 pm

I gave up on one idea I had for the 'habitat'. I was going to use corrugated plastic sheet attached inside the culvert for walls. Then I thought not only would I have to build the equipment to show how he welded the sheet to the tube; like a welder (which needs fuel to run), and cutting tools (which need gasses to work). All fairly heavy equipment to move and needing skills to use.
So, I changed the walls to plywood, which even I can cut!

So, here is a start on the walls of my guy's 'home' as well as a more weathered walk way.

More work on the culvert surround. Added plaster to create the concrete walls, which I will sand a bit smoother once dry. Later I will start on the groundwork.

pir8hntr · Post by **pir8hntr** » Fri Feb 03, 2017 6:48 pm

I like where it is going and I really like the way you are doing the diorama.
pir8hntr

Fridgy · Post by **Fridgy** » Fri Feb 03, 2017 11:10 pm

Coming along great.
Can not wait to see the next instalment