1/48 WWII Airfield Diorama - Somewhere in the South Pacific

[30sqnatc]

Wet day at home so today the new beach & wharf baseboard was built. The lower level will become the sea with the boats set into the foam surface.



C8 truck nearly finished and already suffering the deprivations of the coral dust.

[30sqnatc]

24th coconut tree planted Didn't I originally say I'd need about 70 I've already worn out one set of tiny sewing scissors and used up a roll of masking tape and a packet of florists wire.



Now I'm sitting down with glass of red mine you it's Bathurst weekend so compulsory couch in front of TV so more trees are likely this weekend.

[senob]

It's looking great.

[30sqnatc]

With a few more trees added behind the rail track I spent the afternoon putting down some static grass as first stage of ground cover. The white will disappear once the PVA glue drys.



The aircraft wreck dump will fill the rough hollow in the foreground.

[30sqnatc]

I reworked the weathering to back off the white lines in body corners. Windscreen and roundels fitted and deck dirtied up.

[Dave Homewood]

Nice work on the scuffed and rusting tray.

[30sqnatc]

Progress on trees, grass and Kato loco.

[exkiwiforces]

I’ve really been enjoying watching this build as it slowly proceeds along and it has given me the encouragement to do some mods on HMS Illustrious (the WW2 Carrier) build while I wait for a few tins of paint to arrive IOT finish 4 other ships atm

Wishing that my great uncle Neville was still around to see this build as he was up and around the Solly’s during the War with 3 NZDiv.

[Dave Homewood]

I am enjoying it very much too.

[30sqnatc]

I am to most of the time. I just planted another bl***y coconut tree and did some general scenic work like toning down the colour of the dead tree fronds. Away in Aussie with work again next week so lots of evenings to cut out more coconut tree fronds.

[30sqnatc]

A week in Aussie resulted in enough tree fronds for two more trees which have already been assembled, painted and planted. One more and I'll be 50% through expected 70 trees Todays post brought a few light hearted new aircraft which will be RNZAFed



And an unusual book I spotted on Trademe. Book formerly in General Assembly Library describes visit by NZ National Film Unit to Fiji and Guadalcanal. I've just flicked through - lots of discussion on RNZAF presence.



Interesting open air bomb storage under my beloved coconut trees.

[Dave Homewood]

Oooh that book looks interesting!

[30sqnatc]

Last tree in the corner planted. I've started working on the Zero which will be the bottom aircraft in the dump. Although I realise in reality the bomb dump would be much further from the dispersal I may place some bombs under the trees hence the Ford Bomb service truck to see if would fit.

[pjw4118]

With so many coconut palms planted , when do you expect your first crop ? Perhaps you need a copra buyer. Great effort and really interesting to follow , but my you must have some patience .

[30sqnatc]

Nov 23, 2019 9:30:56 GMT 12 pjw4118 said:

With so many coconut palms planted , when do you expect your first crop ? Perhaps you need a copra buyer. Great effort and really interesting to follow , but my you must have some patience .

I suspect my crop will be pepper as the coconuts are pepper corns Patience - well I do all my tree making in front of the TV so at least it not totally wasted time.

[30sqnatc]

The smallest of the IJN Kato locos.



Its nothing flash but at least it looks the part.

[Dave Homewood]

It's not a great photo but I wonder if this is of any interest, Paul?

paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19421008.2.34.1

[30sqnatc]

Thanks I have that one and the model. It is from a small Canadian manufacturer I lived about 50km from for two years but was not aware of their existence until returning to NZ.

[30sqnatc]

Dave's thread on NZ made Carriers made be go looking for LP2 plan, a 1/48 Tamiya Universal carrier in my stash and some tools. So here it is the start - cut off hull below sponson, insert 3mm then rejoin hull top. When dry remove 3mm from top of hull side plates so the overall height will remain the same.

[30sqnatc]

All the basic mods in place.