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Re: Matchbox 1/76 M16 MGMC

Posted: October 5th, 2011, 11:17 am
by JamesPerrin
I wouldn't worry about the low view point issue John. A number of dioramas have this including both of mine. The design of your base excellently suggests this but I'm also planning on having these dioramas on a raised tier along the rear of the table. Therefore people will be closer to the correct angle - there will also be lots of kids who will be the right height :grin:

Re: Matchbox 1/76 M16 MGMC

Posted: October 6th, 2011, 7:31 pm
by JohnRatzenberger
With a larger explosion, ignoring the rough cut, is this closer to acceptable ?
Explosion could be larger, I guess.
It would probably be too hard for me to lower the background (which would help).

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Re: Matchbox 1/76 M16 MGMC

Posted: October 6th, 2011, 7:37 pm
by mattbacon
I'm sure that'll be fine, John! You could also consider introducing some "fog of war" by mounting a sheet of translucent tracing paper or drafting film (3M also do some stuff for fixing to windows) in front of the background image - perhaps with your target aircraft stuck directly to it. By varying the distance between the film and the background picture, you would be able change how "impressionistic" the background becomes...

Just a thought...

bestest,
M.

Re: Matchbox 1/76 M16 MGMC

Posted: October 6th, 2011, 7:49 pm
by JohnRatzenberger
Thanks, Matt ...

Here's a bigger explosion, still rough cut ... I could pull the a/c off the background a bit to "force" the background further into the background (say what?) ...

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And here's same bigger explosion, but I also (photo-wise) clipped about a half inch out of the river to pull the bridge down some ... cannot go much more ... and how I actually would do this is another question, best left for later ....

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Re: Matchbox 1/76 M16 MGMC

Posted: October 6th, 2011, 9:34 pm
by SJPONeill
New explosion looks way better!

You could also help imply movement by sanding most of the detail off the wheels and tracks for more of a blur of motion; and also show mud 'flicking of the wheels and tracks by using a spray of fine wire with brown putty on it to show a spray of mud coming off...

Re: Matchbox 1/76 M16 MGMC

Posted: October 6th, 2011, 11:41 pm
by JamesPerrin
The new explosion improves things a lot. Good work John.

Re: Matchbox 1/76 M16 MGMC

Posted: October 7th, 2011, 2:22 am
by JohnRatzenberger
SJPONeill wrote:New explosion looks way better!

You could also help imply movement by sanding most of the detail off the wheels and tracks for more of a blur of motion; and also show mud 'flicking of the wheels and tracks by using a spray of fine wire with brown putty on it to show a spray of mud coming off...
Yes, but a moving while firing M16 is as much a fantasy as all the folks riding serenely in the back .... and that the M16 survives the bomb blast ...

Anyway, I'll keep playing ...

Re: Matchbox 1/76 M16 MGMC

Posted: October 7th, 2011, 4:34 am
by SJPONeill
Reality - schmeality...In the box, that track looks like it's cranking + you think Billy-Bob would seize a chance to loose off those quad 50s while moving if he had half a chance...I would...

Re: Matchbox 1/76 M16 MGMC

Posted: October 8th, 2011, 8:05 am
by Barry
Yes to all the above and pulling the river down as in the last photo looks a lot better to me.

Re: Matchbox 1/76 M16 MGMC

Posted: October 14th, 2011, 12:28 am
by JohnRatzenberger
Time is slipping away and I am caught in real-world, non-modeling issues, so what you see is what you get.

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I have done what I described earlier to pull down the background, I have made a bigger explosion, I (and wife) have made a more Matchbox-ish ground cover. I need to finish the gunner, find another figure or two, straighten up the gun flames, pack it and ship it as soon as possible first of the week.

Re: Matchbox 1/76 M16 MGMC

Posted: October 14th, 2011, 12:44 am
by SJPONeill
Well, for what it's worth from down here, I think you have really captured the essence of the original box-art which is the whole point of the exercise...the two things that really make that impression for me are the explosion and the plane banking above...a job well done, I'd say!!

Re: Matchbox 1/76 M16 MGMC

Posted: October 18th, 2011, 1:43 pm
by JamesPerrin
Your wife has done a nice job and the changes look really good John. I'm looking forward to seeing this scene populated with the little soldiers :grin:

Re: Matchbox 1/76 M16 MGMC

Posted: October 21st, 2011, 2:25 am
by JohnRatzenberger
Here's my final; it's packed away and should be in the post tomorrow.

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The crew are in different positions (and lots fewer) because they won't fit as shown in the boxart.

Re: Matchbox 1/76 M16 MGMC

Posted: October 21st, 2011, 2:37 am
by Dirkpitt289
Well done John. I think it looks great. Very impressive

Re: Matchbox 1/76 M16 MGMC

Posted: November 2nd, 2011, 8:54 pm
by JamesPerrin
Arrived safe and sound. Lovely job John!