Ian - It does look like snow, doesn't it? It was certainly cold enough in the place.
Gavin - 'fraid it's the only way I can work. If it gets too fiddly or long winded, I get bored. I spent all my working life being self employed, every bit of work I did was on a price, so too slow or no work mean't less money for the wife! I guess the discipline is still with me.....not the wife bit though.
Patrick - I didn't note where I found the picture, but I do seem to remember it was taken during the Invasion of the Aleution Islands. My model will bear very little resemblance to the picture anyway, it just gave me that spark of inspiration.
Colin - I had to put in some water for my Cosford Buddy, didn't I!
Right, the weather is mild today, so I've made a good bit of progress.......
I used tile adhesive to start to get some contours on the polystyrene. Anything sloppy that goes hard can be used!
As sometimes happens at this sort of stage, something didn't look right. I decided to rip off the top ploughing, and increase the height of the right hand bank by one thickness of poly. I then re-laid the field. I know I keep mentioning this, but when making a diorama, no matter what size, never be afraid to rip things apart and start again
Here is the extra layer stuck on.
More adhesive to smooth things a bit. Still wet and shiny.
The adhesive sets in an hour, so this afternoon I was able to give the model it's first coat of paint ( Ordinary brown, water based fence paint)
See how, with a bit of prep. the undulations of the ploughing are starting to show? I think it looks better than a dead flat surface.
I think that's it for the basic base work. Now I can keep warm up in my den making all the bits and bobs. Not that I have any idea just what!
I hope you approve thus far, and thanks for looking in.
Ron