1914 Militaire yard find

[Leighbo]

Hi All


Here I go with my first build post, this is of a 1/16 1914 Militaire motorcycle from a manufacturer called Entex. The idea will be to simply rust the bike up and make up a small but hopefully interesting base as if the bike had been found in someones overgrown back yard.






The kit is almost as old as me, dating back to 1975, so there was no surprise that there was a lot of flash to be trimmed back, some sink holes to be filled and also the plastic was very fragile but nothing that couldn't be overcome with filler and sanding. The trickiest part of building the bike so far was having to make up sub assemblies for painting separately, which was airbrushed with my usual choice of Vallejo Modelair paints with some Chipping fluid in between coats to enable me to get down to either the rust, aluminium corrosion or bare wood (yes wood!) on the cart wheels. I have added used enamel washes to start the weathering, more will be added later on when I get the base started so I can match the bike with the base.


















I'll post some more progress when I get on with the base


Thanks for looking!

 

[Polux]

Interesting!!!


I will be watching this one

 

[Fenlander]

You've go to love the stabilisers Never seen either the kit or the bike before, interesting project.

 

[Leighbo]

Hi all


Been busy on this build, this time on the base, scratch built a rusty air conditioner unit from the spares box, an old rubbish bag from the corner of a real bin liner filled with rubble and a paving slabs from a piece of wood covered with part of an egg box to create texture as well as a few other items.




















Ater gluing soil to the base I painted everything up and did a first coat of weathering  before adding various grasses to the base, trying to mix up height and texture to create some interest.











i still have plenty to do, I want to spend plenty of time adding the details, something I can skip over easily if I'm not careful!


Thanks for looking, any comments always welcome

 

[Fenlander]

Wow! This has really come to life.  Looking really good.

 

[papa 695]

Just seen this great work Leigh

 

[Leighbo]

Thanks guys

 

[johnm93]

That looks brilliant, mate.


As a suggestion - how about the tatty remains of an old canvas sheet over the bike?


I have seen a few real bikes a little like this and they all seem to have that in common.

 

[Leighbo]

I appreciate the input John, I did consider a tarp but decided against it on this build.


I have actually just finished up this one, spent some extra time on detailing the weathering and rust to add the final touches 
































I think that'll do for this build, I've been building a lot of 1/35 military lately and needed a break so it was good to have a play with something different!


Thanks for looking 

 

[flyjoe180]

That is a fantastic looking diorama Leigh. Very nicely posed and photographed too.

 

[eddiesolo]

Lovely dio and a unique subject regarding the bike of that vintage. Like it very much.

 

[noble]

this is looking amazing, I like the small details, they really help make the diorama realistic.


scott

 

[grumpa]

Really like this one  What particular product did you use for the grass? Very convincing and to scale IMO.......Jim

 

[Leighbo]

Thanks for the kind comments guys, this was my 1st 1/16 vehicle and I don't think it'll be my last! 


In answer to your question Jim the grass are off cuts from fake fur dyed green from  the last diorama I made, as below, as well as various miniatur products, dried moss from the garden and some flock too. I mixed them together to try and create a more random and interesting mix of heights and airbrushed them afterwards to tie the colours together.