Completed Trench Sections

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Hang in there mate!
All these bumps shouldn’t conspire to getting in way of your craft.
Looking forward to next ‘care package’.
And updates on the trench scenes.
MikeNZ

 

[samson]

Haven’t been here for awhile ..... awesome

 

[Andrew Belsey]

I've not posted for quite a while. Life has been dishing me up a pile of cold sick! I busted my foot at Euro. I've finally said goodbye to wrangling with insurance after our house flooded March 2018 and they assigned cowboys to rebuild it. That took 19 months! I had a smaller fall on wet concrete and then ran into a plate glass door on holiday. Ambulance trip and multiple injuries, but 11 stiches to my brow - Don't do it! Life finally got quieter and then I got Shingles. Anyone who's had it gives you a knowing, tortured look. A month on and the pain is finally subsiding. Lots of distraction!!

Anyway, on to happier things... An update. I just posted a parcel to New Zealand. It contains some stuff for Mike Butler, which I'll wait for him to tell you about in his own good time. It also has 4 of my converted Tommy's war figures, which he will paint for me!!!!! I'll post some pictures.

My British Dugout has 2 figures, one sleeping and the other reading a map.

The dugout is now lit with LED's.

My Reversed Trench has two figures. Originally the Lewis gunner was straight from the box....

..Until Mike persuaded me to follow an illustration from an Osprey book. It was harder than I'd anticipated as the gun sits into his belly. I've reversed his respirator bag and made a hose from guitar wire. He now has a Hornet head and a Kellerkind Lewis gun.

I had to add a bag to the officer too, which had a strap pulled over his back.

Andy

 

[fogie]

Crikey !.......they say that stuff like that is character building - and I guess it must be true for you to put it
all behind you and get back down the hole (so to speak). I suspect many of us would have given up or turned
to alcohol or something. These latest efforts are masterful....so good !!!

Mike

 

[MCPWilk]

Superb examples of the art of modelling.

Mike

 

[Gary_81]

Wow that sounds like some trials and tribulations you've been through. The trench sections though do look absolutely amazing, having worked in the museum industry for a few years these really would do any military museum proud as they are so educational and artistic.

Gary

 

[Andrew Belsey]

Thanks.
I've still not found a museum. Most would want me to donate them and won't touch 'loans' these days. I'm still working on them.
Thankfully I've only sought comfort from the occasional alcohol. My Christian faith is what has enabled me to cope, although I have to admit to times of despair. I'll get down my hole and get on with it!!
If you see what Mike has done to the latest Model Cellar figures, then you'll understand my excitement about him painting these ones.
My book is well in hand. I've been able to write while laid up at times and got the text virtually done. Now I have to finish the models! I'm excited about the book. About 45,000 words and 300 colour photos. It's been a good escape from pain!
Andy

 

[housecarl]

Superb Andy.
Have you tried IWM North?

 

[Dr Bison]

Hi Andy,

Have been marvelling at your work ever since I first saw it in "Military Modeling". I'm definitely getting a copy of your book once it's out! Keep up your inspiring work (and the fruitful Anglo-Kiwi connection...).

Cheers
Karl

 

[fogie]

Andy, I believe the value of this project really can't be overstated. It's far more than a collection of beautifully detailed figure dioramas - it has
become historically and socially significant. It's already been a century since now and the time you're representing - all first hand witnesses have
gone and our connections are fading. As that distance stretches into the future, our understanding diminishes and the importance of your project
for posterity becomes greater. All power to you elbow, sir.

Mike

 

[Nap]

Hi Andy

A amazing thread and with amazing modelling ,theses trenches are packed full of details and fully deserve to be in a museum for all to study

The book sounds great as well and as you said a good escape

Happy writing and benchtime

Nap

 

[Andrew Belsey]

Thanks guys.
I think it unlikely that they'll end up in IWM. I wish them well as a charity trying to compete with other attractions, but find them frustratingly rigid in their outlook. I am not allowed to use any of my reference photos from IWM in my book. I am only allowed to buy photos from them under licence. They don't have the details I want for the book, therefore they don't appear in the book. Passchendaele Memorial Museum thanked me for promoting their museum and allow me to use my photos. IWM shoot themselves in the foot!
My book gives me the opportunity not only to explain how I make the models but I can also expand on the history behind each model that they describe visually.
Andy

 

[Kevtk135]

Sorry to hear about all the misfortune. And as my wife had Shingles, I understand the pain. She used to say she thought it was *less* painful for her just to peel her skin off...

The models are looking terrific. The lights added to the dugout is also awesome and really makes the scene.

 

[Steve Ski]

Gee Wiz Andy, this is incredible ground work and Mike has really banged out those figures too. Spectacular work Gents, this truly is museum work!

Good to hear you're not stopping and punching through the curve balls life has thrown your way. Sorry I wasn't closer, I'd have helped you get that house back in order correctly, and I work for food, HA! Rib eye and shrimp is what I prefer, lol. I spent many years rubbing mud, (concrete), hanging sheet rock, framing walls, covered decks, commercial and residential, etc., and right now I'm redoing the kitchen (building rustic hickory cabinets) and flooring for my new boss, my wife, HA! We had water in our basement back in 2015 which required a new deck to throw the snow eight feet away from the foundation wall, but it went like clock work because I had spent many years busting my ars learning how to do it "correctly". I grind my teeth every time I hear someone has been taken to the cleaners by a "hack" with a set of nail bags, the scums rarely ever get's punished by the industry, it's shameful.

Hang tough Andy and keep smiling, standing by for more. Cheers, Ski.

 

[Andrew Belsey]

Just another quick update. I've added cross beams to my German trench - another 'typical' German thing. I had to carefully remove the old shorter ones to add longer twigs from my garden.

.

This is how it used to look. The figure is still in early stages of painting.

This is the German trench at Hawthorne Trench, Elham, Kent, England. (They have larger British Trenches. Well worth a visit.)

 

[John strachan]

Superb

 

[Jed]

Great stuff Andrew,it's amazing what some groups will do to shoot themselves in the foot,sad really

 

[Andrew Belsey]

Just a quick update on my trench sections.
My German trench got a smattering of snow as the figure was dressed up. The background has snow on it as well. The figure is not completed , especially his face and hands. I paint figures so little that I wanted to refresh my skills before tackling them. He'll be wearing mittens. I've also added a Christmas tree. (He's adapted from Tommy's War 1914 Christmas Truce pair.)

My German bunker is coming on too. I've made some muddy footprints leading into it and added a sign. The front vegetation is more complete now with camouflage to disguise the bunker.

Andy

 

[Nap]

Hi Andy

Thanks for the update pics ....one word really ....AMAZING modelling in all areas

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[fogie]

First rate stuff yet again and a joy to see - the nettles look so real...a touch of genius.

Mike