Completed Trench Sections

[Andrew Belsey]

The nettles are Fredricus Rex ones. I’ve adapted a pair of pliers to fold creases along the centre of each leaf where the spine is. This makes the leaves look more real. If painted them a bit too.
Andy

 

[Jed]

More great work Andy

 

[Steve Ski]

Excellent progress!

 

[Andrew Belsey]

My German is in his snowy home now with his Tannenbaum.

I've been working on the muddy groundwork of my bunker.

Muddy footprints lead into it.

I've installed an LED ,which will have a lamp sitting on it to light the internal space.

I'm working to get these done well before my September deadline for book publication. The main work for me lies in the mine tunnelling sections and figures. I'll get the bunker figures done first. (Mike Butler has 4 figures of mine - doing to them what I can only dream of! THANKS Mike!!)
Andy

 

[Andrew Belsey]

Here are the six completed sections. I expect that you can guess which my favourite figure is??

 

[s.e.charles]

I don't know how you could favor one over the other; they all convey the theme so clearly.

 

[Andrew Belsey]

I've been working on my German bunker. Painting the figures and all their equipment.

Here's the front, which you sadly can't see in the display box. but that allows me to light it with LEDs.

I'm also working on the mines. The figures are taking shape and I've made a trolley for removing spoil. You'll also notice that this one has internal LEDs too.
The figures need arms of course and I have a few odds and ends to make still.

The figures are basically cut to the poses I want. Now I'll have to add putty to blend the altered limbs. The LEDs sit in the wall face behind candles.

Here's the explosive charge, waiting to be set off once the tunnel is tamped (sandbag walls) in several places.

So my next task is to get those figures ready. This is the tenth and last section which will appear in my book.
Andy

 

[Nap]

Hi Andy

WOW!!! ...a "like" isn't enough ....love the amount of sheer talent you show and the details and cut away presentation , like the little things you include like the Christmas tree , muddy footprints, mouth slightly open on the sleeping figure and all the trench bits and bobs

Like the tunnelling one look forward to more

Figures all look great as well

Thanks for sharing wonderful to see

Look forward to the book especially ...do let us all know the publishing and available date

Happy benchtime

Stay safe

Nap

 

[Andrew Belsey]

Thanks Nap (Kev)
Credit for the open mouth goes to Nino Pizzachemi. I've used the Tommy's War dead artilleryman. All I did was alter his arms a little to make a 'dead' man into a sleeping man. The blanket hides that he's got a Private's uniform on rather than an Officer's. Junior Officers would sometimes wear puttees to try blend in with the troops and give their life expectancy a little longer. I do like making the bits and bobs though.
Andy

 

[KenBoyle]

Impressive Andy! The amount of work is overwhelming. Simply Amazing!

Cheers,
Ken

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Lovely too see Andy, especially those tunnellers, as this is a role so many from my community were involved in.
Small details with wording help give more context too each scene as well.
Not long now I’ll start working on that young sleeping officer & his mate.
When more normal times return I do hope to see each of these in person.
We’ll meet again...
MikeNZ

 

[Andrew Belsey]

Those of you on Facebook may have seen Mike Butler's live video sessions of how he paints using a wet palette? He's been delighting me by painting some of my figure conversions for these sections. Look how he's brought this figure alive. I raised a Tommy's War (Nino Pizzachemi) dead artilleryman from the dead. Now 'Jimmy' is really alive with Mike's paintwork! Look at the texture on that blanket! I was just a bit of metal foil when I sent it to New Zealand. This figure will eventually sleep in my dugout model. Mike is now painting this chaps friend 'Uncle'.
THANKS Mike. Looking forward to seeing next week's videos.

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Those of you on Facebook may have seen Mike Butler's live video sessions of how he paints using a wet palette? He's been delighting me by painting some of my figure conversions for these sections. Look how he's brought this figure alive. I raised a Tommy's War (Nino Pizzachemi) dead artilleryman from the dead. Now 'Jimmy' is really alive with Mike's paintwork! Look at the texture on that blanket! I was just a bit of metal foil when I sent it to New Zealand. This figure will eventually sleep in my dugout model. Mike is now painting this chaps friend 'Uncle'.
THANKS Mike. Looking forward to seeing next week's videos.

An honour mate & enjoying these projects.
“Uncle” has a special surprise touch I’m hoping to pull off too.
Naming of these guys comes from recent film “Journey’s End”.
Inspiring, poignant & salutary viewing.
MikeNZ

 

[Nap]

Hi Andy and Mike

Great collaboration between you guys ...enjoyed the videos and the painting ,..great result as always ...you can almost feel the textures on that blanket and the itching !

That Pea is particularly realistic.....

Look forward to more

Happy benchtime

Stay safe

Nap

 

[Dr Bison]

Holy cow! Where did you get that pea from? You can't find any here in Germany these days...
Na - seriously: What spectacular brushwork! You're definitely one of my painting heroes, Mike. Your painting and Andrew's modelling really complement each other. This is one of my favourite threads on PF.
Cheers
Karl

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Holy cow! Where did you get that pea from? You can't find any here in Germany these days...
Na - seriously: What spectacular brushwork! You're definitely one of my painting heroes, Mike. Your painting and Andrew's modelling really complement each other. This is one of my favourite threads on PF.
Cheers
Karl

Hi Andy and Mike
Great collaboration between you guys ...enjoyed the videos and the painting ,..great result as always ...you can almost feel the textures on that blanket and the itching !
That Pea is particularly realistic.....
Look forward to more
Happy benchtime
Stay safe
Nap

Thanks Karl & Nap enjoyed this quick project with Andy.
Next one has a bit more to tackle.
And Karl - yep this is a favourite thread of mine too. So next few projects will be shared by Andy.
Glad he looks ok to you both too.
By the way - sadly the pea has to be put down :-(
MikeNZ

 

[housecarl]

Do you have a link to Mike's video please Andrew?
Many thanks,
Carl.

 

[Borek]

Absolutely amazing thread Andrew , great work on all the trenches, it's amazing and extremely interesting. Because I am not very interested in this period, I did not know at all that the trenches and fortifications were already so sophisticated at that time. Absolutely great show, thanks for sharing

Cheers Borek

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Do you have a link to Mike's video please Andrew?
Many thanks,
Carl.

Hi Carl,
only on my Facebook at present
https://m.facebook.com/michaeljbutlerNZ
Will look at adding to Facebook this week.
Early days, I’ve done 4 Live sessions so far.
Having fun learning how to share in this way.
MikeNZ

 

[Andrew Belsey]

My tenth section is painted so I'm nearing a completion! This one was split in two. The top half shows 'clay kicking' a tunnel.

The lower half has an ammonal charge under German lines. The tunnel is now being blocked with sandbags.

Here are the two halves together.

Here are the ten sections together - almost there!