Road of Life

[Leighbo]

Hi Guys, time for a new diorama project.

You have probably heard of the Road of Life, but for those who haven't this was the name given to the ice road constructed each year over the frozen Lake Ladoga which gave the only access to the besieged city of Leningrad. Leningrad was under siege by the German Army for 29 months and this road was used to bring in supplies and evacuate women, children, the sick and the elderly. I won't go into all the detail here there is plenty more online to read, but it is really interesting how this was accomplished!

I plan to do a diorama showing a Gaz truck ferrying people out across the ice road and am starting with this Miniart kit

The kit looks extremely well detailed and the few parts of the engine and chassis I have started with are top quality, so can't wait to get more done!

Now I've just got to work out how to model snow and ice, but I have got a few plans up my sleeves

Thanks for looking

 

[Bullet21]

Interesting topic for a dio, can't wait to see it progress.

 

[geegad]

i want one of these miniart trucks so will be keeping a close watch mucker

 

[Leighbo]

Thanks Gee

the truck is extremely well detailed, while i fixed the chassis and engine together i thought what a shame that most of it would be hidden!

Awesome value at £23 from scale model world too!

It would be a good candidate for showing it being repaired or serviced.

Ill stick some piccys up soon

Cheers

 

[Leighbo]

Hi Guys

been busy on this diorama, I built the kit straight from the box, and what a detailed kit it is, Miniart have really gone to town on this kit with some extremely fine detail. The chassis in particular has tons of fine parts and the wheels that go together in slivers really look authentic. The only bits I have to add are the fine catches etc... which I will leave until I have sorted all the passengers out so I don't break them off!

Talking of passengers I aim to show a truck returning from Leningrad on the Road of Life ice road with some old timers being evacuated and a soldiers holding a lamp on the ice guiding the way.
I have gathered together all the relevant civilian figures I can find and have been converting them to be seated in the back of the truck with thick wire and milliput.
I also had to mess around with the driver and passenger that come with the truck to make them fit, why is it that manufacturers figures rarely fit the vehicle they are supplied with?
The drivers door being open is intentional, apparently many trucks went through the ice so a lot of drivers kept the door open for a quick exit!

I have given quite a bit of thought and practice to get the ice looking correct, I bought a white picture frame, took the glass and backing board from the back and mounted them on top of the frame. I then spread white PVA glue over the glass in different thicknesses to make the surface look uneven, like a real frozen lake, where the glue is left thick it becomes opaque, which adds more depth to it. The base board was then painted with a mix of blue, black and white paint, leaving some colour definition on it, the glass was then placed on top.

I have some Deluxe scenic snow to add at a later date as if the snow has been cleared from the 'road'.

Anyway heres the pictures so far

Thanks for looking, any comments welcome

 

[mr lucky]

What a fantastic project! I too have been thinking about getting one of those trucks, they look fantastic!

Erik

 

[ScaleModelMadman]

Nice job on the ice!

That kit was a very detailed build for sure, wait until you do the headlights/horn and the mounts and wires for them. I cursed a few times doing mine. lol

 

[Leighbo]

Thanks Guys

Erik, I really recommend the truck, as I said before it is very detailed and excellently moulded.

Ken, I had a couple of tries on the ice but got there in the end, I do love it when you rack your brain for a way to portray something and manage to work it out with stuff lying around!
I know what you mean about the fiddly parts, I've already broke a few so far, should be fun painting a weathered whitewash

 

[spud]

oh this is fantastic Leighbo. i have the late version of this truck. ill find a use for it some time .

 

[andrei383]

very nice work Leighbo! interesting scene that youve chosen to portray!

 

[geegad]

looks quality leighbo cant believe the quality of these kits for the price they are going to be a cracking little dio when its done keep it up

 

[Bullardino]

Great job on that ice, thanks for sharing

 

[TRM]

Nice thought with this one Leigh!! Figures looks great so far!!! Will be hanging out to follow along on this!!

 

[Leighbo]

Thanks fuys, i'll be keeping you posted!

 

[Junkie]

This is really interesting. Figure conversions are looking great, love the old man. Great work on the ice too.

 

[Leighbo]

Hi Guys

Quick update, I did some more work on the figures, I fleshed out the limbs and then added the skirts and coats. They need a bit of tweaking but I think they should look good, hard to tell until its painted, might give them a prime next to see what they look like

Also I added the stowage, just some empty drums, jerry cans strapped to the roof and a bucket.

Thanks for looking any comments welcome

 

[geegad]

love what you've done with the figures bud the old bloke looks amazing

 

[Leighbo]

Evening All

Quick update on this build
I've added the fiffl bits to the truck and got it ready for airbrushing, I left off the lights and fragile bits so they don't get broken.

I shot it with 3 shades of vallejo green, darkest underneath to lightest on top and then glossed it. Once the gloss was dry I thinned down some white and airbrushed it quite patchily to give a base layer for the worn whitewash (after masking off the underneath, cabin and cargo bay)

Next I used some of the dark green to add some chipping and thinned some to make the whitewash patchier still. Then I used some more white to add more definition to the whitewash.

I'll continue to layer the white and green until I have the right effect

Thanks for looking

 

[JohnSimmons]

Mate that looks lovely!

 

[TRM]

Sweet WW buddy!!!! Moving right along!!!! ;D ;D ;D