Airfix D-Day Battlefront Diorama - from Miss "Armyairforce"

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armyairforce
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Airfix D-Day Battlefront Diorama - from Miss "Armyairforce"

Post by armyairforce » Fri Oct 09, 2020 5:34 am

Back in December 2017, I entered the Airfix Christmas competition and won this diorama set. I didn't enter for me, but for my daughter. Having MV's in the family, she's grown up with Jeeps and World War 2 history from a young age. I started her model making just before her 4th birthday with a Red Arrows Hawk, to help her to learn patience, following instructions, dexterity etc. Since then, we've made a few projects together, mostly her own work, but a huge amount of guidance and the occasional extra pair of hands from me.

The D-Day diorama wasn't started until a year later, shortly after turning 9. The set includes a Sherman and a Tiger tank, but we didn't think it realistic for both to be on the base together without the Sherman being a smoking wreck! Instead we left the Tiger off and replaced it with the Airfix WIllys MB.

We made a few other modifications along the way and added a bit more detail, again with most of the work being her own. I did some detail painting on the figures, made the camo net, sprayed clear gloss coats for the decals and matt afterwards, but the rest was all her own work. We finished it in early September this year. The results are shown below.

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Re: Airfix D-Day Battlefront Diorama - from Miss "Armyairforce"

Post by armyairforce » Fri Oct 09, 2020 5:38 am

She's done a great job with building sessions around an hour when she was younger, working up to a whole day towards the end of the project. Having the Sherman, Jeep, House, base etc all as separate projects helped maintain interest as it wasn't months of just building before getting to paint and decals. Each part was made as a sub-assembly to completion.

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A 1/35 scale Jeep is a possible next project.
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Re: Airfix D-Day Battlefront Diorama - from Miss "Armyairforce"

Post by Tapper02 » Fri Oct 09, 2020 5:45 am

That’s a pretty impressive diorama for a 9-11 yo kid! What a fantastic lesson in patience and determination. Great job!

-Tom
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Re: Airfix D-Day Battlefront Diorama - from Miss "Armyairforce"

Post by armyairforce » Fri Oct 09, 2020 5:51 am

Thank you. We really enjoy modelling together. Here's a previous project, completed just after she turned 8.

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Re: Airfix D-Day Battlefront Diorama - from Miss "Armyairforce"

Post by Ed Roberts » Fri Oct 09, 2020 9:18 am

Wonderful work and marvelous family project. You both should be very proud. Well Done.

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Re: Airfix D-Day Battlefront Diorama - from Miss "Armyairforce"

Post by armyairforce » Fri Oct 09, 2020 1:33 pm

Thanks. We have a lot of fun while building and it has provided some great dad/daughter bonding time. This is one of our favourite builds so far, the Revell 1/72 Fokker DrI of the Red Baron and of course, his archenemy; Snoopy!

Snoopy and his kennel were scratch built.

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Re: Airfix D-Day Battlefront Diorama - from Miss "Armyairforce"

Post by Tim Shanteler » Sun Oct 11, 2020 8:41 am

You're a good dad.....
Tim

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Re: Airfix D-Day Battlefront Diorama - from Miss "Armyairforce"

Post by Chuck W. » Sat Oct 17, 2020 10:52 am

I have not been able to see any of your photos in any of your posts.

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Re: Airfix D-Day Battlefront Diorama - from Miss "Armyairforce"

Post by armyairforce » Sat Oct 17, 2020 11:16 am

Chuck W. wrote:
Sat Oct 17, 2020 10:52 am
I have not been able to see any of your photos in any of your posts.
If you are using Chrome, it blocks http content in pages. Firefox works ok. I'm in the middle of transferring all my websites to a new host that is https.
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Re: Airfix D-Day Battlefront Diorama - from Miss "Armyairforce"

Post by Lee Bishop » Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:32 am

Great work for any age modeler.
I love the camo net, you rarely see that modeled....
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