DFS 230 progress pictures

Some progress pictures of the DFS 230 and stone barn combination. the first picture shows the main base along with the two bases for the severed wing sections which have been covered with PVA glue and sand, along with some small areas of stones. This picture also shows the frame work of the roof of the barn made from cocktail sticks cut down and shaped with a craft knife, to give them a rustic look.

DFS 230's dramatic entrance

Some quick progress shots of the DFS and stone barn combination, testing out the position of all the elements going onto the base and making sure they all fit on. The idea is that the DFS nose has directly hit the window in the side of the bard and as the building is old the impact has brought down the hole side of the building and half of the roof.

The aim is to get the bulk of the DFS's finished this next week, so fingers crossed. Have a good Easter and lets hope the sun keeps shining.

DFS's dramatic arrival

Moving along with the DFS production line this time, this is the most involved and complicated of all the glider bases. The idea behind this base is to represent what has happened to one of the attacking German gliders when a 6 is throw for its landing.

Don't ask me why but I just got the idea in my head of Private Godfrey of the Somali land home guard, tripping over while carrying the sections lewis gun to it firing position, letting of a few random rounds, and by shear luck severing the control cables of the doomed DFS 230 swooping over head. It pitches right into a rustic stone building/barn with the nose going through the side window, after having both wings severed by some conveniently positioned olive trees, and as the roof collapses in on to the glider, the doors of the building blow out.

The top picture shows the various elements laid out, the 2 black dots on the CD show the position of the two olive trees. The stone building is built from foam core covered with fine stones from a fish tank, small size and nicely rounded. The roof beams were made from cut down cocktail sticks. as was the door frame and the window lintel. The middle shows the building in more detail.

*Just to say my Private Godfrey is part of my revised version of the renowned fighting unit that was Warmington on Sea home Guard. My version is made up of UK expats who are based in British Somali land but still determined to do their bit for the Empire.

DFS, we have lift of

Slow but steady progress on the DFS fleet, hindered by work being mad at the moment and a big DIY project on going at home. The pictures above show the flying DFS in position on its base. swooping in over the heads of the startled enemy. Still needs to be painted to cover up the white lines where the card is cut during construction, and to be dust and dirtied it up a bit.

The second from bottom picture shows the end of the wing on the tree top, still open and yet to be glued shut. The bottom picture shows the splint of art board bound to the two wires sticking out of the top of the olive tree and bound into position with masking tape, then covered in PVA glue to hold it firm. The art board splint goes three quarters of the way up the inside of the wing, to prevent the wing sagging over time and make it more resistant to damage.

I had my annual day out at the WMMShow in Wolverhampton in early March and purchase the bulk of my German paratroops from Mr Pig, also got some more Japanese and made a start on my Vietnam forces. Also a box of Valiant late war Germans. So a good start to the year on the Wargaming front. Even if my post count is a bit rubbish so far this year. One the Bathroom is sorted out hopefully thing will pick up latter in the year.

To finish of with a tip for those of you looking for expanded polystyrene to use in your terrain project, my local Home base DIY store is giving away polystyrene for free as you leave the store to use in plant pots. till next time.

DFS production line

Slow but steady progress on the DFS front. Thought I should post some update pictures from the factory floor, all of the basic construction of the six gliders is nearly complete, just need to finish of the skids, wing struts and the tail skids, then its onto painting them up.

Top picture shows all of the fleet in repose. Bottom left are the three which will be landed/landing. The middle one will be the in flight model. The other two have the doors open, for disembarkation of the fascist horde.

Second picture shows the base finished for the in-flight DFS 230.

Third picture gives a close up view of the open doors of the two landed models, quite easy to do with a sharp scalpel, just need to be careful when sticking them together.

Fourth picture shows the two crashed gliders A and B. C is a wine foil wing to be used as a crumpled wing on one of these models. Not sure yet what will be the final state of these two. One thought involves a shepherds stone hut coming into contact with the front of one of the gliders. When looking at some reference pictures of crashed DFS's, once the structural integrity is gone, they do seam to resemble a pile of sticks and canvas. So will have to see what I can come up with in that line.

The last picture is a three quarter angle shot of the two crashed gliders, the basic thought with these two, is that one will be survivable to crew and occupants on the throw of a dice and the other not. Well onwards and upwards as they say.

Flying DFS base

More work on the base for the flying DFS glider, following on from the picture at the bottom of the last post. Built up the ground with poundland filler and then PVA glue and sand with some strategically positioned granite chipping's as rocks. Then match pot paints in the usual three shades. Progress is being made on the other 5 gliders, but no pictures at the moment.

DFS in flight

I have moved onto the next DFS 230 this one is going to be in its final approach to landing, swooping in over the sun bleach terrain of Crete/East/North - Africa. The basic idea came to me after making up the first of my 6 DFS's. The model being made from card is very light. So the idea of showing a glider coming in to land popped into my head. The wing tip of the glider would be show just clipping an olive tree, this is the point where the glider is secured to the base, made from a mini CD.

The first picture shows the tree/grape stem with wire wound around the trunk of the tree and shaped into a loop to be glued to the base.

The second picture shows the tree and wire on the CD base and the small square of card glued into place to cover the hole in the middle of the CD. This picture also shows the wire and grape stem covered in masking tape to create the tree trunk. I cut the masking tape into thin strips, to make it easier to wind them around the trunk.

The next picture shows the wire hot glued onto the CD base.

The 4th picture shows a DFS wing blue-tack into position to give an idea of how the model will be fixed to the base. The two strands of wire sticking out of the top of the olive tree will be inserted into the wing. The last picture shows the base with a selection of sand grit and stones ready to be glued into position.