A Malta diorama....

[Lucky13]

As these few pics put some ideas in my head, I thought that I'd ask....

.......and, what is it hanging underneath this Spitfire?

Pic 1, would look good on its own, maybe add those guys in pic 4.
Pic 2 and 3, those scenes you could mix together...
Then, should one go with a blast pen like in pic 1 or pic 5?? Hmmmmm.....

Pic source: Malta Spitfire V's -1942, Their Colours and Markings by Brian Cauchi..

Oh, I put this thread here, as I didn't see a subforum for dioramas...

 

[Airframes]

Either of the blast pens would be a rather long job old chap, even if taking short cuts, but fairly simple to make.
PIC 1 appears to be a sand bag wall surrounding either a second, stone block wall, in that mellow Maltese stone, or rectangular, 4 gallon petrol cans, filled with sand.
PIC 5 is a double, spaced wall of stakes and 'wrinkly tin', filled with rubble and sand, not unlike similar structures found on Luftwaffe fields in France.
PIC 6 is a wall of sand-filled petrol cans, probably backed, on the outside, by either a sand and earth bank, or another 'wrinkly tin' fence.

The stone blocks and stacked petrol cans could be simulated from moulded 'sheets' of plaster, modelling clay or putty or similar, or from carved faomboard, as a 'face' for a thicker backing, and then dressed appropriately, whilst the 'wrinkly tin' pallisades could be made with model railway plastic sheet mouldings and rods from BBQ skewers, with a false top dressed with 'rubble'.
I made a typical Fighter Command blast pen, many years ago, with concrete and earth/grass banks, made from cardboard formers covered in scenic materials, and a inner wall of sand bags made by scribing and moulding scenic modelling clay for the smaller sand bagged areas, and carving foamboard for the main walls.. The finished article looked very authentic, but even with the 'short cuts' employed, it took a long time to do.

 

[vikingBerserker]

I really like the first one. Is the last pic showing dual drop tanks?

 

[Lucky13]

Much obliged for your input old boy, have a large snifter what...!
....also been thinking of some modelrailroad materials that can be used....

 

[fubar57]

Here ya go boyo...O scale corrugated roofing...Model Railroad Fine Craft Kits by Builders In Scale - Scratchbuilding Parts and Materials - Metal Roofing and Siding
Get your planning hat on.

Geo

 

[herman1rg]

Looks like fun

 

[Lucky13]

If you say so G-Man, O scale, that's 1/48 and S scale 1/32, right?
Hmmmmm.....wonder what the size of those blast pens would be...

 

[Lucky13]

The Chooch Enterprises stonewalls could possibly be used as well.....

Walthers Model Railroading - Search Results

 

[Crimea_River]

Pic 1, is it my eyes or are there two cannons in that wing?

 

[Lucky13]

Nope, there's two cannons in each wing....

C-Wing, I think....

 

[fubar57]

Initial Vc's had two cannon in each wing and after initial combat use, they switched to one cannon and two mg in each wing.

Geo

 

[Lucky13]

Another good one....

Source: Spitfires Over Malta by Brian Cull....

 

[Capt. Vick]

Yeah what is that exactly? Two drop tanks?

 

[Crimea_River]

Initial Vc's had two cannon in each wing and after initial combat use, they switched to one cannon and two mg in each wing.

Geo

Yeah, I know that. Just that pics in service seem pretty rare.

 

[Wayne Little]

A rarity makes for a good modelling and Diorama subject then! get to it Jan!

 

[Airframes]

A rarity is Jan not being in the pub on Sunday! No diorama today then ....................

 

[Lucky13]

Hey, beer helps in the planning, to get into the zone as to speak....

Pint old boy!

 

[Wurger]

Jan's favourite inn...

 

[Lucky13]

Totally!

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

So NOW we know what the two tanks mount under centerline in the first post are. Thank Wurger!