Please regard the photos as a work in progress also. They're pretty bad, but I hope good enough that you can provide some critique and suggestions. When I'm finished, I promise I'll take a lot more time with the final photos.

I finished sculpting half of the cistern and some decorative features a few weeks ago. Bob Stein of Time Machine Miniatures did a great job casting them for me. Some sanding was needed to make things fit - I didn't do a good enough job of trying out the initial fitting of all the bits. But it is now assembled and painted a bit. The hand pump I made from parts and plastic tube and a little MS has been finished and painted green. The only reason I went with green is that I had a nice reference photo of one and it was painted that color. Why not?

All the rest of the vignette is painted some, certainly no where near complete. The figure has barely been started.

A question - It looks like to me the vignette lay-out needs to be widened about two inches on each side and the backdrop of the village shops need to be lifted a little and straightened. For the photos I put it on a bit of wood, but it doesn't fit properly, so I have a bit of planning and fixing to do on that. Do you agree it needs to be widened - both more pavement and more village shops backdrop?

SO - suggestions please!

All the best,
Dan

Hi Dan,
Really coming along in great style. The little fellow looks like a true French soldat.
The backdrop is absolutely exquisite.
Has the lamp post gone for good?
Good work, very well done.
Cheers,
Keith

Nice job, Dan. Came out great!

Bob

Hi Dan,

this piece is actually looking very good. In my opinion, the grouping around the cistern, bicycle and poilu is the key feature here. Instead of widening the base, any chance to bring the backdrop closer? How about leaving it out? Alternatively, raise the backdrop elevation by placing it on stairs to create further interest.

Rgds Victor

Very good work.

Marc

Many thanks Marc, Victor, Bob and Keith -

Yes - no lamp post. I'm trying to stay as faithful to the photo as possible. It's not a "re-creation", more an homage or something like that.

Interesting idea bringing the backdrop closer - I may try that. It would solve a bunch of problems. Originally I thought I should try to come close to the distances shown in the photos, but doing that results in a long skinny vignette. Difficult to photograph well also. I've got to think about that.

Any thoughts on the painting? The color choices are a mix of mine and my wife's. My color vision is way off but hers is spot on.

All the best,
Dan

I also like Victor's idea. Looks good Dan.
Cheers
John

Cheers John! Much appreciated! I'm thinking pretty seriously about that.

All the best,
Dan

Looks excellent Dan really like the way its going.
Steve

Cheers Steve!

All the best,
Dan