Here's another recent build, which like the ME262 build, is based on Charlie Stross' series of urban fantasy books, named after "The Laundry", a version of Mi5 which deals with threats from occult and eldritch horrors from beyond space time. This book series and its fictional universe are informally known as The Laundryverse. In a nod to George Smiley's The Circus, the Laundry is so nicknamed since it was once located above a Chinese laundry.

This diorama features many Stross fans' favourite female characters. Called "Regrouping on the Ghost Roads", it shows the characters taking a break from a mission in "the Ghost roads": inter-dimensional passages through space-time. It's based on a lovely little Zvezda kit for the UAZ-3909 mini van, while the M113 is a vintage, early 80s Academy kit - both have full interiors.



This is the first time I made a real diorama, and I cheated: it is based on an architectural model made by my wife. I created a sloping trackway and crumbling plaster on the temple walls using a load of earth and small pebbles from my garden, bonded to the card using copious amounts of PVA glue. This was then sprayed white with an airbrush - next time I do this I'll use a cheap spray can! Given it was my first time, I learned a lot, and honestly I got pretty much exactly what I wanted, so I was happy. Much can be achieved when one lowers one's standards and expectations!

As usual there is a somewhat ludicrous back-story / head canon behind this build, which will make no sense at all if you aren't deeply into Charlie Stross' books. I have put the back-story below but feel free to ignore this! I will say however that when I posted a thread about this build on Mastodon, Charlie was kind enough to boost it (as he has done with the last couple of Laundry-oriented builds), and actually asked a suitably nerdy question: "why an M113, when the British Army would have sent an FV432 or CVR(T)?" To which the answer is that it's not really a British Army operation - it's a freelance project using some of Persephone Hazard's fleet of military vehicles.



The next diorama will be of an amphibious vehicle carrying mermaid intelligence agent Ramona Random and a number of emissaries from the Deep Ones who want to query why the land people are disturbing the peace of the ocean depths with the incursions by the Elder Gods. Should be fun! 

THE LUDICROUS BACKSTORY:

Here, Persephone Hazard and Iris Carpenter are running a joint operation to take out an occult threat, with support from Evelyn Starkey (and her sidekick, Johnnie McTavish), and Cassie Brewer (and two of her Alfar occultists), the redoubtable Mhari Murphy. Mo O'Brien is along for the ride, alongside old friends and new Laundry staff Reverend Peter Wilson and his wife and Mo's old friend, Sandy.



They have also run into Bob's old acquaintance Dr Yoko Suzuki as she is on another Miyamato Group mission to recover and if necessary neutralise an escaped, errant Yokai. I will probably do another diorama with Dr Suzuki and her Japanese Defence Forces truck at some point.



Iris Carpenter has brought along her daughter and former cultist, Jonquil, who is now an Instagram influencer who photographs anomalous creatures and phenomena, such as the Alfar mage materialising into the ghost roads. McTavish has brought along veteran US Postal Service Occult texts inspector Bill McKracken.



The diorama features two of Hazard's extensive vehicle collection: a Russian UAZ-3909 "bread loaf" mini van and a converted, repainted M113 APC.



I don't think it would be possible to collect these characters together within the plot line of the Laundryverse but I thought it was fun to do anyway . Last time I promised to do a grimoire-accurate summoning circle but it didn't quite fit, although you can see a hint of one underneath the APC.

Very impressive work, even if I didn't understand a jot of what you're talking about.   

But where did you find the somewhat specialised figures?

Thanks - this is a somewhat niche subject matter 

The elves and mages are from a guy called Eldritch Factory on Etsy. Like many similar 3D printers, he mainly does minis for tabletop gaming and D&D. However, unlike other printers, he also does other scales, including 1/35, although it took a couple f purchases before I figured which of his sizes was 1/35 - I got a couple of 1/32-ish. So he did the witch at the front, the flying mage on the right parapet and the yoga-elf on the left of the parapet.

The modern tourist figures and the Japanese female soldiers are from various Chinese printers on Ali Express - they are very cheap, and OK, but not up to Eldritch Factory standards, which paint up a treat.

The Edwardian civilians and the wasteland girl with the dog are from various commercial kits.

I'm still rubbish at eyes. 

For a first real diorama this is pretty damn good mate 👍
It's a nice balanced layout with being to busy while being busy at the same time 
One thing for future reference the engine cover on the M113 only opens up completely..it's either open or closed 😆
Yep I'm liking this one   

Like the idea of the diorama to cross over several genre's

Nice work 

That is nice work   

Quote from: Pressure on February 22, 2025, 09:27:20 AMThanks - this is a somewhat niche subject matter 

Do we have a Whiffie for "understatement of the year" ?   

As for eyes ? They are the most difficult thing to get right out there, and the odds are if you get one of them to look ok the other one will not match it 

Mind you I knew some people who could get decent looking eyes on 15mm and 25mm wargames figures 

I heard a tooth pick isn't a bad tool for doing eyes and yes it sucks painting eyes 

Quote from: Wardukw on February 23, 2025, 01:11:56 AMI heard a tooth pick isn't a bad tool for doing eyes and yes it sucks painting eyes 

The issue is that you can get too much paint on it and you end up with an uncontrollable blob of paint. Also you have to constantly sharpen the tip so run the danger of getting very find sawdust in your paint. If your hands are steady enough then a very fine, excellent quality brush, or so I was told.

Quote from: NARSES2 on February 23, 2025, 01:21:41 AM

Quote from: Wardukw on February 23, 2025, 01:11:56 AMI heard a tooth pick isn't a bad tool for doing eyes and yes it sucks painting eyes 

The issue is that you can get too much paint on it and you end up with an uncontrollable blob of paint. Also you have to constantly sharpen the tip so run the danger of getting very find sawdust in your paint. If your hands are steady enough then a very fine, excellent quality brush, or so I was told.

Oh there's that steady hand thing ..maybe 20 years ago but not anymore..the tooth pick works great on 1/16th figures ..ive used it for that and was quite happy with the results.
You don't want to know the price of good quality paint brush here Chris ...it's freaking scary mate .

Quote from: PR19_Kit on February 22, 2025, 08:36:43 AMVery impressive work, even if I didn't understand a jot of what you're talking about.   

I'm with Kit on this!

Quote from: Rheged on February 23, 2025, 06:26:38 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on February 22, 2025, 08:36:43 AMVery impressive work, even if I didn't understand a jot of what you're talking about.   

I'm with Kit on this!

Yes.  

 

Quote from: Wardukw on February 23, 2025, 01:27:21 AMYou don't want to know the price of good quality paint brush here Chris ...it's freaking scary mate .

Can be pricey everywhere. I normally refurbish my brush drawers at SMW as they normally have a couple of specialised traders doing good deals. However since I discovered Brush Magic I don't need to replace brushes quite so frequently.

Great diorama! You should take a look at [https://www.youtube.com/@lasercreation-world1981/videos]Laser Creation world[/url] for other inspiration.

I recognize some of the figures; Masterbox and maybe Miniart. The figure of Cassie Brewer is definitely Masterbox, since I built a copy and had to extensively modify it to make it look like a young girl.

As for eyes, if you have a lot of figures, especially in the background, use Buzzbomb's method and paint in the eyes with a brown ink or thinned dark flesh.  It works great.  Maybe Brian can post an example.

Quote from: NARSES2 on February 24, 2025, 05:29:54 AM

Quote from: Wardukw on February 23, 2025, 01:27:21 AMYou don't want to know the price of good quality paint brush here Chris ...it's freaking scary mate .

Can be pricey everywhere. I normally refurbish my brush drawers at SMW as they normally have a couple of specialised traders doing good deals. However since I discovered Brush Magic I don't need to replace brushes quite so frequently.

We've got a company here called Gordon Harris..it's a dedicated art supply store...they have a great range od brushes as you'd expect but man o man...some those brushes are over the hundred dollar mark and there not anything flashy either ...they've got De Vinci brushes from very cheap and very not cheap 
Not cheap as in $35 notes for a 0003 brush...but damn there good ..they are sable so there ya go .