A 1:700 scale 1944 Mare Island Navy Yard

[j.mahieux]

Some more d�tails on October 1944 Mare Island

Thanks to Piotr of "Master model" who send us this wonderful gas bottles

[j.mahieux]

Hello All !
Here is the continuation of the ARD in some photos.
At first, put the rails on the deck.










As for all ARD, it is logical to place a "subject" in the belly of the animal, in this particular case a small GATO typifies Trigger or Silverside in their aspect 1944/45.
I needed quite a lot of time to draw these parts and Bruno splendidly engraved them.











To be continued...

[Kym Knight]

I was blown away when you guys started this, nothings changed!

[JIM BAUMANN]

working right up to the Telford deadline I see!!

Splendid!

Jim Baumann

[j.mahieux]

working right up to the Telford deadline I see!!

Splendid!

Jim Baumann

I was blown away when you guys started this, nothings changed!

Thank you for your comments , yes Telford is in 1 week , still many work to do!!!
Jean and Bruno

[Sr. Gopher]

This is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen on the internet, and certainly on the forums!

[PeteM]

Speechless

[j.mahieux]

Before -temporarily- readying this Mare Island Diorama for its voyage to
Telford, some last overflights, just to check all those years of work look
like almost as we expected




















To be continued

[Cliffy B]

Words can not express the level of greatness displayed here, keep it up

How large is this monster? Can you take some overall photos please?

[bgire]

This "monster" is about 32" by 21".
Now it's -almost- finished I did some statistics...

Over the last five years I etched 53 250x100mm metal sheets including a little less than 6,000 metal parts for a total weight of 5kg (10lbs)!

_Bruno

[LE BOSCO]

Over the last five years I etched 53 250x100mm metal sheets including a little less than 6,000 metal parts for a total weight of 5kg (10lbs)! :_Bruno

Bruno ,henceforth, I am going to call you "the IRON MAN"
Jean I lIke your grasshoper Details, is really far pushed
A big "bravo" has everything them two
best regards
Nicolas

[raggs]

Bang! You two crazy evil geniuses have gone above and beyond!

From the research into all these vessels & others that were associated with this shipyard,
and the build, the passion shows.

As a former Bay area resident, Ya nailed it!

Congrats & BEST OF LUCK IN TELFORD!


Paul

[callen]

Guys I had no idea you had revived this thread. Goodness! You should have told me! I think really we have one for the history books. Should I be the first to say it? Most impressive naval diorama in 700th this year? this decade?
Ever...?
In any scale?

Really. This is a lifetime achievement, or very nearly so. Years and Years and Years of work. It's the kind of work that gets you thinking really... I mean, there are virtues in building a long series of kits, this subject and then that subject... but to pool one's resources into one gigantic project that spans so much time, wow, what a payoff. They ought to be minting a special award for you all at Telford. Heck, they ought to Name an award after you! The Gire-Mahieux Award for most visionary diorama...

I am honored to know both of you. Really. This diorama shows what truly can be done with the 700th scale when the only limits are our own imaginations. Your collaboration is the glory of this scale and this hobby. Congratulations gentlemen.

[raggs]

YOU EVEN DETAILED THE INSIDE OF THAT PIPER CUB!?!

Lord knows the next post is the locomotives actually run on coal......

[Stefano Salesi]

almost 5 years of work..

that's simply devastating. your diorama is great, i can't tell anything else.
you settled a new level in diorma making, that's it.

[bgire]

Now this dio is -almost- finished, time to tell "Who Did What":
Both of us, Jean and Bruno have been working on this:

Jean:
- had the original idea ten years ago and started it... with paper parts
- did the design drawings for ALL the parts from official documents: various period plans and the huge picture collection from NavSource. Spent hundreds of drawing hours. Also hundredth of hours looking at the background details of the thousands of NavSource Mare Island photos to get the right building or equipment.
- did teach Bruno how to "migrate" from his original engineer style drawing to illustrator drawing, more suitable to photo etching.
- did the whole assembly and painting

Bruno :
- joined the project five years ago and convinced Jean to drop paper building for custom photo etching
- did teach Jean how to design a photo etched drawing
- did help with documentation (I'm more fluent in English), particularly with the Gato subs.
- did ALL the etching, some parts in two, even three versions, totalizing 53 sheet with about 6,000 parts.
- did the masters for the YD-33 barge and the ARD and did the corresponding castings.
- did the decals

Both :
- Always worked together to get the best from each other. Emulation will remain as the best point of this partnership. Lot of fun also

Speaking for myself: just compare the early etching for the Endicott dredge (2007) and this little Piper Grasshopper (2011) to understand the amount of progress in my etching.
_Bruno

[Guest]

Any Progress?
Would like to see more from you in your diorama

[bgire]

No planned progress until 2013.

Jean's original diorama is finished and will need additional detailing next year.
Mine (the second one) is being built slowly, as I want to concentrate on many other projects I left behind during our five years rush. Should be ready by 2013 too.
_Bruno

[gtbred]

you guys make my head hurt! i guess that is a good thing.

[Guest]

Absolutely amazing work!