Melsbroek B.58 diorama
hangar picture with Typhoon, probably October 1944
same hangar, view from other side
hangar picture with Mitchell, probably November 1944
color !
checking the depth with the Mitchell. I shortened the hangar with one span to fit my baseplate
Loosening the roof structure is quite easy
first dry fit looks ok
roof structure ready
backwall started
starting the fake house at the right with MAQUETT PVC FOAM sheet
Hangar structure primed. The fake houses that the Germans painted on the hangar are actually twice as high as normal houses would be, so that the whole looks smaller than it is.
roof and sidewalls added, baseplate started
front view. RAUCHEN VERBOTEN is selfmade decal
left fake house started
right fake house, no views available, so it is according to my imagination
RAUCHEN VERBOTEN !
Fake front testing
a picture found in a book of what could be the backside of the building
the left side transformed in a pen drawing and printed on transparent decal paper
same process for the right side
6 sheets of plastic cut to represent the sliding doors. The decal is first applied to these a a pattern for the colours: white, dark green, brick and plaster
Then the second decal is placed on the coloured door to get the drawing back. A grey painted ribbed plastic sheet is used to represent the corrugated siding
But the fake wall needs some supporting structure on the roof
adding fake roofs
roof construction extended
left side house under construction
right side house under construction
Left house side, no pictures available, so free imagination damaged wall
front view, door assembly preview
roof build-up preview
Airfix B-25 Mitchell started
B-25 Mitchell started, nice kit.
interior before closing the fuselage
behind the doors
View from the front
some "equipment" for inside the hangar :
backside of the hangar is complete
some vehicles to be placed in the diorama
Airfix Fuel truck
Water truck of my imagination, Airfix kit modified
Standard Tilly with Officer and WAAF
Tractor in the hangar
Crew with photographer
Potographer with crew
Airfix kit, Eagle Cal decals
Just a small white line on the Z
left interior
background inside
right interior
crew in front of the plane ready for a photo
Comments
50 9 September 2020, 14:33
Erik De SmetLukasz, when you look at the pictures, you can actually see the curved roof of the hangar behind the 3 windows in the middle. The gpm hangar kit is fantastic. The airfix Mitchell is also a very nice kit.
10 September 2020, 05:32
CuajeteIt seems that the GPM hangar is beginning to be a plague in Scalemates 😄.
Great idea and fantastic project. Following!
27 September 2020, 18:54
Dominik Weitzeroh yes, Looks good! nice Progress! please make some closeups from the "Rooffront"
6 October 2020, 06:27
Germen Vgreat, and then a couple of RAF 320sqn Mitchell's, looking forward for the result.
12 October 2020, 18:39
Erik De SmetOne Mitchell will be there, going for FW227 NO-P which was lost on Jan13, 1945 and had a mixed Dutch & Belgian crew
12 October 2020, 19:16
Gary KitchenHi Erik. This is amazing, Just wow! I don't think I'd originally realised the whole 'fakery' aspect of the original. Are there any references you can point me to on the web for background history please? 👍
23 November 2020, 14:54
Erik De SmetGary, I found the pictures on :
warbirdinformationex..ewtopic.php?p=630671
Melsbroek airfield was built by the German shortly after the occupation of Belgium, and captured by the Allies in 1944. Several squadrons operated from this airfield known as B58
23 November 2020, 19:17
Erik De SmetSome "equipment" for the hangar: ladders, jigs, a trolley, a tank with oil, a damaged Typhoon propeller, left behind by the previous squadrons, a lookalike compressor, a rack with spare parts for the Mitchell. All my own imagination, but inspired by the pictures.
30 November 2020, 11:09
Erik De SmetAfter 2 years, I finally decided to complete this project. I added some pictures of the vehicles I want to use.
31 January 2023, 14:36
Łukasz GlińskiLove the pic #56 👍 That hangar interior is impressive, considering adding this to mine 😄
6 February 2023, 14:25
Erik De SmetLukasz, I used a cheap led strip with 5V USB connector, and I removed 1 of 2 , otherwise the light was too bright.
6 February 2023, 17:30
Łukasz GlińskiI meant the furniture, dirty windows etc But lighting is impressive too, sth I can't learn being an electrician's son 😋
6 February 2023, 17:35
Album info
RAF Mitchell in German camouflaged hangar late 1944 on Melsbroek airfield . The hangar was extensively camouflaged as a row of buidlings by the Germans. The hangar was used in autumn 1944 by the RAF, first for Typhoons and afterwards for B-25 Mitchells of 320 Dutch Sqn
