Wednesday, 15 February 2012

Hanging Gardens

A wonderful present arrived from my mate John Smillie yesterday; well, two presents.


The small complex of Eastern buildings is sturdily made from plywood, with removable interior floors.  He also gave me 8 or 9 small but very pretty fruit trees, some of which have multiple trunks.  I've just put these on the roofs, for the purposes of the photo.

Below is a view from the rear, I just love the buttresses.  If I ever get an Eastern city built, this will take pride of place.  Thanks, John! 


John has recently set up a blog about 45 Commando in which he served, and in which his son currently serves.  He is going to build a model, using a range of 54mm Marine figures he designed and sculpted himself,  to be presented to the Commando.  Have a look here.

He's also in the early stages of making some cypress trees for me.  No one makes any cypresses, to my satisfaction, and they are a key element of many mediterranean battlefields, so I await these with considerable anticipation!  I hope they will look something like the pencil-thin ones, below, which I saw on holiday in Greece.


John takes commissions, so if there's a building you've always fancied, he might well be up for it.  Drop me an email and I'll forward.

12 comments:

Paul´s Bods said...

WOW!! he made them from plywood!! They look like they are cast in resin. The detail looks top. Excellent buildings..really.
Cheers
paul

BigRedBat said...

Hi Paul, his terrain is top-notch! Cheers, Simon

Willie Anderson said...

Looks great quite a talent!

legatus hedlius said...

You're so right about the cypress trees! I'm just starting an Argonauts project and really need some of these.

kingsleypark said...

Very impressive!

If John was in 45 Commando then he will know Arboath very well which is where I am typing this. Not too many cypress trees in Arbroath it has to be said!

Geminian said...

Thank you for posting this Simon. Great pics. Must get myself a decent camera on of these days. As I said in my email to you, I know that they have gone to someone who appreciates my work.

@ kingsleypark
Yes I do know Arbroath quite well, though Condor has changed almost beyond recognition. It`s a pity that 45Cdo are moving away again in a couple of years. I was on the advance party when the unit moved up there from Plymouth.

Rodger said...

Great stuff, very impressed.

Caliban said...

Lovely; it's good to see John back again. Hmmm, I might need to ask him to make me a few olive trees for our Plataea game...

Cyrus said...

Great looking buildings.

BigRedBat said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Silver Whistle said...

Superb building and trees.

Galpy said...

that is one fine building great detail