====== WWII Luftwaffe Secret Base (late war/what-if?) ======
The idea behind this diorama was to build a hidden/subterranean base as a store for some of the experimental and prototype fighters of the late war - some of the "what if?" designs which never made it to production.
After having gained the experience of working on the [[blog:models:french_armour_display|WW2 French countryside ambush]] and [[blog:models:luftwaffe_display|WW2 German Airfield display]], the idea of a larger, multi-level diorama hosting several of the advanced jets and rocket the German airforce was working on really appealed to me.
===== Key Design Features =====
* Two level - upper 'ground' level and a lower maintenance/storage area.
* The upper level will be both 'open', with a runway/taxi-way section, and the 'hidden' entrance to the base in a hill or cliff face. Space for at least one model on the taxi way, and one more in or entering/exiting the base entrance.
* The upper level should be removable so that the upper and lower levels can be assembled seperately
* The upper level should have a removeable cover over the entrance, so that models can be placed and then the hill/cliff/earth cover added
* The lower level will have space for 3 or so fighters
* The lower level will have a suspended walkway leading to a control booth overlooking the maintenance bay
* The lower level will have a narrow gauge rail link, to transport in parts/fuel/ammo
* The lower level will have a crane to offload cargo from the rail cars
* Some working industrial lights (probably LEDs) hanging from the ceiling of the lower level and as wall lights in the entrance of the upper level - to work off the existing LED strip illuminating the cabinet
A very early sketch of the multi-level layout:
{{:blog:models:displays:luftwaffe_base:img20250531203216.jpg?600|}}
==== Design - Upper Tiles ====
The upper tiles have the following features:
* Left tile is a runway, edged by grass and a small number of trees - it needs to be wide enough to place the widest model which I will use; Revel 1:72 Arado AR 555 (wingspan 29cm, length 22cm).
* Right tile has a short length of runway connecting to the main runway and the entrance to the base. The width of the widest fighter which will enter/exit the base is the 1:72 Revell Ho 229 (wingspan 23cm, length 10cm). This means that the entrance 'door' needs to be almost full width - therefore there won't be a support on the front (nearest) edge.
* Right tile is topped with a (removable) grass/earth roof to show that the entrance is recessed into a hill or cliff.
* Entrance door will be made in two versions - completely closed and partially opened; it will be designed to slide in from the side or to be removed completely
* Small section of raised walkway inside the entrance
* Several LED lights inside the entrance
* Another (non-moving) door recessed into the far right wall of the entrance, to indicate a lift down to the lower level
More detailed plans of the upper levels:
{{:blog:models:displays:luftwaffe_base:img20250601154634_crop.jpg?600|}} {{:blog:models:displays:luftwaffe_base:img20250601154551.jpg?600|}}
{{:blog:models:displays:luftwaffe_base:img20250601154618.jpg?600|}}
==== Design - Lower Tiles ====
The lower tiles have the following features:
* 'Concrete' floor throughout
* Left tile features section of rail (using OO gauge) for delivery of parts and spares - this is lower than the floor level
* Right tile has a recessed door, to the same dimensions of the door above it on the upper tile - 'off screen' there is a motorised gantry raising aircraft to ground level.
* Lighting suspended from i-beams/girders that 'support' the roof (in reality all weight is transferred down through the 6.5mm Plywood sides and back panel).
* Suspended walkways on the left and rear walls
* Personnel doorways on the rear wall in line with one on the upper tile - 'off screen' there are stairs behind the rear wall to go between floors.
This excellent diorama from [[https://www.uschivdr.com/shopping-categories/shop-display-diorama/|uschivdr.com]] also gives an indication of what the lower level is based on:
{{:blog:models:displays:luftwaffe_base:1.jpg?500|}}
{{:blog:models:displays:luftwaffe_base:img20250601173232_crop.jpg?600|}} {{:blog:models:displays:luftwaffe_base:img20250601173215_crop.jpg?600|}}
===== Parts and Materials =====
^ Part ^ Quantity ^ Cost ^ Status ^ Notes ^ Link ^
| Plywood (6.5mm) | 7x 420mm x 297mm | £29.84 | Ordered | Tile bases and walls | |
| Plywood (3mm) | 4x 600mm x 400mm | £14.00 | Ordered | Removable panels for lower tiles and 'roof' of entrance on right upper tile | |
| Pine strips (12x34mm | 2x 1000mm | £12.00 | Ordered | Brace to support two upper tiles | |
| Pine Strips (10x20mm) | 10x 295mm | £9.75 | Ordered | Support for walls to glue/screw to | |
| XPS Foam (10mm) | | | Spares | Wall covering, structures | |
| XPS Foam (3mm) | 3x 600mm x 200mm | £12.49 | Ordered | Floor covering, wall covering | |
| Polyfilla | | | Spares | Concrete floor | |
| Railings OO gauge (FA180403) | | £8.75 | | As hand rail for suspended walkway | [[https://www.modelscenerysupplies.co.uk/iron-railing-fence-oo-faller-180403|https://www.modelscenerysupplies.co.uk]] |
| Electrical Conduits | | £7.99 | Ordered | | [[https://www.scalemodelscenery.co.uk/lx430-oo-electrical-equipment-fuse-boards--sockets-detailing-pack---oo4mm176-10763-p.asp|https://www.scalemodelscenery.co.uk]] |
| I-Beam / Girders | 5x 275mm x 10mm | £8.98 | Ordered | Fitted to 'roof' of lower tiles to simulate roof supports | [[https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=I+Beam+girder+kit+model+scenery|https://www.ebay.co.uk]] |
| OO Gauge Diesel Shunter (Dapol C060) | 1 | £15.00 | | To be painted up similar to WR200 Wehrmacht (red / black) | |
| OO Gauge Flat Bed Wagon | 1 | £5.00 | | | [[https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=oo+gauge+flat+wagon|https://www.ebay.co.uk]] |
| OO Gauge Rail (340mm) | | £4.98 | Ordered | Hornby R601 double straight section; 335mm | [[https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=hornby+r601+straight|https://www.ebay.co.uk]] |
| OO Gauge Buffers | | | | End of rail section | |
| Rail Ballast | | | Spares | | |
| Pine Tree Armatures | | | | Around edge of runway tile | |
| LED Lighting | | £6.60 | Ordered | | |
| Static Grass | | | Spares | Cover 'roof' of entrace and around runway | |
| Plasticard (0.5mm) | 1x A4 | £4.86 | Ordered | Constructing doors, tunnel edges etc | |
| PVA Glue | | | Spares | | |
| Tile Grout (white) | 2kg | £12.78 | Ordered | Apply cement-like texture to XPS Foam walls | |
| Superglue | | | Spares | | |
| Screws | | | Spares | | |
| Normal Size Doors | | | Scratch Build | Build from plasticard | |
| Aircraft Hangar Doors | | | Scratch Build | Build from plasticard | |
| Ladders | | £8.99 | Ordered | Laser cut kits. Multiple sets of ladders for raised walkway sections | [[https://www.scalemodelscenery.co.uk/lx024-oo-industrial-ladders-oo4mm176-630-p.asp|https://www.scalemodelscenery.co.uk]] |
| Grills / Vents | | £5.99 | Ordered | Use wire mesh with plywood edges | [[https://www.scalemodelscenery.co.uk/lx286-oo-assorted-grilles---oo4mm176-8692-p.asp|https://www.scalemodelscenery.co.uk]] |
| Pipework | | | | | |
| Aircraft maintenance platforms | | | | Photoetch kits. To be arranged around aircraft | |
| Storage crates (large) | 2x 3 crates | £6 | | Anyscale 20mm packing crates (long) | |
| Storage crates (small) | 2x 5 crates | £6 | | Anyscale 20mm packing crates (square) | |
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