1917 Observation Balloon - 1/72 scale

Model of a 1917 observation balloon secured by ropes and maneuvered by soldiers in front of a forest

A humorous drawing of a German soldier observing a sausage-shaped observation balloon through binoculars

An observation balloon at the Souge camp in Martignas-sur-Jalles, Gironde, in 1917. These balloons were designed by Albert Caquot, who drew inspiration from the German "Draken." A French engineer, he was also the designer of the internal structure of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro...

A military observation airship floating above soldiers at Camp Souge in 1917The vintage photo used to create the diorama...

1917 airship model currently under construction, with a segmented fuselage made of white foamThe body of the balloon is carved from a block of extruded polystyrene and then cut into several pieces, which are subsequently glued together...

A segmented, sculpted white foam airship envelope, currently being shapedFirst rough sanding of the entire piece...

Elongated fuselage of the 1917 balloon, white, shaped and marked with reference points prior to paintingTime to sand again...

Model of the 1917 balloon's tapered envelope covered with strips of white paperGluing paper strips...

Model of the elongated envelope of the 1917 balloon, covered with strips of white paperThe strips are coated with wood glue...

Model of a 1917 airship envelope currently under construction, with a light gray, elongated hullAfter drying, sanding, and filling the entire piece...

A papier-mâché model of an airship placed on top of an old sepia-toned photograph

Diagram of the balloon's structure and its position in the photo...

Model of a 1917 airship envelope made of gray papier-mâché with a tail section

More sanding, spackling, and the start of painting...

Model of a gray airship with tail fins, based on the 1917 Balloon, viewed in profile

Paint touch-ups with primer...

Model of the 1917 airship envelope with tail section, currently under constructionAnother coat of primer...

Close-up view of a model of a 1917 military balloon resting on its stand

Finishing the structural sketch and starting to apply gray paint with an airbrush...

Painting

Model of an airship painted silver-gray with newspaper maskingDetails of the painting...

A model of a 1917 airship currently under construction, placed on a calendar

Painted in two shades of gray all over the ball...

Model of a gray airship envelope resting on a calendar, with a rear tail section...with an airbrush...

Gray envelope featuring a 1917 model of an airship, placed on a calendar

White-based lighting on the top of the balloon...

Top view of a model of a gray observation airship from 1917

Painting the cockade and finishing touches. Paints used: acrylics, Humbrol and Rembrandt oil paints in tubes...

An old photograph of a military observation balloon from 1917 floating above a pine forest

Setup shown in the photo and collage...

The vehicle

Model chassis with a six-cylinder engine and wheels being assembledBuilding the vehicle chassis from scratch. The only thing added is a motor...

Gray model of the trailer platform with motorized winch for the 1917 observation balloon

Manufacturing... 

Scale model of a truck chassis with engine and radiator grille, Ballon 1917 project... from the cash register...

Model of an antique military vehicle with a driver figure and visible engine

The finished vehicle with its driver, ready for painting...

Model of a 1917 airship covered with a rope netting, in front of a forestAttach the first ropes to the balloon one by one...

Ropes

Model of a 1917 gray airship covered with a mesh of wire ropeDetails...

A 1917 military observation balloon tethered by cables above a pine forest

Setting up the gondola...

Model of a 1917 observation airship with a gondola and a vintage vehicle in front of a pine forest

Vehicle positioning...

Action Figures

Model of a 1917 observation balloon secured by ropes and maneuvered by soldiers in front of a forest

Gluing the figurines—modified Preiser figures—and finishing up the rigging...

Model of soldiers holding an observation balloon with ropes in 1917 in front of treesDiorama of soldiers operating the cables of a reconnaissance balloon near a vehicle-mounted winchDetails: Please note that the balloon and the figurines are painted black and white to match the background photo...

Framed diorama depicting a 1917 airship being maneuvered from the ground by soldiers in front of a forest

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