Sunday 9 August 2015

A late article about painting figures for the Chunuk Bair diorama


In our round-up of articles during the development of the Chunuk Bair diorama, we somehow missed this item in the April newsletter of the Wellington Branch of the International Plastic Modellers Society (Wellington branch) newsletter [PDF 3.3MB].

In a well-written article starting on page 8 of this newsletter, Richard Alexander relates how he painted sixteen figures for the diorama. He describes the unusual technique he used for painting the figures using an airbrush.

One of Richard's figures is the saluting officer in the command dugout at The Apex.



Friday 7 August 2015

One hundred years tomorrow since Chunuk Bair


Tomorrow marks exactly one hundred years ago that the events portrayed in our diorama actually took place.

The national ceremony to mark the centenary of the battle for Chunuk Bair will take place at 4pm tomorrow at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington.

There will be readings, choral interludes, wreaths will be laid at Tomb of the Unknown Warrior honouring the fallen from New Zealand battalions, and the ceremony will be concluded with a playing of the Last Post.


Order of Service 

Karanga by June Jackson MNZM
Whakamaharatanga, the Remembrance Bell, is tolled four times as members of the Official Party pay their respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior

COLOURS ARE MARCHED ON

WELCOME
The Honourable Maggie Barry ONZM
Minister for Arts, Culture & Heritage

PROLOGUE
Rear Admiral David Ledson ONZM (Rtd)
Chair, National War Memorial Advisory Council

ADDRESS
The Honourable Chris Finlayson
Attorney-General

CHORAL INTERLUDE
Chilton St James School Seraphim Choir performs “Ma Te Atua”

CYRIL BASSETT VICTORIA CROSS CITATION

FIRST READING
Bill Nathan delivers a reading to mark the participation of Maori troops at Chunuk Bair, in battle for the first time under the New Zealand flag

CHORAL INTERLUDE
Seraphim Choir performs “Po Atarau”

SECOND READING
Aziz Sevi, ChargĂ© d’Affaires, Embassy of Turkey.

CALL TO WORSHIP

LAYING OF WREATHS

NATIONAL ANTHEMS

THE COMMEMORATION

PRAYER

LAMENT
"We will remember them" is played by Piper Flight Sergeant Murray Mansfield RNZAF

FIRING OF VOLLEYS

THE ODE

ONE MINUTE’S SILENCE

THE LAST POST
The RNZAF Band plays “Nightfall in Camp”, including “The Last Post”.
All uniformed personnel salute
The flags of New Zealand and the Republic of Turkey are lowered

COLOURS ARE MARCHED OFF

CEREMONY CONCLUDES
The Principal Defence Chaplain concludes the ceremony


Diorama in 'Toy Soldier and Model Figure' magazine




The September issue of Toy Soldier and Model Figure magazine features a photo article about our diorama.

Below is one of the many fabulous pictures featured in the magazine.