Image: Front view

Image: Side view

Image: Running

Image: Blasted

Image: Damafe

Image: Detailed cockpit

Image: View from the street

Image: Groundwork

by Mark Sleppy

Yushiro Rescues Miharu from the J.S.S.D.F., Central Asia 2015

This diorama is based on the Japanese Anime T.V. series GASARAKI. It depicts Yushiro heroically rescuing Miharu out of her damaged mech as a surprised and confused Japan Strategic Self Defense Force (J.S.S.D.F.) ground team gives chase. As the story goes, Yushiro has come to believe that Miharu holds the key to understanding his mysterious and troubled past. Yushiro and Miharu find themselves hapless enemies in a Central Asian conflict between the U.N. and Begilstan. Yushiro is there as a civilian attached to a J.S.S.D.F. squadron fielding the new Raiden Tactical Armor mecha. Miharu is there with a squad of Ishtar MK. II “Metal Fake” mecha on a covert mission for the international conglomerate SYMBOL which is secretly supporting the Begilstani government. Miharu's mech was brought down by a shoulder-launched anti-armor rocket fired by the J.S.S.D.F. ground team. The delayed detonation warhead entered the upper chest, passed through the forward cockpit, and detonated in the left arm engine bay, resulting in the loss of the left arm. Miharu was lucky to not be seriously injured but left unconscious by the blast where upon Yushiro found and preceded to EVAC her.

Diorama Details:

• The mecha kits are the 1/35 scale Ishtar Mk. II Metal Fake Experimental and the 1/35 scale Raiden Tactical Armor Type 17 both by Bandai Co., Ltd. of Japan.
• The J.S.S.D.F. figures are from the J.G.S.D.F. Attack Soldiers by Hasegawa Model Kits.
• The ruined building and wall are the Vietnam/Middle East Villa Ruin set and the iron work gate and fence are from two Mansion Gates set both by Verlinden Productions, Inc.
• The rubble is a combination of Rock Debris by Woodland Scenics and scratch made fragments.
• The groundwork is Soil Powder by Arizona Rock & Mineral Co. over dry-wall spackle with a white glue wash.
• The dry grass is Winter Grass by Hudson & Allen Studio.

Custom Detailing:

• Rebuilt the cockpit of the Ishtar by adding interior side walls and a front deck. Reshaping the instrument console and laying the seat back down for easier entry. Adding a photo etched aircraft instrument panel and a five point harness. Installing cast resin side wall and hatch details.
• Created battle damage to the Ishtar as might be produced by a shoulder-launched anti-armor rocket with a delayed detonation warhead. The warhead entered the upper chest, passed through the forward cockpit, and detonated in the left arm engine bay resulting in the loss of the left arm.
• Added interior detail around the battle damaged area of the Ishtar including brass HO train parts, scale auto detailing wire and parts, and lead foil for the damaged structure.
• Included oil and hydraulic fluid leaks and puddles.
• Combined and modified the two Miharu kit figures to represent a limp and unconscious person.
• Modified the hands of the Raiden to hold the new Miharu figure.
• Moved the Raiden's 75mm recoilless rifle to a stowage hard point on the mech's back.
• Created additional ruined wall pieces from Sculpey III.
• Created concrete rubble and floor tile fragments from dry wall spackle.
• Added wire to the upper floor ends, columns, and rubble piles to model twisted reinforcement bar.
• Added weathering and wear to diorama components with artist oils, pastel chalk, and art pencils.