UMS "Agram" : Agram 2021 – A Year In Review < Articles < Hobby

Agram 2021 – A Year In Review

Marko Paunović, 30th December 2021

This year, 2021, has come to an end. The year we celebrated our 18th birthday, we came of age and faced various post-earthquake and pandemic challenges. The impossibility of using our main space, but also the epidemiological limitations of the number of people in the space of the ZZTK cinema hall that we use on Wednesday evenings, followed us for the second year in a row. Consequently, the gaming part suffered greatly, while the hobby part flourished.

We started the year at a fast pace, publishing not one but two publications. The first was Miniaturism in the Corona era - Collection of articles from miniaturism and model making, and the second was a monograph on the occasion of the 18th birthday of the Association - Our first 18 years, 2003. -2020.

EXHIBITION OF MINIATURES AND TABLETOP SCENERY AGRAM 2021

In parallel with the publication of books, we prepared our annual Exhibition of Miniatures and Tabletop Scenery, during which we organized a weekend miniature painting workshop and for the second time in this period our international Black Queen Hobby and Miniature Painting Competition. As always, the exhibition showed a cross-section of the work of the Association, its members, participants in its courses and workshops and members of the FB group Miniature Painters Croatia. Numerous miniatures for table strategy games, board games were found in a large number of showcases, and the entire showcase is dedicated to award-winning exhibits from previous miniature competitions. Several showcases were dedicated to projects that the Association has been implementing for 18 years, such as the Library and Reading Room UMS "Agram", the Workshop for making spatial models and the Workshop for coloring miniatures.

The opening of the Exhibition took place on Thursday, February 18, 2021, starting at 6 p.m. The exhibition was organized on the occasion of the eighteenth birthday of the Association, and during the opening there was a promotion of books:

- Miniaturism in the Corona era (Collection of articles from miniaturism and model making), authors: Marko Paunović, Ana Polanšćak, Goran Krunić, Jure Cukar, Matija Koružnjak, Dalibor Čavić i Krunoslav Belinić

- MONOGRAPH: Our First 18 Years, authors: Marko Paunović, Ana Polanšćak i Goran Krunić

In addition, during the Exhibition, we held an election session of the Assembly of UMS "Agram", where we amended the Statute and elected a new leadership of the Association.

BLACK QUEEN HOBBY AND MINIATURE PAINTING COMPETITION 2021

Posljednji vikend u veljači bio je rezerviran za naš Black Queen Hobby and Miniature Painting Competition. I tu smo, zbog epidemije Covid-19, imali neke promjene u formatu natjecanja.

The biggest change in format was the registration process. For the first time, contestants had to register via email. Then they were given the exact time when they should come to check in (Saturday from 8:30 to 11:00). This limited the number of people at the scene at the same time.

MINIATURE PAINTING WORKSHOPS

The layout of the Vladimir Horvat Gallery allows for workshops during the weekend. Therefore, on Saturday after the official opening of the competition, three one-hour demonstration workshops were organized and three on the Sunday before the awards ceremony. This year the workshops were held in the cinema hall. The lecturers' work was filmed with a camera and projected on a projection screen in the hall. In this way, social distancing was maintained. Also, this setting meant that the workshops were limited to 10 participants, so registration for the workshops via e-mail was mandatory.

SCULPTING 101 WORKSHOP

Date and time: Saturday 27. February 2021, 12:30-13:30

TUTOR:Ana Polanšćak

CONTENT:

The Workshop will cover modelling of three separate textures:chainmailfurscalesThose three textures are the most common when converting or even assembling your fantasy, SF and historical miniatures. Ana will show her method using two-component epoxies (like Green Stuff, Miliput etc.).

USING COLOURS TO CREATE ATMOSPHERE

Date and time: Saturday 27. February 2021, 14:00-15:00

TUTOR: @Matija Koružnjak

CONTENT:

The workshop deals with the process of selecting, mixing and using colour in order to create an ambient atmosphere using miniatures in 28-32mm scale. The theoretical part covers the reasoning behind the selection of a specific palette with regard to the colour theory, the concept of saturation and ambient lighting as the main postulates of practical application, while through the practical part of the sketching process we show how to turn an idea into realisation.

DILUTING PAINT 101

Date and time: Saturday 27. February 2021, 17:00-18:00

TUTOR: Jure Cukar (aka @John Alton)

CONTENT:

This workshop will cover the basic ways to manipulate paint. How to prepare out-of-the-bottle acrylic paint, using various diluting ratios, to be used for layering, washing and glazing techniques as well as how to properly use those techniques on your miniatures. The tutor will use the Lord of the Cats bust by Michael Kontraros Collectibles.

VEGETATION 101 WORKSHOP

Date and time: Sunday 28. February 2021, 10:00-11:00

TUTOR: @Marko Paunovic

CONTENT:

The workshop will cover the process of making a simple base/terrain. The focus will be on recreating life-like vegetation where the tutor will show how to use various types of vegetation. The vegetation used will be from @Martin Welberg Scenic Studios and @Diorama Presepe.

HISTORIC MINIATURES 101 WORKSHOP

Date and time: Sunday 28. February 2021, 11:30-12:30

TUTOR: @Dalibor Čavić

CONTENT:

This workshop will cover the process of painting 28mm historical miniatures. The tutor has chosen British colonial infantry from Anglo-Zulu wars (1879) by Perry Miniatures to explain the theory behind finding historic sources for uniforms as well as practical application using various techniques like basecoating, washing, highlighting and detailing with acrylic paints.

AIRBRUSHING 101

Date and time:Sunday 28. February 2021, 14:30-15:30

TUTOR: Mario Ogrizek-Tomaš (aka @Cuvar Boja)

CONTENT:

The workshop will cover the basic techniques for working with an airbrush. Topics we will address: • myths and legends about miniature painting with an airbrush (mythbusting) • airbrush anatomy, • which compressor settings to use, • basics of using dual action airbrush (trigger control), • colour consistency and troubleshooting, • zenithal undercoat, • precision spraying, • cleaning, • safety at work.

Speed Painting Contests

There was a speed painting contest organised on Saturday. Participants (up to 10) had an hour to paint a single miniature. Thanks to our sponsor Hobby Chest who secured a huge donation of painting materials by AK Interactive, we were able to hold a Speed Painting Contest with the following rules: - contestants had an hour to paint a miniature - all contestants painted the same (type of) miniature - we provided the paints by AK Interactive - we provided the brushes by AK Interactive

WEEKEND MINIATURE PAINTING WORKSHOPS

On 20.-21.2., we organised a MINIATURE PAINTING WORKSHOP – Horses, Wargs and Birds.

The weekend workshop covered the basics of painting three kinds of animals. The main focus of the workshop was painting of the fur textrue, long and short animal hair as well as feathers. For this, the tutors chose some appropriate miniatures of horses, wargs and birds for the attendees to paint with acrylic paints. The lectures were addapted so the tutors could spend equal ammount of time on each participant and therefore could addapt to all categories of miniature painters (beginer or advanced).

First the tutor sitting behind his desk explained and demonstrated each step of the painting on his example. His work was transmitted over a camera and a digital projector onto a screen in the cinema hall. The pupils watched and listened to the tutor but could also stop him/her and ask questions. Then, the pupils paint their own miniatures copying what they have learned while the tutors walk among them and check their progress. The following themes were covered:

1. Horses – short hair and long hair

2. Wargovi – fur and snout

3. Birds – feathers, beak and claws

The club provided all with the necessary equipment, paints, tools, brushes, lighting, glue as well as a set of paints.

Due to the pandemic, the following epidemiologic measures were enforced:

Correct wearing of masks was obligatory. The Disinfectant was at hand for all to use freely. Camera nad projection screen was used to ensure the social distancing while lecturing and separate tables for all the participants moved 2m apart to ensure the social distancing while the pupils paint.

Miniature painting workshop - bust of Krieger was held over the weekend of 22-23.05.2021. in the cinema hall of the Zagreb Association of Technical Culture on Trg žrtava fašizma 14. Both days the workshop lasted from 10 am to 6 pm and there were a total of 10 participants who painted the bust of Death Guard of Krieg.

The main focus of these lectures was the coloring of camouflage, textures of rough textiles, leather textures, metals and weathering. Guided by this, the leaders chose a suitable post-apocalyptic bust that all participants were afraid of. As part of the workshop, acrylic paints and oil effects were used.

The workshop included the following thematic units:

1. Setting up the bust at the base

2. Preparatory work on the bust and the base color

3. Textile dyeing and subsequent camouflage

4. Metal parts and weathering

5. Leather belts and holsters

6. Glasses with glare

7. Decals

Miniature painting workshop - bust of Hellboy was held over the weekend of 18-19.09.2021. in the cinema hall of the Zagreb Association of Technical Culture on Trg žrtava fašizma 14. Both days the workshop lasted from 10 am to 6 pm and there were a total of 10 participants who painted the bust of Hellboy.

The main focus of these lectures was the coloring of demon skin, the texture of rough textiles or leather parts and special effects such as OSL. Guided by this, the leaders chose a suitable bust of Hellboy. As part of the workshop, acrylic paints as well as oil effects were used.

The workshop included the following thematic units:

1. Setting up the bust at the base

2. Preparatory work on the bust and the base color

3. Painting demon skin

4. Leather / textile coat surfaces

5. Special effects: OSL acrylics

MINIATURE PAINTERS CROATIA – FB group

At our FB group Miniature Painters Croatia, we organized two online competitions in coloring miniatures: Summer Painting Competition and Winter Painting Competition.

WEDNESDAY HOBBY CORNER

Wednesday Hobby Corner is conceived as a sum of free activities in the space used by UMS "Agram" on Wednesday night. Most of the activities are open to everyone, with some benefits for members of UMS "Agram" such as storing miniatures in display cases between appointments or borrowing books from our rich Library. All activities were available in each of the terms to the extent permitted by the current epidemiological situation.

1 on 1 Workshop

For all those who wanted to learn how to paint miniatures in structured and carefully designed workshops, as part of the Hobby Corner, we organized One on One Workshops. The One on One workshop has several modules designed to introduce beginners to every aspect of this hobby as soon as possible, but also to enable more experienced miniaturists to learn / practice more advanced techniques in agreement with the leaders. Work programme: 1st term - introduction to paints, glues and brushes, composing miniatures and primers 2nd term - basic layers and shades (basecoat and wash): leather, textile, metal, wood 3rd term - details and highlights 4th term - making and painting the base and vegetation

Terrain Workshop

As part of the Wednesday Hobby Corner, a terrain workshop was held, in which our youngest participants learned to make terrain scenery this year. Work programme: 1. term - introduction to tools, materials and technical drawing; base making and texturing 2. term - construction of the building, roof, tiles and windows; facade texturing 3rd term - making a fence, undercoat, painting 4th term - introduction to technical drawing, placing grass and other plants

The Bust Saga

The Bust Saga is the forerunner of a program called Agram Group Build. Our Goran and Marko started making and painting two of the same busts. They painted exclusively on Wednesdays during the Wednesday Hobby Corner, and we followed their work in articles on the UMS "Agram" page.

AGRAM GROUP BUILD

As part of the new UMS "Agram" project called Agram Group Build, which was created after Goran, Kruno and Marko discussed joint projects on Wednesdays and how cool it would be to gather more people on Wednesdays to work on something together… This gave birth to the idea of Group Builds. In 2021, the NY / Gotham diorama from the 1980s was launched. And two more group builds are in preparation - dieselpunk flying island and coloring 4 busts on the theme of the Three Musketeers.

AGRAM ATMOSPHERE

Hoping to bring the gaming part of the population back to the Association, we started the Agram Atmosphere program earlier this year. Unfortunately, the program was shut down by the leader's decision to leave the Association. However, even the limited maintenance of the program brought us a handful of good battle reports that were published on our site!

Domagoj's Slow Grow League

And just when we thought gaming was unfortunately over, our Domagoj appeared with the idea, will and enthusiasm to start something casual, uncompetitive and suitable for beginners, something that eventually crystallized in Domagoj's Slow Grow League in 40k. The boys play with small armies and are rewarded with points for newly painted figures. In this way, fast, short games are played, but also the coloring of the figures is stimulated for the general enjoyment of both the player and the rest of us who are watching from the sidelines!

PERFORMANCES OF OUR MEMBERS IN COMPETITIONS

On Saturday, August 28, 2021 organized by ZMMS, the 16th Model Making Cup Zagreb was held at the Electrical Engineering School in Zagreb. The organizers allowed us to award the Best of Show by UMS Agram. The award was in the form of a medal and our collection of articles from miniaturism and modeling Miniaturism in the Corona era and went to Mr. Roland Vlahović.

On Saturday, September 11, 2021 organized by HUVM, the 16th Modeling Cup CK2021 was held at the Gračani Elementary School in Zagreb. Highlight of the day is certainly the stand of Miniatures.si, which, in addition to sales, also organized the only workshop at this year's competition led by Luka Jančić on their bust of firefighters. This was the first “place” where that bust could be purchased. In addition to the bust, in a metal box, there is a USB with about 5 hours of video material with instructions for coloring the same bust. A real hit for beginners and those who want to learn more. BEST OF SHOW chosen by members of UMS Agram: Mr. Angelo Milella

At the end of October and the beginning of November, our Matija Koružnjak participated in the Rotten Harvest competition of the company Wyrd Miniatures, where he won first place in the Spooktacular category. CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN!

VISITS TO MODELLING EXHIBITIONS

Our members also visited two model exhibitions during 2021. The first was the World Competition of Ship Modellers in 2021 and the exhibition "Rijeka 2021" which was held from 12 to 19 September at the Exportdrva in Rijeka. Our longtime member and one of the founders, Berislav Tušek, visited the competition.

The second exhibition entitled Fly with us was organized by the Trešnjevka Model Aeroclub in cooperation with the Zagreb Aviation Technical Association Rudolf Perešin, Zagreb Technical Museum Nikola Tesla and the City of Zagreb - City Office of Education from 11 to 23 October 2021.

COOPERATIONS AND APPEARANCES OF THE ASSOCIATION IN 2021

Our members Nino Marasović and Mislav Gorupec had the honor to lend their miniatures of their respective Breton Armies for the exhibition Sword Once Upon a Time ... "directed" by the Croatian History Museum in the Klovićevi dvori Gallery. The exhibition was open from 19.05.2021. to 07/18/2021

On Saturday, September 25, 2021 organized by the Zagreb Association of Technical Culture, the 10th Days of Technical Culture were held at the Cultural Center Dubrava, Dubrava 51a. UMS "Agram" performed with a presentation of the work of our various programs such as 1 on 1 Workshop, Agram Group Build and Library and Reading Room UMS "Agram".

UMS "Agram" has established cooperation with the coffee bar Cherry Tree, where the works of our Marko Paunović have been permanently exhibited since October. In two, now illuminated, windows, you can see several multi-award winning works with the theme of The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars.

The traditional Christmas exhibition by ZZTK was held this year, from 14 to 23.12. at the Vladimir Horvat Gallery, Trg žrtava fašizma 14. At the invitation of the Community, we gladly responded to participate in the Exhibition with our model Frostgrave, which fit well with the theme of the Exhibition.

ARTICLES ON MINIATURISM AND MODELLING

Finally, our most comprehensive program should be mentioned. Online publishing of articles from miniaturism and modeling started in 2020 and continued in 2021 with over 60 published articles this year. We would like to thank all the members for their work and commitment in making miniatures and models, but especially in taking the time to photograph the work in progress and write articles for our site.

Latest articles

AGRAM LEGO SECTION - Orient Express

          array(2) {
  ["Article"]=>
  array(10) {
    ["id"]=>
    string(3) "443"
    ["member_id"]=>
    string(3) "100"
    ["title_eng"]=>
    string(35) "AGRAM LEGO SECTION - Orient Express"
    ["title_hrv"]=>
    string(72) "AGRAM LEGO SEKCIJA - Orient Express prvo predavanje i početak izgradnje"
    ["mask_eng"]=>
    string(35) "agram_lego_section_-_orient_express"
    ["mask_hrv"]=>
    string(71) "agram_lego_sekcija_-_orient_express_prvo_predavanje_i_pocetak_izgradnje"
    ["content_eng"]=>
    string(1437) "
	

	

	

	

	
"
    ["content_hrv"]=>
    string(2980) "
	U srijedu 16.4. u sklopu naše Agram Lego Sekcije započelismo sa serijom predavanja paralelno sa izradom LEGO makete vlaka Orient Express!

	Prvo predavanje u ovoj seriji je počelo u 18:00 i trajalo je otprilike 45 minuta u kojem nas je naš Mario upoznao sa pojavljivanjem vlaka u pop-kulturi.

	

	

	Ulaz na predavanja je besplatan i otvoren za sve te prijave nisu potrebne.

	

	

	Izrada makete je rezervirana za članove Agram Lego Sekcije. Ukoliko se želite uključiti u sljedeće projekte, javite se za više informacija na ums.agram@gmail.com .

	
"
    ["created"]=>
    string(19) "2025-04-18 09:51:34"
    ["modified"]=>
    string(19) "2025-04-18 09:51:34"
  }
  ["Member"]=>
  array(10) {
    ["id"]=>
    string(3) "100"
    ["group_id"]=>
    string(1) "2"
    ["first_name"]=>
    string(5) "Mario"
    ["last_name"]=>
    string(7) "Grgurev"
    ["first_name_mask"]=>
    string(5) "mario"
    ["last_name_mask"]=>
    string(7) "grgurev"
    ["username"]=>
    string(9) "lepimario"
    ["password"]=>
    string(40) "11e0b1ecc2c467637dfa513774d2426f3b925264"
    ["born"]=>
    string(19) "2003-01-21 09:02:00"
    ["created"]=>
    string(19) "2022-01-21 09:02:32"
  }
}

Mario Grgurev, 18th April 2025

March to Hren28 week 2-3

          array(2) {
  ["Article"]=>
  array(10) {
    ["id"]=>
    string(3) "442"
    ["member_id"]=>
    string(2) "35"
    ["title_eng"]=>
    string(25) "March to Hren28 week 2-3 "
    ["title_hrv"]=>
    string(26) "March to Hren28 tjedan 2-3"
    ["mask_eng"]=>
    string(24) "march_to_hren28_week_2-3"
    ["mask_hrv"]=>
    string(26) "march_to_hren28_tjedan_2-3"
    ["content_eng"]=>
    string(6115) "
	Our team is preparing to perform at the Turnip28 tournament called H.R.E.N.28 in Slovenia in July. Ana, Mario, Domagoj, Seb and Antoni assemble their armies and paint, and we follow them on their way!

	  

	ANA: "Continuation of last week's Fodder unit. I basecoated the shoes and hats in black and some details in red and washed them with a brown wash.

	  

	After that, I started adding additional shading and the first highlights on the uniform.“

	  

	  

	ANTONI: "I named the army (cult) for Turnip28 Feast of Charybdis. The entire army is based on crabs. And it will consist of 1 Toff, 2 Toadies, a cannon and a unit on "horses" of three pieces and 12 Napoleonic British soldiers who will form the gunlines.

	  

	In addition to those figures, there will also be this Scuttler that I worked on this week. It's a cool unit because it doesn't deploy in deployment, but comes out of the mud in the first turn and gets some crazy charges"

	  

	  

	  

	MARIO: "My army/cult is based on elephants/birds and it's called March of the Proboscis. The story behind the cult is that the main elephant eats everything it comes across and the rest of the army follows and camps behind it and vultures on the remains of its victims. I started with elephant conversions.

	  

	... and then I continued to convert the other figures. In fact, the army will be made up of an elephant (Probiscis) with a figure lying in a deckchair stretched between two trees on the elephant's back. Next to him there will be 6 x brutes (men-at-arms), then 3 x Bastards (knights on horses) and 12 x Fodder (Austrian Napoleonics) whose heads and torsos I will change..."

	  

	SEB: "My cult, called Knights of Shellwood, as you can probably gather, will be based on shells, but also snails. There will be a lot of conversions, more or less swapping heads on Napoleonic warriors, with shells instead of heads.

	  

	The army will consist of a Toff (leader), 2 snail knights, 4 cheffs and 1 unit of 6 Brutes. Today I started work on the second snail knight which will actually be a cannon.“

	  
"
    ["content_hrv"]=>
    string(6108) "
	Naša ekipa se sprema za nastup na Turnip28 turniru pod nazivom H.R.E.N.28 u Sloveniji u srpnju. Ana, Mario, Domagoj, Seb i Antoni slažu svoje vojske i farbaju, a mi ih pratimo na njihovom putu! 

	  

	ANA: „Nastavak na unitu Foddera od prošlog tjedna. Basecoatala sam cipele i šešire u crno i neke detalje u crveno te ih powashala smeđim washem.

	  

	Nakon toga sam se bacila na dodatan shading i prve highlighte na uniformi.“

	  

	  

	ANTONI: „Vojsku (kult) za Turnip28 sam nazvao Feast of Charybdis. Cijela vojska je bazirana na rakovima. I sastojat će se od 1 Toffa, 2 Toadiesa, topa i jedinice na „konjima“ od tri komada te 12 napoleonskih britanskih vojnika koji će tvoriti gunline.

	  

	Pored tih figura, bit će i ovaj Scuttler na kojem sam radio ovaj tjedan. Fora je jedinica jer se ne postavlja u deploymentu već izlazi u prvom krugu iz mulja i dobiju neki ludi charge.“

	  

	  

	  

	MARIO: „Moja vojska/kult je bazirana na slonovima/pticama i zove se March of the Proboscis. Priča iza kulta je da glavni slon ždere sve na što naleti, a ostatak vojske ga prati i kampira iza njega te se lešinari na ostacima njegovih žrtava. Krenuo sam s konverzijama slona.

	  

	... a onda sam nastavio konvertirati ostale figure. Zapravo vojsku će sačinjavati slon (Probiscis) sa likom koji će ležati u ležaljki razapetoj između dva drva na slonovim leđima. Pored njega bit će tu 6 x brutes (men-at-armsi), zatim 3x Bastards (vitezovi na konjima) te 12x Fodder (austrijski napoleonci kojima ću mijenjati glave i torzoe…“

	  

	SEB: „Moj kult, pod nazivom Knights of Shellwood, kao što mu i i me kaže bit će baziran na školjkama, ali i puževima. Bit će podosta konverzija, manje-više zamijene glava na napoleonskim ratnicima kojima ću umjesto glava postaviti školjke.

	  

	Vojska će se sastojati od Toffa (vođa), 2 snail knighta, 4 cheffa i 1 jedinice Brutesa od 6 komada. Danas sam počeo rad na drugom snail knightu koji će zapravo biti top.“

	  

	 
"
    ["created"]=>
    string(19) "2025-04-17 16:21:00"
    ["modified"]=>
    string(19) "2025-04-17 16:21:00"
  }
  ["Member"]=>
  array(10) {
    ["id"]=>
    string(2) "35"
    ["group_id"]=>
    string(1) "1"
    ["first_name"]=>
    string(5) "Marko"
    ["last_name"]=>
    string(9) "Paunović"
    ["first_name_mask"]=>
    string(5) "marko"
    ["last_name_mask"]=>
    string(8) "paunovic"
    ["username"]=>
    string(5) "marko"
    ["password"]=>
    string(40) "3bd37b326d19d1880d3b93a4b32e8fb3a90fa122"
    ["born"]=>
    string(19) "2033-03-07 20:35:00"
    ["created"]=>
    string(19) "2009-06-02 20:37:03"
  }
}

Marko Paunović, 17th April 2025

CSSR 1986 Diorama part 7

          array(2) {
  ["Article"]=>
  array(10) {
    ["id"]=>
    string(3) "441"
    ["member_id"]=>
    string(2) "35"
    ["title_eng"]=>
    string(24) "CSSR 1986 Diorama part 7"
    ["title_hrv"]=>
    string(28) "Diorama ČSSR 1986 – dio 7"
    ["mask_eng"]=>
    string(24) "cssr_1986_diorama_part_7"
    ["mask_hrv"]=>
    string(23) "diorama_cssr_1986_dio_7"
    ["content_eng"]=>
    string(3995) "
	In this series of articles, we will follow my work on a new diorama, another in the 1986 series. This time, we take you behind the Iron Curtain to Czechoslovakia. 

	  

	Next are the final details, which are not necessarily connected to each other, nor were they done in the chronological order in which these articles are published. They simply were not connected to the rest of the story in the articles, so they all deserve their own mish-mash article. First, preparing the substation for painting by spraying the interior black. So that it will be dark inside through the openings in the doors and windows. Once the substation is fixed to the base, this will be impossible to do.

	  

	From the clear plastic that I also used to make the fence, I cut out the shape of the window for the substation.

	  

	In the box with the bits I also found a barrel in good scale so I assembled that too.

	  

	Finally, there was corrosion on the door. First, I thinned the holes in the gate panels using a drill.

	  

	Then I added hinges to the door and gate. I made them out of paper clips.

	  

	I also added a lamp above the entrance to the substation. Given the thin rod it hangs from, I drilled a hole in the substation wall and pinned the lamp that way.

	  

	This concludes the work on this diorama. Now it's time for painting and vegetation.

	  
"
    ["content_hrv"]=>
    string(3977) "
	U ovoj seriji članaka pratit ćemo moj rad na novoj diorami, još jednoj u nizu serijala 1986. Ovoga puta, vodimo vas iza željezne zavjese u Čehoslovačku.

	  

	Na redu su završni detalji, koji nisu nužno povezani jedni sa drugima, niti su odrađeni u vremenskom slijedu kako izlaze ovi članci. Jednostavno, nisu bili povezani sa ostatkom priče po člancima pa su svi skupa zaslužili svoj miš-maš članak. Prvo, priprema trafostanice za bojanje na način da je unutrašnjost posprejana u crno. Tako da kroz otvore na vratima i prozorima unutra bude mrak. Jednom kad se fiksira trafostanica na bazu, to će biti nemoguće napraviti.

	  

	Od prozirne plastike od koje sam napravio i ogradu, izrezao sam oblik prozora za trafostanicu.

	  

	U kutiji sa bitsima našao sam i bačvu u dobrom mjerilu pa sam i nju sastavio.

	  

	Za kraj je ostala korozija na vratima. Prvo sam rupe u pločama na kapiji stanjio koristeći bušilicu.

	  

	Onda sam dodao i šarke na vrata i kapiju. Njih sam napravio od spajalice.

	  

	Dodao sam i lampu iznad ulaza u trafostanicu. S obzirom na tanku šipku o kojoj visi, izbušio sam rupu u zidu trafostanice te na taj način pinirao lampu.

	  

	Time završava rad na ovoj diorami. Sad je na redu bojanje i vegetacija.

	  
"
    ["created"]=>
    string(19) "2025-04-10 15:35:08"
    ["modified"]=>
    string(19) "2025-04-10 15:35:08"
  }
  ["Member"]=>
  array(10) {
    ["id"]=>
    string(2) "35"
    ["group_id"]=>
    string(1) "1"
    ["first_name"]=>
    string(5) "Marko"
    ["last_name"]=>
    string(9) "Paunović"
    ["first_name_mask"]=>
    string(5) "marko"
    ["last_name_mask"]=>
    string(8) "paunovic"
    ["username"]=>
    string(5) "marko"
    ["password"]=>
    string(40) "3bd37b326d19d1880d3b93a4b32e8fb3a90fa122"
    ["born"]=>
    string(19) "2033-03-07 20:35:00"
    ["created"]=>
    string(19) "2009-06-02 20:37:03"
  }
}

Marko Paunović, 10th April 2025

CSSR 1986 Diorama part 6

          array(2) {
  ["Article"]=>
  array(10) {
    ["id"]=>
    string(3) "440"
    ["member_id"]=>
    string(2) "35"
    ["title_eng"]=>
    string(24) "CSSR 1986 Diorama part 6"
    ["title_hrv"]=>
    string(28) "Diorama ČSSR 1986 – dio 6"
    ["mask_eng"]=>
    string(24) "cssr_1986_diorama_part_6"
    ["mask_hrv"]=>
    string(23) "diorama_cssr_1986_dio_6"
    ["content_eng"]=>
    string(5028) "
	In this series of articles, we will follow my work on a new diorama, another in the 1986 series. This time, we take you behind the Iron Curtain to Czechoslovakia. 

	  

	We are slowly coming to the end of this diorama. Apart from a few more small things, the main job that remains is to make the concrete parts. First, we will make the concrete slabs for the pedestrians. To do this, the simplest method is to cast them from plaster. So first, let's make a mold.

	  

	I made a mold of thin strips (2 x 2 mm cross-section) on plastic foil. I made a grid for the panels. This way, the panels will all be the same thickness and shape.

	  

	I then poured some sand into the mold – to simulate the pebbles in the composite concrete slab.

	  

	Then I mixed the plaster with water until I had a pasty mixture and then poured it into the mold.

	  

	Using the rest of the batten, I leveled the boards inside the mold.

	  

	While the plaster was drying in the mold, I added a little water to the remaining mixture and used a paintbrush to paint over the concrete parts of the diorama. The sidewalk and the concrete part of the fence.

	  

	In the meantime, the plaster in the mold had dried and I was able to remove it. The more flexible the foil, the easier the job will be. .

	  

	We checked again to make sure everything fit and when we were sure everything went according to plan, we could glue the parts together.

	  

	We coat the base with PVA glue (do not thin it too much) and place the concrete slabs in their place, making sure to leave some space between the slabs for texture and later vegetation.

	  

	All that's left is to add some details to the diorama base and this process is complete.
"
    ["content_hrv"]=>
    string(5030) "
	U ovoj seriji članaka pratit ćemo moj rad na novoj diorami, još jednoj u nizu serijala 1986. Ovoga puta, vodimo vas iza željezne zavjese u Čehoslovačku.

	  

	Polagano dolazimo prema kraju izrade ove diorame. Osim par još sitnica, glavni posao koji je ostao je izrada betonskih dijelova. Prvo ćemo napraviti betonske ploče za pješake. Da bismo to napravili, najjednostavnija metoda jest lijevanje iz gipsa. Stoga prvo idemo napraviti kalup.

	  

	Na plastičnoj foliji sam izradio kalup od tankih letvica (2 x 2 mm poprečnog presjeka). Napravio sam raster za ploče. Na taj način, ploče će sve biti jednake debljine i jednakih oblika.

	  

	U kalup sam zatim nasipao malo pijeska – kako bi simulirao kamenčiće u kompozitnoj betonskoj ploči.

	  

	Zatim sam zamiješao gips sa vodom dok nisam dobio pastastu smjesu te ju potom ulio u kalup.

	  

	Koristeći ostatak letvice, izravnao sam ploče unutar kalupa.

	  

	Dok se gips sušio u kalupu, dodao sam malo vode u preostalu smjesu i kistom prešao preko betonskih dijelova diorame. Pločnik te betonski dio ograde.

	  

	U međuvremenu se osušio gips u kalupu te sam ga mogao izvaditi. Što je folija fleksibilnija, posao će biti lakši. .

	  

	Opet smo napravili provjeru da li sve paše i kad smo se uvjerili da je sve prošlo po planu, možemo zalijepiti dijelove.

	  

	Premažemo podlogu PVA ljepilom (nemojte razrijeđivati previse) te postavimo betonske ploče na njihovo mjesto pri čemu pazimo da ostane malo mjesta između ploča za teksturu i kasnije vegetaciju.

	  

	Još je ostalo samo dodati nešto detalja na bazu diorame i ovaj proces je gotov.
"
    ["created"]=>
    string(19) "2025-04-10 15:09:45"
    ["modified"]=>
    string(19) "2025-04-10 15:09:45"
  }
  ["Member"]=>
  array(10) {
    ["id"]=>
    string(2) "35"
    ["group_id"]=>
    string(1) "1"
    ["first_name"]=>
    string(5) "Marko"
    ["last_name"]=>
    string(9) "Paunović"
    ["first_name_mask"]=>
    string(5) "marko"
    ["last_name_mask"]=>
    string(8) "paunovic"
    ["username"]=>
    string(5) "marko"
    ["password"]=>
    string(40) "3bd37b326d19d1880d3b93a4b32e8fb3a90fa122"
    ["born"]=>
    string(19) "2033-03-07 20:35:00"
    ["created"]=>
    string(19) "2009-06-02 20:37:03"
  }
}

Marko Paunović, 10th April 2025

CSSR 1986 Diorama part 5

          array(2) {
  ["Article"]=>
  array(10) {
    ["id"]=>
    string(3) "439"
    ["member_id"]=>
    string(2) "35"
    ["title_eng"]=>
    string(24) "CSSR 1986 Diorama part 5"
    ["title_hrv"]=>
    string(28) "Diorama ČSSR 1986 – dio 5"
    ["mask_eng"]=>
    string(24) "cssr_1986_diorama_part_5"
    ["mask_hrv"]=>
    string(23) "diorama_cssr_1986_dio_5"
    ["content_eng"]=>
    string(5113) "
	In this series of articles, we will follow my work on a new diorama, another in the 1986 series. This time, we take you behind the Iron Curtain to Czechoslovakia. 

	  

	After the gate, it's time to tackle the rest of the fence. First, we'll make a post that will hold the closed part of the gate on one side and the open pedestrian door on the other. We'll make the shape of the post (and the rest of the fence) from linden slats with a cross section of 5 x 5 mm.

	  

	To fix this part of the fence properly, I decided to pin the batten to the base. I drilled a hole with a drill and put a staple in it. I glued it with superglue, and the fence post with PVA glue to the base. (NOTE: be careful not to use superglue on Styrofoam or Styrodur, as the glue will eat through it.)

	  

	Once the post was glued, I added both doors also with superglue.

	  

	For the second part of the fence, I decided to make part concrete and part steel. The concrete base, like the post, will be made of slats with a cross section of 5 x 5 mm.

	  

	I drilled holes in the fence posts at the same heights so that we could thread thicker plastic rods (2 mm) through them.

	  

	Then I glued the wooden parts together and threaded the horizontal bars through them. This made the structure very sturdy.

	  

	I then started making the cross bars in the fence from the thinner bar (1.5 mm). I glued everything together with superglue (although we could have done these with plastic glue as well).

	  

	The next step was to glue the fence to the base. I did this using PVA glue.

	  

	Finally, I added the second part of the gate and glued it together with superglue.

	  

	This concludes the construction of the fence and gate. Next time we will tackle the plaster and the construction of the concrete slabs.
"
    ["content_hrv"]=>
    string(5074) "
	U ovoj seriji članaka pratit ćemo moj rad na novoj diorami, još jednoj u nizu serijala 1986. Ovoga puta, vodimo vas iza željezne zavjese u Čehoslovačku.

	  

	Nakon kapije, vrijeme je da se bacimo na ostatak ograde. Prvo ćemo napraviti stup koji će držati zatvoreni dio kapije s jedne i otvorena vrata za pješake s druge strane. Oblik stupa (i ostatka ograde) ćemo izraditi od lipovih letvica 5 x 5 mm poprečnog presjeka.

	  

	Da bismo dobro fiksirali taj dio ograde, odlučio sam pinirati letvicu u bazu. Izbušio sam bušilicom rupu i u nju stavio spajalicu. Zaljepio sam ju superljepilom, a stup ograde PVA ljepilom na bazu. (NAPOMENA: pazite da superljepilom ne idete po stiroporu ili stiroduru jer će ga to ljepilo nagristi.)

	  

	Kad se stup zaljepio, dodao sam oba vrata također superljepilom.

	  

	Za drugi dio ograde sam odlučio da bude dio betonski, a dio čelični. Betonsku bazu ćemo kao i sa stupom napraviti od letvica 5 x 5 mm poprečnog presjeka. .

	  

	Stupove na ogradi sam bušilicom probušio na istim visinama kako bismo kroz njih mogli provući deblje plastične šipke (2 mm).

	  

	Potom sam zalijepio drvene dijelove i kroz njih provukao horizontalne šipke. To je učinilo konstrukciju jako čvrstom.

	  

	Od tanje šipke (1,5 mm) sam onda počeo raditi poprečne šipke u ogradi. Lijepio sam sve superljepilom (iako bismo ove mogli i sa ljepilom za plastiku).

	  

	Sljedeći korak bio je ljepljenje ograde za bazu. To sam učinio pomoću PVA ljepila.

	  

	Za kraj, dodao sam i drugi dio kapije i zalijepio ga supreljepilom.

	  

	Time završava izrada ograde i kapije. Sljedeći put bacamo se na gips i izradu betonskih ploča.

	 
"
    ["created"]=>
    string(19) "2025-04-10 14:45:00"
    ["modified"]=>
    string(19) "2025-04-10 14:45:00"
  }
  ["Member"]=>
  array(10) {
    ["id"]=>
    string(2) "35"
    ["group_id"]=>
    string(1) "1"
    ["first_name"]=>
    string(5) "Marko"
    ["last_name"]=>
    string(9) "Paunović"
    ["first_name_mask"]=>
    string(5) "marko"
    ["last_name_mask"]=>
    string(8) "paunovic"
    ["username"]=>
    string(5) "marko"
    ["password"]=>
    string(40) "3bd37b326d19d1880d3b93a4b32e8fb3a90fa122"
    ["born"]=>
    string(19) "2033-03-07 20:35:00"
    ["created"]=>
    string(19) "2009-06-02 20:37:03"
  }
}