Small dio layout suggestions needed

I'm assuming that the road they were traveling goes behind the T34? If so, the positioning looks fine for me!

The only thing I don't care for is the positioning of that loose wheel--it looks too  opportunitically placed--the first thing I'm asking myself is "Only one wheel is off?--why?" 

The T34 by the way looks fabulous! How come you didn't post any photos of that beauty?!

I think it'd be better if maybe you put that wheel back on, or alternately, remove more than just one? Perhaps you could have the ruined breech assembly there under the subject's foot? Or put himstanding up there on the middle of the tank with his foot on the raised projections astride the engine coooling vents?

OR?!!!--maybe that track could be broken, and coming off the track, and sort of coiled on it's side under the guy's foot? 

Thanks for the suggestions.

Yes, I had envisioned the road running parallel to the T-34, and behind it. The track will be in place on the left side of the tank, but snapped and coiled on the right, where the wheel is off. The turret, not in this picture, will be basically in place, but will be sitting on the hull comletely askew, as if the explosion did not completely blow it off the tank. Hmm, so you think it would be better to put the wheel back on, or take off another? I may be more inclined to take off another, as it conveys the scope of destruction a bit better. I'm just going by a few reference pics that show only one wheel knocked off. There is (not seen in pics) a shell impact (and penetration) on the inside of the hull where the knocked off whell was...

 Hello zokissima,

  Without seeing the debris field or the direction the tank was moving in, I question the placement of the sign. IMO if the tank were moving in a forward direction and was hit the sign looks to close and directly behind. I'm no expert, just my .

 Your KO'd T-34 looks like it burned pretty hot. The carnage looks pretty convincing.

 Best Regards,

Yeah I thought someone would comment on the sign, so I'm not sure whether I should move it closer to the forward edge of the scene. What do you think? Also, it would be a logical assumption that the tank was moving in the direction that it was facing.

zokissima wrote:

Hmm, so you think it would be better to put the wheel back on, or take off another? I may be more inclined to take off another, as it conveys the scope of destruction a bit better. I'm just going by a few reference pics that show only one wheel knocked off.

Unless you're going to display it with the photo, I would use some artistic license to further reinforce the viewer's interpretation of the scene. 

From what you told me, I would perhaps remove another wheel, or even just place a second wheel askew on the mounting post, closer to the hull......like as if it's about to fall off but not quite? 

zokissima wrote:

Yeah I thought someone would comment on the sign, so I'm not sure whether I should move it closer to the forward edge of the scene.

It's my experience that since people read from left to right, that's the best way to position things in a diorama.  The sign instantly establishes the location to the viewer if it's at the left side. 

  Zokissima if I may and my . I drew up a diagram of how I would set up a scene like this. I hope it can be of some help.

   Gotta go along with Al on the rounds in the racks.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. aj, I will remove the rounds from the inside of the hull. It makes sense that there would not be anything left.

doog, I've taken your advice and taken another wheel off. Instead of showing another hole, I've left a mounting rod in place to show a bit of variance. Now, what would you suggest as to the positioning of the wheels that fell off?  Since the whole tank will be dipping down a bit in the nose, due to a slight elevation of the terrain, I could place one of the wheels very close by, as if it just fell off, while the other was blown off.

panzerguy, thanks for the diagram. I actually was not really planing to have 'much' debris. There is basically the rear engine cover, which I plan to have at the back, the drivers' cover, and one of the turret hatches. The wheels will also have the 'just burnt' look via ash spread around them. I see that in the diagram, you moved the the signpost to the front. Just out of curiosity, how come you turned the motorcycle around?

I am just waiting for the epoxy glue on the wheels to set, so as soon as I can stand the tank up on its own wheels, I will apply these slight re-arrangements and post the pics for your further scrutiny.

Ok, after a few suggestions, here is where it stands now. Turning that bike around really made a difference I feel. I am really not too certain about moving that sign pole to the front, as I feel it will obstruct the view and be a bit out of place. It is more of a 'space filler' as it is, and as such, doesn't really sit in the foreground of the scene. Anything else you guys would suggest?

Man, that's looking cool already!

Yeah, I agree with Manny--I would "stack" the wheels; I'd leave the ne underfoot, and the 2nd one I would put as the third in-line, and that wheel I would just position close to the 2nd wheel, like, tilted slightly forwrd as if the impact of the shell hit broke the suspension arm/mount. Maybe touching the 2nd wheel....?

It's definitely coming together!!!!  

zokissima wrote:

. panzerguy, thanks for the diagram. I actually was not really planing to have 'much' debris. There is basically the rear engine cover, which I plan to have at the back, the drivers' cover, and one of the turret hatches. The wheels will also have the 'just burnt' look via ash spread around them. I see that in the diagram, you moved the the signpost to the front. Just out of curiosity, how come you turned the motorcycle around?

    No problem Z. Ever since I figured out how to use the sketch pad on my computer I been using it to plan out future dios.

   I moved the sign post because, like was mentioned previously, it looks like the T34 would have rolled over it.  Since this is going to be on a road the bike was turned to give the impression that these guys were following behind the advancing armored units that were responsable for the destruction of the T 34.

Hmm, ok good suggestions. I'll mount one of the wheels as if it were just about to fall off, with the other in the position it is in now, just closer to the vehicle.

The guy pointing, also good point

I will reposition the arm to go a bit higher, and turn the torso so he is pointing to the engine deck of the T-34, indicating a better position. He will be holding a camera, but is not at this time. I have to scratchbuild something that resembles the part, with a small tripod frame, as if the two were just positioning themselves for a pic.