Andy, Thank you for the comments! (This is a old post now, thought it was long gone.) I think it was the verlinden one I based this on, though it would be cheaper to build myself! The only expense was a $8.00 bucket of sheetrock mud. How does it compare to the verlinden one, I only saw a picture once...was a little unclear on dimensions and specifics and never did price it. (was sure it was a bundle) I don't think you have to worry about doing it justice...your work speaks for itself! good luck and hope to see some pics soon!

Thank you Vector, it is 1/35 scale...Verlinden makes something close....The stains are just dirt, mud, grime...wear and tear.

WOW, Stern0, this is really something special!

BEAUTIFUL WORK!!!

The figures are not your strong point?--you'd fool me! I think they look great! I'm not sure if more figures are needed--you might just clutter it up. If anything, I'd add some more varied vegetation, but that's only if you feel it needs something "extra". I like it as it is!

The accessories are particularly well painted. It just all looks terrific!

Boba Fett wrote:

I'm not a dio God but I do like the way the scene is composed. My only comment is the 2 Germans on the left are almost in the same poses. Looks a wee bit redundant. Also, more that half the characters are in pairs, you might want to add 1 or 2 mor men to the 2 guys pointing. Other that that, I love your work!

very nice work IIRC on another thread, you built the gun emplacement from scratch

Very nice work! At first glance it looks quite well composed, then after a second look all the fine details come out. I am currently working on a dio myself (1st attempt) and can understand the work that goes into these things! I like how you've done the weathering, right down to the heavily travelled areas in the middle of the steps. After I read that the base & structure were scratched, I could only be more impressed. Whenever I get into a funk on my project I will look at these photos, suck it up, and carry on. I don't even come close to being called a "Rivet Counter" by any means so I really can't help much with specific uniforms and such, I just like a nicely built model, so all I can say is-WOW! Nice work! 

Hi Sterno,

    Beautiful work indeed!

    With this scene as it appears, the four soldiers on the right just got their a**es raked over the coals by the mean looking NCO at the bottom of the steps, and have now paired off to lick their wounds.     The ones approaching on the left side of the structure are coming to see what all the yelling was about, and the "Collaborator" beside the weapon is the lookout. (besides, snipers wouldn't shoot one of their own)

    In real life, if someone was on the hillside taking one photo every 15 seconds for an hour, they'd be so many variations in troop placements (except for the lookout), that what you have presented is a very realistic setup.

    Nice job on the bunker; looks real!!!    Keep it up!

    Take care,

    Frank

Stern0 wrote:

thanks a bunch MR...Exactly what I wanted! figs need lots of work!! I hope its known the bunker and base are scratch built...the unknown soldier turms out to be polish...go figure in a set of german figs..I didnt know better. (though he was some feild officer).

Okay, you asked for more input so here goes:

* Overall nice idea and layout, although overmodeled IMO: flak emplacement during "down time"

* Nice attention to detail...I especially like the camo net and stowed ammo...

* bunker, flak and base are generally well-done...

* The area that I feel needs the most improvment are the figs...the man with his arms crossed is wearing a uniform that I cannot identify----he looks British...the other figs appear to be a Dragon set and are totally wrong for this dio, IMO---I believe they are German soldiers from 1940...And the scene is a bit busy; too many side-bars going on...you probably have too many figures on the base...

Overall, a B-...Please don't take my feedback the wrong way; you have a lot of good things going on...dios are very difficult to make and almost impossible to master...there is so much to a dio, and every element is a chance to screw up...

Looking forward to seeing more work from you.  

Get your greedy peepers out of here, Maniac. ITS NOT FOR SALE LOL!! Only messing. It might be, you never know.

My , i think it looks great. I think Sfcmac had it right though. More 20mm cans. Those quads when they started firing had a couple of guys reloading full time.

...Guy

damn, that looks awesome. great painting i think, looks verry realistic to me.

Very nice scene!  The figures make the whole thing really come together.

Great Job,

rb

Hans,  You keep me in stiches! Why hav'nt you blow this out of the water yet?

Scott, thank you for your feedback and the joke, it did keep me modest...I do need to work on my figs for sure..

Oh man where to start. It look like crap. Your figures are overdone and you call that weathering.

 Just put the modeling supplies down and step away slowly and no one will get hurt.

Now for the truth it LOOKS AWESOME DUDE!!!

Pardon the kidding above but I love people who do reaaly good work. Just got to keep you

all modest.

Seeya

Scott

One question though, why a Polish soldier standing by himself next to that flak gun?

He's a Collaborator...

Renarts, sfcmac, phil_H,

Thank you guys for taking the time to give my work a good look, It is exacltly what I wanted. First, I do know my figures need alot of work...tht will be my winter project, Practice, practice! If I were to give this piece a name "Preparing for war" would be it. I feel that each group of men are doing a job preparing. The mines have just been unloaded and are to be deployed ASAP. I do agree with figure numbers Renarts, odd numbers would look much better. The lone soldier is from a kit that had a few idle soldiers and a officer, was looking for both. Not much though into who they were, Just wanted a Officer to oversee. I do also know that it is a little tight around the gun, ...I origanaly was going to put the single barrel 20mm in but saw this at the model shop and thought it would be much more impressive, I will drill out the barrels and the sight Phil. This is my first real scratch built piece and it took forever (almost a year!) i think I almost got to the point of being sick of looking at it, I figured it would have no historic value (was expecting that heat). Thank you guys again, great comments and they are all noted even if not mentioned in this post.

Your groundwork looks great - I like the well worn path down the slope and around the side of the bunker. The little rings of mud around the soles of the boots is a nice touch too.

I would like to see a little more clearance between the flak gun and the walls - the guys would have to be able to get in there pretty quickly (while carrying reloads) at any traverse angle to reload when the gun was "in action". If you rotate the guns about 90 degrees clockwise, you'll see what I mean. Access to the left guns would be somewhat restricted.

You might also consider drilling out the gunsight ring. It's moulded solid in the kit.

Overall though, it looks great.

 I really like the groundwork. I am no diorama expert by any means but I got a little bit of Anti Air experience. If I was an inspector checking out that site. I would throw a hissy fit with all that ordinance next to the fighting position. One stray shot and kablooheh! You saved the enemy the trouble. Also all the figs are great but no lookout for Aircraft?  Again all work is well done and well painted. Just need the story to speak to me!  Maybe someone chewing tail for stacking mines next to the bunker!

I would suggest Ammo and more ammo for the Quad 20mm flak gun to fill space. Maybe an ammo trailer? I like the water cans but that gun is gonna chew through some rounds. Bino's and ammo! My 2 cents.

I like your layout. There are a few aesthetic placement things I would probobly change myself, but on the whole you look like you had fun and are very happy with your work and thats what counts. You have separate grouping of figures and it would all fit together better if somehow they were interacting with each other. This can be a glance or gesture or some central object that they all share an interest in that will tie them together in the scene. Even a nuance as simple as all facing a direction to go to a point or some unseen object off stage that they share a common interest in can be a unifying element. The trick of making odd numbered placings i.e. groups of 3 or 5, makes for interesting and eye catching visual and appeals to our brains tendancy to seek symmetry. They stand out because they are not symmetrical. Much like offsetting a grouping or a vehicle on a base or the photographic rule of thirds, it appeals to our sense of balance and harmony or being drawn to something that is slightly off balance.

While the oil wash of brown uniformly applied on all the figures is certainly as valid as any other method, I think you should start spending more time on developing your highlights and shading on an individual basis as opposed to a flat base coat of color and then the wash to create shadows. This will give your figures an individual character as well as make them pop and look more realistic. You spent alot of time on your base and model, don't cheapen the effort by taking a short cut on the figures. The best pieces are the ones that have an equal division of effort and care on all the elements. Detail the faces and as well as they are what bring your figures to life. The Dragon figures you've used have plenty of nice feature sculpt and can be made to look very lively and with expression if you so care to go to that level. At the very least it will drive your creative endeavors with your figures to a new level of detail and attention that I think will pleasantly satisfy you creatively and force you to award more attention to detail of your figure work. A big benefit to your skill level as it is for all of us as we try and up our own performance and skill set. Field grey uniforms give way to simple italian camo to pea dot, to autumn to even more elaborate schemes as we grow in confidence and skill level.

One question though, why a Polish soldier standing by himself next to that flak gun?

This is a a big effort and your work is impressive. I look forward to seeing more. Thanks for sharing it.

Lufttiger wrote:

You are a true artist!, just love your painting job on all of it especially the figs. Were these done in oils?

Thank you for your input!! No, all of the paint is acrylic. I do cover everthing in a brownish oil wash though. I am pleased you like the figures (not my strong point i feel), this is the first piece that anyone has seen, other than my wife, it is good to get Pro feedback.

thank you both for the input....Boba, I think your right about more men, it would fill it up.

Sam, yes it is the tamiya flak...drilling holes in the barrels ASAP