"The Bridge" Complete! (*update*...natural light pics!)

Sorry I was so tardy in commenting on this fine diorama...

This shot is AMAZINGLY real, man!!

Beautiful work!!

Frank

   Beautiful dio Stern0!! You should be proud of your ground work and your bridge, they are excellent!

I have always liked dios that portray action. I have seen many that just don't work. But yours does! You pulled off that 'split second of time' aspect real well.... When one stops and thinks in that 'snapshot' mindset and thinks about the firefight that is about to ensue, you realise how good your dio is.

   One of my favourite action dio's is one that Shep Paine did. If i remember there was a Sherman tank and some US soldiers breaking through some bushes, maybe in France? That 'split second' they realise there is a Tiger on the other side.....

   Now i want to pull out my shelved dio's....  ....

   Boomer...

Chris, the tension is exactly what I wanted to capture.....that instant before a life and death decision is made...I hope it translates! Thank you for taking the time to disect it and for the comments!

 On you and TacoBuffs recomendation I may try the reader gallery....BTW I got a tip published in the may issue...yeeeehaw!!!!

Ah! I see- the German under The Bridge is still hidden! That’s even cool than I thought- now I really like the title for this piece. The Bar gunner might have to bat clean up, he looks like he’s still out of the line of sight on the 44 gunner.

Very nice work!

Stern0 wrote:

Thanks Karl for giving this the once over and the great comments..your too kind! I really count on you guys for constructive crit. Chris has it pegged...I figure the GIs are just as surprised as the Germans...(I tried to capture the facial expressions...need better close ups I guess) After busting through the reeds and seeing the THREE Germans, the lead GI is just yelling out his warning to his guys...the Germans are at a disadvantage except for there ace in the hole...the 44 gunner under the bridge. Needless to say In a split second IT is going to hit the fan!!! Thank you guys for the great feedback and for checking it out!!!

Again, I reiterate that it is extremely well done!

 Thanks Karl for giving this the once over and the great comments..your too kind! I really count on you guys for constructive crit.

Chris has it pegged...I figure the GIs are just as surprised as the Germans...(I tried to capture the facial expressions...need better close ups I guess) After busting through the reeds and seeing the THREE Germans, the lead GI is just yelling out his warning to his guys...the Germans are at a disadvantage except for there ace in the hole...the 44 gunner under the bridge. Needless to say In a split second IT is going to hit the fan!!!

Thank you guys for the great feedback and for checking it out!!!

Stern0 wrote:

These two say it all for me-


The German doesn't have his gun ready to shoot- having been helping his comrad up the embankment, he looks up to see the American GI, who is a little shocked himself to suddenly see 4 targets pop up, with his men still behind him, he needs to prioritize fast!

the doog wrote:

but the Para's all seem oblivious to their presence?

More like running skeeered! I think it's a full scale retreat on the Para's part. That was my understanding anyway- Maybe they thought the Americans were farther off than first anticipated, and they just burst through the reeds and it’s that long frozen moment right before either side can react, neither one of them expecting the other to be so close (VERY close for a firefight IMO)
But I like it a lot, very dramatic, lots of motion, the reeds all smashed down really does it for me!
 

"Criticism welcomed"--LOL!

ON WHAT?!?

Fantastic work here, Stern0! The bridge looks great, and the water effects, vegetation, roots, and soldiers are all admirably done! The trees, especially are just incredible!  

I understand it won a first at a contest? CONGRATS!

OK, the only thing that strikes me as a little "off" is the timeline/story going on here. The Americans look like they're obviously in sight of the Para's still under the bridge, and they definitely look like they're engaging the Para's on the bank, but the Para's all seem oblivious to their presence?

What was your thinking on the idea behind your storyline?

TacoBuff wrote:

You should at least submit your photos to the reader gallery!

Russ, Thanks for the ultimate compliment!!! Believable and no description needed...WOW! A Blind pig does find a acorn every now and then....Thanks for looking.

Brutus, thanks for comments! yes, it is 1/35 scale....The rocks and bricks are scribed into the sheetrock mud freehand...I used a paintbrush handle, sharpened with a knife. It really makes me SICK that I cant find those pics....was going to write a article for the mag...but not now. The plastic jar I used for the culverts also had bricks scribed into them...ill post a pic, also a pic from the back...without those first shots people may not believe I build it...this at least proves that!...Thanks for looking and I'm glad you like it..looking forward to seeing some of your work!

Great job on the dio...looks phenomenal. Guys like you are the reason us "newbies" are in on this.

Not to sound like an idiot, but is it 1/35 ?

How did you do the stonework on the bridge ?? Is it freehand or did you use a mold ?

I would love to see the progress pics you said you lost. Keep up the good work, can't wait to see what's next.

TacoBuff, thank you for looking and for the compliments, you are very kind! I am sold on outdoor photography for any project now! No Contest! Yes, you hit the nail on the head with the Tamiya figs! Faces looked like dough before I got ahold of them The tommy gunner even had a seam down the middle of his face! I had to literally paint the mouth on...it was ok though because I just happened to catch a good expression of surprise. (Pure luck though) I  felt like the were the first Tamiya figs cast..So thanks for the props on the figs..I still feel they are my weak point..and these boys were a nightmare, your comment means that much more!

Huxy, Thank you for the positive feedback! you would get the short end of that deal my freind.....not a even trade at all  If there was anything to give as far as skill... I couldnt take all your stuff...I'd take CASH!

The water was clear casting resin from HS....I was surprised but it only took tape to contain the "Water" (check out the WIP pics in other thread). I was very worried about the whole water issue...luckily it went well much easier than expected. Thanks for looking

Ok... I give you my stash and all my tools if you give me your skills. Deal?

Doesn't that sentence say enough?

One question though.. What water did you use? How did you stop it from flowing out over the board? 

beautiful!  that ground work, foliage and water all looks so real in the natural light.  And the figures look great too (you've worked wonders on those tamiya guys, their faces can look like mushed up dough if you aren't really careful with the painting, lol).

Fantastic!