8 Assorted Dio's from "Joh"

Gotta back up Agent G on this set.. Those're indeed tropical uniforms... They are similar in color to British "Khaki" or U.S. WW2 "Olive Drab" color of enlisted men's wool uniforms, not Feldgrau...

Also note the canvas suspenders & belt... They were authorized only for the DAK and Tropical uniforms...

Yes, crew need tanks and tanks need crew. I have many Russian armors built stand-alone and unmanned. The building of these figures is to man them in those tanks. I look for the whereabout of these figures and found out that while the four standing figures now station on other tank, the lying soldier is still lying there on the springbed. Perhaps he's comfortable there. ;-)

 

Model Maniac wrote:

bbrowniii, the Russian Tank Crew were built as individual stand-alone figures. They don't even have a base of their own. The base and tank seen here were used as make-shift base and backdrop, for photography only. After that the base, tank and figures are kept separately.

Ah, I see.  That, at least, offers some explanation.  Thanks for clearing that up...

Just out of curiousity, since it is a Russian Tank Crew, why were they built as stand alone figures?  Doesn't a crew kinda need a tank?

Aj, I have never rushed any of my modelers. In fact, I have never set a time frame for any of the modeling commissions. How much time it will take depends entirely on the builder. For example, it took "Niphon" over a year to finish F/A-18D 1:32 and Elco 80' Torpedo Boat 1:35. During the time, I have never called him even once to ask about the progress of the build.

bbrowniii, the Russian Tank Crew were built as individual stand-alone figures. They don't even have a base of their own. The base and tank seen here were used as make-shift base and backdrop, for photography only. After that the base, tank and figures are kept separately. 

Model Maniac wrote:

This is my third page this month. The fourth page is also already available! It's my pleasure to announce that Model Maniac Page 47 - Part C is now available! There are eight new dioramas and two figure sets on show, as follows:

I'm hard pressed to see most of these as dios as they don't really tell a 'story' per se.  The first one (the sniper team) with the 'Two scenes on one base' is pretty poor - I shouldn't have to think that hard when I look at this to figure out what is going on - call me lazy.

The tank crew in front of the tank is... terrible.  I'm sorry to say but, jeez, look at the figures.  The second guy from the right is supposed to be in a turret - that is why he is holding his arm the way he is.  The first guy on the left is a driver - their poses are terrible... there is no story being told here - just a really awkward scene...

Thats just my opinion, I could be wrong...

Model Maniac wrote:

aj, only criticisms, no suggestions? Can't you think of a positive side of these dio's - like having the chance to see many new figure sets built for the first time? They may not be perfect but I think "Joh" has tried his best. Among all my modelers he's the only one living entirely on modelling.

Suggestions? Here's one...stop rushing your builders. Let them take the time do do the job well. Over the last year, I've been doing some commissions for a guy. I put the as much time and  effort into those as I do for my own figures, in fact, at least one of his looks better than the original in my own collection. Sorry, but if this is "Joh's" best, he needs to practice a lot more. Slapping a wash on a face and excessive dry brushing is not high quality painting. Not cleaning up mold lines in not good modeling.

Seeing a bunch of new releases poorly painted is not going to do anyone any good. There are guys in my club who've looked at a well painted figure and been surprised since the box art had not been well presented.

Try having your guys put a little effort into telling a story where the elements work together instead of throwing every figure from a box onto a base together. Yeah, it might take a little longer but you'l have a much better display. The composition of the snipers is the best of the bunch, but then there's that excess white drybrushing in the boots. The US airborne comes in second but then there are two guys whose heads are fully exposed while two other guys crouch for cover.

Thanks for all feedbacks! I'll try to respond to some comments.

calvin, I'm glad you like the dio's. My favorite is also the op. varsity. But I also like the Sniper with decoy. 

stikpusher, which dio you think figure placement are too tight? Probably the British Ariborne because of very small base. Talking about tight figure placement, I'd like to show my fovorite one - a former work from Joh - which I named "Crowded Square". On 4x4" or 16 sq.in base, he place a 13 figures on it, and it looks good to me. You'll never find a more populated dio, square inch by square inch, anywhere else:

 

Skonch, I also think the Kursk dio is nicely done. No doubt it's your favorite.

aj, only criticisms, no suggestions? Can't you think of a positive side of these dio's - like having the chance to see many new figure sets built for the first time? They may not be perfect but I think "Joh" has tried his best. Among all my modelers he's the only one living entirely on modelling.

Kelly_Zak, the first dio is not out of place. It's as PaintWithBrush pointed out - that's two separate scenes on the same base, divided by space. And all tanks are not part of any dio, I used them as backdrop or complimentary pieces only.

PaintWithBrush, yes, you're right. You have such keen eyes. I also like the Russian Sniper with decoy. Now Joh is working on German Sniper Team also from Zvezda among others. 

 

Is the first one two separate scenes on the same base?
I like the set up of the 8th picture, the Russian sniper team. I like the decoy elements.

hmm...I think Joh's latest seem a little rushed, I'm not a fan of the figures. Heavily dry-brushed has taken over. the first dio with the anti-tank team looks out of place, two guys on the ground trying to fire on a target, while two seem just to be strolling by and could get picked off at any moment.

The faces need alot of work, and I am by no means a great figure painter, but these leave little to be desired. the tanks look not too bad from what I can see.

ajlafleche wrote:

As a whole, these are quite poorly done. There are many mold lines visible. On several figures it appears the builder used an airbrush for the boots and got way too much overspray. At first I thought it was shading but it is too inconsistent. The airbrushed colors on the walls look like cheap toys. There is much paint overlay, i.e., flesh running onto clothing. And finally, the dry brushing technique is very harsh and distracting...there is no sense of blending there. Also, the German carrying the MG ammo can has what appears to be a greenish stripe or attempt at a strap across his chest from right shoulder to left waist. AI seems to have made a bit of progress, but this guy is way behind him.

definitly what al said. these do look like he has the talent to improve though.

As a whole, these are quite poorly done. There are many mold lines visible. On several figures it appears the builder used an airbrush for the boots and got way too much overspray. At first I thought it was shading but it is too inconsistent. The airbrushed colors on the walls look like cheap toys. There is much paint overlay, i.e., flesh running onto clothing. And finally, the dry brushing technique is very harsh and distracting...there is no sense of blending there. Also, the German carrying the MG ammo can has what appears to be a greenish stripe or attempt at a strap across his chest from right shoulder to left waist. AI seems to have made a bit of progress, but this guy is way behind him.

Amazing! my favourite isthe Kursk dio, the way you have set out the soldiers gives the impression of urgency, the whole thing is so well done.

 

 

Calvin, by the time of Market Garden and Varsity, US Airborne forces had been issued the M-1943 Uniforms which were olive green cloth.

MM, mind you my figures are no works of art, but please tell Joh to watch those eye areas. More subtlety and blending will improve their look. I like the set ups overall, but feel they are a little too tight in spacing the figures together on the stands.

Hi MM, i like your dios alot , the one i like the most is the op. varsity one, it gives the cautious look of real soldiers, but the uniform of the paras i think were a sand color? i read it on the usarmymodels website. great small vignettes.