France 1940 (Update / Base finished)

Here's a few shots of the finished base for my diorama.

My original idea was a tank in some state of being repaired and a motorcycle crew. Now that the base is finished, I have the opportunity to change my mind. 

What figures and vehicles would you use on a diorama like this?

Here's some advance. All I have left to do now as far as the base, is to detail the frame. Once that's done and if you all don't have any further suggestions, I'll call it done and start building all the rest. I'm not happy with the tree. If anyone can point me in the direction of some nice trees, I'd appreciate it.

As I mentioned, this won't be the Panzer that'll be in the diorama but it's the same type of Panzer I'll be building. Here ya go.

No problem guys.

I have to be perfectly honest and say I'm just starting out with military models.

I started modeling about 10 years back but built autos exclusively so I'm not a total noobie. Back then, I managed to pick up a couple of 1st place prizes as well as some 2nd and 3rds along the way, at various IPMS Nationals down here in Mexico where I live. Due to being relocated by my work and taking up guitar as a second hobby, I left modeling completely for a little over five years. 

I've decided to get back into it but now with military subjects which I hadn't tried before and started by purchasing kits, paints, supplies, tools, etc.  So I started doing that a couple of months ago and in the meantime ruined three 1/72 airplanes and a couple of armor kits.

In those two months I did manage to build a 1/24 Opel Blitz that I modeled in the service of the Luftwaffe and picked up a Silver Medal with, at the end of September at our Latino Militare contest. I've also managed to purchase about a hundred kits... much to my wife's surprise!

So any criticism you guys are kind enough to give me is pure gold. Although I do enjoy sharing my work here, a big part of it also is that I get to learn from the best. I'm learning these new techniques and enjoying myself immensely. I know that any work I post here is open to critique and although I may think something looks "wonderful", I hope you guys will take the time to set me straight.

I'm building this Diorama so that it can compete in the 2010 Nationals here, where my goal will be to place first, second or third in three different categories. One will be a military vehicle diorama, the other will probably be with a civilian airplane and the third category will most likely be an automobile although not 100% sure yet. Kind of a Grand Slam type thing.

Sorry for being so long winded guys but you've all been so helpful, I thought a personal introduction was in order.

Good point, your right I was too hard critique, I just look at the first picture and thought it was too big.

And again, nice work on the dio

T-rex wrote:

overall the dio is good, the vegetation is perfect, the shed is great, and the panzer is fantastic. However there is a problem I immidietly notice, the dio is way too big, the forwar grass and road are unessisery if there is nothing there.

I don't agree rex. 1st, read through it again--some of that space IS accounted for, 2nd, you haven't seen everything in place yet--E.B. seems to have a solid vision for this Dio, & 3rd just because a general rule of thumb says keep the base tight around your subject doesn't mean it's always the best choice. The "empty space' up front may serve as a balance or respite from all the busy areas.  4th proof read your posts will ya?

Thanks T-Rex!

Yes, I agree it's pretty big. There will be at least 10 figures. Four will be working on the tank, another four playing cards and probably the two from a bike and sidecar. A Panzer will be included and the motorcycle+side car I mentioned. Besides that, there will be many tools, garage type add-ons and probably a few tank parts.

That particular Panzer won't be in the Diorama. I don't think the quality is good enough so I'll be building one especially for it.

Right now I'm trying to improve on the small section of road and I still think the shed walls need some work. I agree the vegetation is pretty good but I'll still be yellowing some grass tips here and there. I also have to decide exactly where the tank will be so I can mark the tracks from it to, as opposed to the random tracks that I threw in. I think the shed roofs need some highlights as well.

overall the dio is good, the vegetation is perfect, the shed is great, and the panzer is fantastic.

However there is a problem I immidietly notice, the dio is way too big, the forwar grass and road are unessisery if there is nothing there.

Thanks very much Indy! I'm enjoying the project inmensely and again, I'm grateful for the suggestions you and the others have made. If ou have any more, please keep the coming. 

I have a motorcycle and sidecar with it's two man crew that will be parked at the edge of the roadway. I think the guy from the sidecar will be taking a leak over by the tree. I might put up a little road side where he's parked.

Ok!

I added more weathering to tiles and walls as suggested. Also added some more vines. As far as the terrain, I added a little mud texture so I could show some track marks... nothing exagerated though, just here and there to suggest them. There's a little campfire thrown in for good measure.

I think it still needs "dust", a whole bunch of it, especially on roofs and roadway but I guess that should be one of the last steps. If I apply it now and then try to fix it with matt clear, it kind of disapears. I also have to work on the frame.

Thanks for your help guys and I'll keep posting updates as I go along. If you guys agree, I'll call the terrain finished and start building all the stuff that goes on it! 

Thank you Deafpanzer!

I'll keep updating as I go along.

Indy- Many thanks... you are pretty quick! 

EB- Looking forward to see your process as it is looking great so far!  I think I am going to buy that shed if I see it at LHS...

Wow Indy, that's a great looking Dio! I see what you mean about the need for more weathering. I have a three day weekend so I'll be able to do some work on mine. I'll post on Sat. or Sun. and see what you all think.

deafpanzer wrote:

Indy, speaking of devil I am workin on 1/35 German figures and I plan to use tiny cobblestones as bases to keep them from falling.  I really liked how you painted yours and I'd like to know more how it was done if you don't mind.  What was the base color before you painted different gray colors on the stones.  I plan to use MIG at the end too... my first attempt too.

No problem Andy. Here's the link, read it through and comment at it's end & let me know what you think or ask any questions.......    /forums/1175194/ShowPost.aspx

There's some good info about the base there, but there's more about painting cobbles(and finishing them with pigments too) on this build...  /forums/1194187/ShowPost.aspx  

Indy, speaking of devil I am workin on 1/35 German figures and I plan to use tiny cobblestones as bases to keep them from falling.  I really liked how you painted yours and I'd like to know more how it was done if you don't mind.  What was the base color before you painted different gray colors on the stones.  I plan to use MIG at the end too... my first attempt too. 

Yeah those vacu-form walls are a bear to get together ! There's way more work involved in even the simplest of those MiniArt buildings than it seems like, though once they're all done and carefully painted, they can look great. I built this one for my Dio "In Russian Hands", but replaced the cobble street, and added another lampost from another Miniart kit.

 I painted it very much like the Boxart, but added alot of weathering by way of pigment powders(particularly to the bottom area) and some smoke damage wwith airbrush(minimal though) You may note I keyed the walls the the ground with a cement foundation(made from some shaped spakle-like Elmers Wood Filler.

E.B. I'd say your building would benifit rom some color varriations maybe added by drybrushing some different greys on the stones and some MORE different red-oranges on the roof tiles, maybe some pigments dusted on theat tie in the groundwork colors, maybe bring the dirt up the walls a little to make them connect more.Possibly an airbrush pass with a dust glaze? Something to take the "newness' off      

~I hope this gives you some ideas and helps~!~~~~~~~~~~Indy

Thanks Dfreak!

Good luck with your project and you're more than welcome to post it here. I'll try to keep this one updated as I move along.

Thanks!

" Finest kind,"....said Hawkeye Pierce

                         ~From M*A*S*H*   the book

Thanks Indy!

 I see what you mean about the wall bottoms and I'll correct that. Adding ivy won't be a problem either. I agree the walls and roof need more weathering but I'm not sure what I should do about it or what technique to use. They do need "something" though.

I don't know what "The Kind" is. Can you fill me in?

Thanks for taking the time to help me out!

~E.B. This is looking very good. Sounds like it will have all the makings to be "The Kind"  Your grasses look good,the tree too. I like the ruts in earth maybe the best.        I could leave it there..only thing I'd say is maybe personalize the structure a bit more / some weathering to roof & stonework(and get those wall-bottoms underground.    Anyways, I like what I see and will be checking your progress.

~Indy

 P.S.

 The IVY is a nice touch Maybe some more?