Wow, great job and well deserved win! Everything looks great: vehicles, figures, buildings, and general set up. Yeah a little more soil and chaos could help though I know how it is about not wanting to cover all that work up with dirt and grime.

the doog

The next time you are outside somewhere beautiful, take time to look for the imperfections--the litter, the wilting flower, the dead cat, the broken fence, the dirt and stones over the beautiful mosaic.

It's all there--we just tend to not remember it. 

[emphasis on 'dead cat' added by me]

I'm sorry, but this gave me a chuckle, just seemed random, but I suppose that's the point! In all seriousness, Doog gives some great advice. Call me obsessive, but I often times go through my day looking at ordinary objects or scenery wondering 'how could I model that?' Paying attention to detail is very important. Seeing how dirt lies on a subject, where moss grows on a tree, how cement cracks, etc is all an important aspect of modeling. Its translating that detail into the model that I often have trouble with as well.

I will say though, I like your diorama, especially the vehicles. Though it needs a little more chaos, so to speak, as Doog pointed out. But its guys like Doog who are excellent teachers. I've come to discover he models almost as a philosopher, imparting wisdom rather than harsh critique.

Haha - I'd have a hard time convincing myself to cover up all that work too! Looks really good, only issues I see are the cleanliness & the tree. (At least in my part pf the world) you will see some colour variation on the tree in the fall, but there wouldn't be that much contrast between yellows & reds. Short of dry brushing those leaves with a common colour, I'm not sure how you could change the look of that tree.

Overall a great job though, congrats on the win!

Brett, with a great attitude like that--being willing to accept well-intentioned critique--you';ll get far in your modeling.

The urge to "show off" every little aspect of your modeling is a tough one to overcome, I know. But you have to keep the "big picture" in mind. It takes a practiced eye to see things as they are, not as we wish them to be. The next time you are outside somewhere beautiful, take time to look for the imperfections--the litter, the wilting flower, the dead cat, the broken fence, the dirt and stones over the beautiful mosaic.

It's all there--we just tend to not remember it. You have to consciously include that in your dios--otherwise it looks a bit "fairy-tail"-ish. In truth, all it takes is a small window of showing something beautiful and complex beneath the dirt or grime to make an impression, and that deliberate juxtaposition of ugly/beauty makes the scene all that more impressive and "real".

I know your next one will be improved in that aspect!

the doog

Brett,

Congrats on your win;the models are very competently finished, the scene nicely executed, and the building is superb. 

However, I would suggest that you dirty up the road a bit more. It just looks too clean for a war scenario. A building blowing up like that and subsequent traffic would carry dust and rubble into the street..There should be dirt, bricks and especially leaves on the road, especially beneath the tree,. That lawn too could use some weeds and long, unkempt grass. It looks too freshly manicured for what would have been a city in distress.

Your street is too "pretty" for the scene being depicted, IMO

Excellent feedback, thanks for that Doog.

That is one problem I seem to have with all my dioramas, is that they are quite clean, and is something I shall try to address in future, This was also noted by the judges, and points were deducted for 'lack of realism" (EG. didn't look real) for exaclty that point.

I think the main problem is that I put so much effort into the minor details, when it comes to covering them (with dirt, debris, leaves etc) I fear that it will be viewed as trying to hide something, or covering up my mistakes. and tend to go for the "Less is more"... I know there is a fine line there somewhere, I just have to find it.

Once again, thanks for the feedback. It is because of responses like this that I am (becoming) a better modeler.

Brett

Brett,

Congrats on your win;the models are very competently finished, the scene nicely executed, and the building is superb. 

However, I would suggest that you dirty up the road a bit more. It just looks too clean for a war scenario. A building blowing up like that and subsequent traffic would carry dust and rubble into the street..There should be dirt, bricks and especially leaves on the road, especially beneath the tree,. That lawn too could use some weeds and long, unkempt grass. It looks too freshly manicured for what would have been a city in distress.

Your street is too "pretty" for the scene being depicted, IMO

First place
South Australian scale model expo.
Adelaide 2010.
large diorama, Technically judged

jetmodeler

Nicely done. The dio looks huge. How big is it?

Thanks for the comments guys.

The Dio (being 1:35 scale) measures 21 x 12 inches.

I wanted the composition to consist of a tall element at the back (the building) and a tall elment at the front (the tree), with a corridoor of detail down the middle. I think this lends to making the whole thing look bigger than it actually is.

Cheers
Brett

Excellent work!

You armor vehicles are built & painted to a very high standard.

I read the technique you posted regarding the scratch built cobble stone ground, I had a idea that will use Millput epoxy that is similar. The plan was to lay it down, coat with talc powder and 'press' the pattern into the putty with a window screen. Yours is better yet mine was intended for 1/72 scale.

Tanks for taking the time to post & explain your work, looking forward to more.

Jason

Nicely done. The dio looks huge. How big is it?

I Started this almost 2 years ago, It has been chugging along between builds

finally got the thing finished

I'll let the photos tell the story

here they are... enjoy

(did you notice the toadstools under the tree?)

All comments welcome.

I havn't come up with a title yet, feel free to suggest something

Brett

Here's the toot on how to make cobblestone roads

Apply a layer of plaster of Paris to the road surface, let it dry and sand it down to the profile of the road. (This will give the shape of the camber as well as something for the next coat to key to).

Next, get an open mesh washing bag, (available from supermarkets... the type you put your loose articles in, to throw in the washing machine).
Or for a square/ less regimented cobble, you can use garden wind-break material.

Cut it into a strip of the required size... slightly larger than the area you wish to cover, (Make sure it has no creases in it)

Now the fun bit.

Apply a thin layer of plaster over the road surface.
Lay the material over it.
Then apply second coat of plaster over the material.
Squeegee it down with a plastic applicator. (Very much like screen printing).

Go right to the road edges, and scrape it down so the top of the material is exposed. (Make sure you have squeezed it through properly... otherwise the cobbles may lift with the material.)

Very carefully peel back the material as soon as the plaster starts to go off (while it is in a turgid state), this will give a slightly broken effect to the edges of the cobbles.

And there you have your cobblestone road.

Once the plaster is fully set, paint it, and seal it with a few coats of future. (Next steps not pictured). Give it a nice muddy sludge wash, then sprinkle and brush it with rubble dust, then seal it all up with dull cote.

It's quite a simple technique once you get the hang of it.

The material is available in different grades, keep an eye out for it, for different sized cobbles.

Looks to be an interesting one in the making.

If you don't mind me asking, what did you use for the cobblestone street section?

I wasn't happy with the finish I originally had on the building, so I went back over it, then added my scratchbuilt building accessories (the furniture in the picture is resin from Firestorm)

once again, I'll only call it finished for now, It still needs to be decorated in rubble etc. and I'll blend it in to the groundwork when it gets fitted up.

Brett

That looks great!

I cannot wait for this one!

Looking amazing! Can't wait to see them with your groundwork.

Steve