does annybody have any Ideas for building a sherman diorama

QUOTE: Originally posted by totten i was wondering if anybody has ideas or tips on a diorama I want to make a sherman in normandy france 1944 how do i make fake trees and stuff?

It all depends on you! Do you want to cover the fight through Normandies ancient field systems with their massive hedgelines?, an offensive into a small village?, - the world is your oyster on this as it's a massive area to cover.

Well, you could try something like having the Sherman coming up a road into a village, and have some infantry walking in support, do a small road, then have like a couple of small building ruins on opposite sides of the street (don't worry, I'm not trying to make this sound like a huge dio, trust me) and have some Germans hiding around the corners of the buildings waiting to pounce....just a thought.
Hey I might try that myself! LOL

Totten, your question is very broad. May I suggest you find some pictures of what you'd like to replicate and then ask a more specific question. You'll get a lot more accurate information that way.

That is a really good suggestion. Before I start anything, I look through book after book until I see a picture that makes me think 'oh, that would be a cool diorama'. Look around at some WWII sites and you'll see something that peeks your interest. Since you have a time period and location in mind, check out some books from the library on Normandy and pour through them. Start with something simple, then work your way up into future dioramas.

Just my

~ Garth

Totten,am I understanding that this is to be your first diorama effort? If it is and you`ve
never attempted anything like this before may I suggest that whatever you decide on
go lightly,even today I sometimes loose interest very quickly on large elaborate dios.
Be creative but keep it simple and it will be effective. As far as trees are concerned check out the editorial on making trees with wire,you`ll find it on most modelling sites
or do like I did and yank up some poor unsuspecting halfdead root in your backyard,bang off the dirt and let it dry in your basement! Makes great trees and bushes.

it all starts with a mental image.....i can make you think of possible dio ideas, concentrate..................SHERMAN..................SEASON.......................area.............size.............ok
if u have an idea work on it!!!! very broad! as borad as asking what model should i do??
i too am new to making dios (well, GOOD dios...) and im making a tree, im using branches, cuz you have a lot of possiblities and shapes.....
what kit are you doing.......i personally suggest the Tamiya m4a3 sherman 105 howitzer, it has figs there to with which you can make a great battle of the bulge dio!! - GOOD LUCK-DJ

maybe try have the sherman in a grassy field at rest with the crew brewin up some tea, or have the sherman in a field with a blown top and have some german tank hunters lookin ove there prize, anything is possible if u put your mind to it

thank you for all of your advise i was thinking of a sherman going down a dirt road with four second armor division troops walking along side

Totten.....One thing You might like to try is a D-Day Sherman on Normandy. I've built other dios using a base of styrofoam, plaster of paris and sand, of course you want to draw your Dio out first so that you know where to place your items,and if you can't draw (Ionly say this because I don't know your skills) You can do as I did. Draw a square for your tank, circles to indicate positions of your soldiers, and so on. Hope I've been of some help. Ron in Wheaton

If it will be your first then I suggest that you keep it small and simple. The tank, the ground work and some figures perhaps. Try to get some picture references that may give you ideas.

I have done some Sherman dioramas and I kept them as simple as possible. They were not very good and not historically accurate but I had fun doing them. Here are pics for reference.

"May Your Spirits Ride with the Wind"






"Ambush"






Good luck.

common Dwight "not very good" your joking right

I was just about to say as Maffen said,don`t sell yourself short there Dwight,they look pretty good to me,the ideas are excellent! You couldn`t go wrong taking some ideas from Dwight`s pics Totten!

QUOTE: Originally posted by maffen common Dwight "not very good" your joking right

Hmmm I don't know what to say.

Maybe it is just that as an Out of the Box builder I don't see myself doing something as good as most members here who really do great (and accurate)work and have consistently won awards to prove how good they are.

I am just happy to be able to complete something that resembles that what is shown in the box art. And if I can, in anyway be able to give help to those who are just starting out...I will be happier still.

For me the important stuff in a Dio is not so much the level of detail and/or skill of the builder, but rather that it is well presented and most importantly feels RIGHT.

Seen many a Dio that needs multiple view angles to get all the detail in, while not bad I prefer a single view angle.
Also seen quiet a few Dio that gave you a feeling of uneasiness or wrongness, something in there is not the way it would be in real life and thus causes this feeling. Same thing can be seen/felt in many pictures.

thanks for the help every body and dwight ta-ala i think your sherman dios are awsome!

Ya your right those do look awsome. No KIdding i couldn't do that(sniff...sniff)