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Normandy Hedrows, Nearing Completion, updated pics

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  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: The Green "Mountains", Vermont
Normandy Hedrows, Nearing Completion, updated pics
Posted by IanIsBored2000 on Saturday, October 7, 2006 10:57 AM

I originally had another thread for this, but since it took me so long to start, I decided to just start another thread so i can show you progress instead of just telling you my ideas.  The diorama I am working on below, was originally set in Normandy, but after discovering that there were no Panzer II in Normandy, that is subject to change, although I already added part of a knocked out Sherman, and the names of French towns of the signpost....Oh well, who will know but me that its not accurate?  The diorama shows a german Panzer II with its crew of 4 standing in front of it being photographed.  I still need to finish painting the Panzer II and its stowage, along with the crew or 4.  Last, Ill probably think of a few more terrain improvements to make it look more natural.  I orignally had all kinds of crazy plans on having the bridge wired to blow, infantry hiding out in the farm house, an ambush in the hegerows, however, I kind of like the peaceful feel of just a tank crew having fun with a camera on a sunny early fall day at noontime.  Besides, my next diorama is going to be of Omaha beach, plenty of chaos and action there.  Any other ideas or comments?  I know Im not exactly an expert on ww2 and its my first ever diorama, so any small changes that would make it more realistic or visually appealing would be great.  Oh i almost forgot, please tell me if there is any trouble with my pictures

An overall view of the diorama

DSC00029.jpg

 

A shot of the bridge and some of my groundwork

DSC00033.jpg

 

My first attempt at water, tried to make a murky, muddy drainage ditch, still have to cover the sides with something

DSC00034.jpg

Say Cheese!

DSC00035.jpg

My hedgerows (mad of scouring pads) Extremely cheap, fast and In my opinion they look great!

DSC00036.jpg

 

A shot of how amazing model grass is! I used Javis "hairy grass" in spring colors

 

DSC00037-1.jpg

 

And finally, I know it doesnt belong here, but my new skis are so amazing, how could I not show them off?  2005 Line Chronic Twin Tips 143cm Big Smile [:D]

 

DSC00040_edited-1.jpg

 

So any ideas or comments before I finish up the diorama?  Also, If you want to know how anything was made or what was used where, dont hesitate to ask and I can do a step by step procedure.  Im thinking of finding a way to make the jagged styrofoam edges look better, Ive heard painted spackle works well.  Last Im going to find a way to give it a label.  Ive seen some nice engraved metal ones here on the forum, but i'll wait until Im better at dioramas before putting 15 or so dollars into a label.  I was originally going to name it "Feinst unter dem Heimatland" which translated to "Finest of the Fatherland" which i liked, except the Panzer II was anything but the finest, so Ill save that idea for something that more fits the title.  Thanks for looking!

"Scanlon: work your knobby hands on the table in front of you, constructing a make-beleive bomb to blow up a make-beleive world."
  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: AusTx, Live Music Capitol of the World
Posted by SteveM on Saturday, October 7, 2006 11:13 AM
Hey Ian

That looks great. The pictures are too small to see the detail, and unfortunately the link shuts off my internet (???). Might be my computer's fault, not yours. But the dio looks great.

Only suggestion that I have is: maybe bring those GIs back into the ditch a little? They seem seem somewhat noticable in being unseen. Is that the ditch behind them that you're talking about filling with water? Is it possible to position them a couple inches back into that?

Looks very good and lots of attention to detail. Can't wait to see biiger pics. Keep going!!

SteveM

Steve M.

On the workbench: ginormous Kharkov dio

 

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: The Green "Mountains", Vermont
Posted by IanIsBored2000 on Saturday, October 7, 2006 12:02 PM
Hope youcan see the pictures now, I made them alot bigger.  Thanks for the comment, and yes I do have plans to move the Infantry somewhere more concealed, there just placed for looks currently.  Also the ditch I was talking about filling, is the one with the bridge over it.  Maybe you cant really see that that part is lower from the picture angles, but in real life there is a fairly deep ditch I will fill with water.  Any more ideas?
"Scanlon: work your knobby hands on the table in front of you, constructing a make-beleive bomb to blow up a make-beleive world."
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 7, 2006 2:10 PM
Hi Ian,
For your first dio,your heading on the right trackBig Smile [:D](bad pun..).The groundwork looks superb,the hedges especially have turned out very nicely.The only comments that i could pick out although  minor, is that the bridge probably looks alittle to thin to support the weight of the tank.Secondly,the ground between the bridge and the tank could look more churned up.Small details but yet important ones.Yet again,for your first effort you have done extremely well and you should be proud of yourself!.Good luck with the rest of the dio.
Cheers,Shay
  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: The Green "Mountains", Vermont
Posted by IanIsBored2000 on Saturday, October 7, 2006 4:07 PM
Thanks for the commnet, glad you liked it.  I still have plans to make the bridge thicker, its still in its early stages.  Also, I understand what you mean about the churned up ground, but i accidentally got some grass over the dusty ruts. so it looked a little grown over.  By the way, any ideas on something like resin to use as water?  Im working on a low budget and cant afford the special water effects stuff, anything cheaper?
"Scanlon: work your knobby hands on the table in front of you, constructing a make-beleive bomb to blow up a make-beleive world."
  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: AusTx, Live Music Capitol of the World
Posted by SteveM on Saturday, October 7, 2006 7:42 PM
Really, really great work. You can try scraping off the grass where the tracks might be with a hobby knife. Or just paint the grass light brown.

I think you've done a fantastic job, Ian. Better than my first dio.

Can't wait to see your next project. Up your budget and let's get REAL crazy, bruthah!

SteveM

Steve M.

On the workbench: ginormous Kharkov dio

 

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: The Green "Mountains", Vermont
Posted by IanIsBored2000 on Saturday, October 14, 2006 4:27 PM

Can't wait to see your next project. Up your budget and let's get REAL crazy, bruthah!

SteveM

 

Haha, thanks Steve, glad you liked it, and thanks for the ideas and nice commnets from all of you, I should have this finished soon, I loved building it!  it took me around 2 weeks working on and off or so I would say.

"Scanlon: work your knobby hands on the table in front of you, constructing a make-beleive bomb to blow up a make-beleive world."
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Sunday, October 15, 2006 12:02 PM
Looks pretty good so far.  Only one additional comment.  The building is way too thin walled as well.  It looks like it is made out of a paper box.  Try 1/4" plywood next time.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: The Green "Mountains", Vermont
Posted by IanIsBored2000 on Sunday, October 15, 2006 12:18 PM
Thanks heavyarty, that means a lot coming from as skilled of a modeler as you.  Also, youre completely right about the building.  I had never worked with cutting shapes out of wood or scratchbuilding a strucutre, so I thought balasa was a good start.  I had plans to make it thicker somehow, just never happened.
"Scanlon: work your knobby hands on the table in front of you, constructing a make-beleive bomb to blow up a make-beleive world."
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 17, 2006 11:12 AM
nice ski's i dont have a pair because im 13 and im still growing im on my ski mts. ski team tho
  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: The Green "Mountains", Vermont
Posted by IanIsBored2000 on Tuesday, October 17, 2006 2:20 PM
Ya thanks.  Im only 14 and Ive got a lot to grow, so it took me a LONG time to convince my parents to get me skiis that ill grow out of in 3 to 4 years, but I got them pretty cheap.  My parents also want me to join the ski team.  Sorry this is off topic
"Scanlon: work your knobby hands on the table in front of you, constructing a make-beleive bomb to blow up a make-beleive world."
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posted by zokissima on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 2:44 PM

Great job. One suggestion for the next one: The ground work scatter, the loose leaves and that kind of stuff. Go to a park or somewhere outside and gather dry leaves from several different species of trees, because when they dry, they will be different shades. Grind this up, and use the finer stuff for the ground cover. You want to show variance and a plenty of different leaves and such.

 

 

 Pfffft skis....snowboarding is the way to go Tongue [:P]

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: The Green "Mountains", Vermont
Posted by IanIsBored2000 on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 5:47 PM
Ya, I thought about it, but was too lazy to go find leaves, and couldnt think of something decent to grind them up with, although I probably could have just crumbled them quite well.  What I ended up doing was mixing parsley with red piant, then a bit of yellow over that.  And just for the record, snowbaording is in no way shape or form, "the way to go" Thumbs Down [tdn], just kidding, I actually tried it once and liked it.  I do live in Vermont though, home of Burton, first of the snowboards, but Im a straight up ski bum, no boards with straps for me.  Thanks for the comment.
"Scanlon: work your knobby hands on the table in front of you, constructing a make-beleive bomb to blow up a make-beleive world."
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