Prelude to Villers...June 12, 1944 *now with eggs*

Nice looking dio Manstein. Who are the figures supposed to be and whose tank is it?

One suggestion: while you seem to be quite good at producing "pieces", your dioramas look kind of like pieces on a base, not a contiguous scene. A few ways to improve this would be to use a single color of paint or preferably pigment to add some weathering to everything, making everything have the same color "dirt" - I use pigments or a very light overspray of thinned paint. Another thing to try would be to highlight everything, which could be done by dry-brushing or overspraying paint. I might not be sounding very clear here, but the goal is to make everything blend together, and to me it's looking a bit stark.

How's the white balance on your camera? Are the pictures any yellower than real life? Everything looks a bit too yellow to me.

The cobblestone is looking kind of bare in a few spots, creating "holes" that detract from the flow of the scene. Just adding different dry-brushing in areas that don't need an object to fill them usually improves the appearance.

It's a great dio, nonetheless. You're very good at adding the little details most builders miss. 

Oh Manny!--you're gonna hate yerself for telling me how to quote ya by doin' that "apostrophe thing"! LOL!

First the positive: a really well-executed dio--lots of visual interest and lots of cool litle details that keep me looking for something else. EXCELLENT figures as wel! Really good camo on the uniforms--and I know what a %$@#*! they can be; I'm painting one right now for the Hetz TC. The Tiger is nicely finished, and though I still think the markings are a tad too bright for my tastes, I will say that you've certainly got that "Greenland look" to them! Nice little radio op's station, and as a Pollack I know that that's not a seam on the kielbasa--that's how they come!

On the other hand...

Mansteins revenge wrote:

...agreed, I actually "rushed" it to the pic stage before blending with pigments just to get some online feedback...I have to go back later and still do a few "little" things (add antenae on tank, pigments where figs attach to base, etc...)...thanks for feedback...

I think I've seen enough of your posts by now to comment that you seem to have done this more than once: to "rush" things onto the forum unfinished or on bases that don't quite fit the scene. I would humbly advise you to be a little more patient, and wait until you've "got it all together" and then post it at the point of where you don't need to add justifications or qualifications! Or at very least, post your post as a "WIP" and ask for feedback and suggestions as part of the finishing process. Believe me--I'm DYING to post my Hetzer, which is about 98% finished, but have promised myself NOT to post it until it's 101% finished to the LAST detail! Remember the power of "first impressions"!!!

I know what Hermesminiatures is saying about the blending of the scene, and I concur about the layout--I think that the space in front of the Tiger could use two of those tankers--or maybe move the lot of them there. They seem a bit "squished" there on the side of it, and then there's that big empty space in front. In fact, after thinking about it, I think I'd "lose" two of the four tankers for the sake of not cluttering the scene?

Might wanna fill those seams in the road if you can...I'll be watching this thread; I'm interested and curious as to what improvements and additions in detail you're gonna do to this dio before you call it "finished"!  Overall though, excellent work! 

the doog wrote:

Oh Manny!--you're gonna hate yerself for telling me how to quote ya by doin' that "apostrophe thing"! LOL! First the positive: a really well-executed dio--lots of visual interest and lots of cool litle details that keep me looking for something else. EXCELLENT figures as wel! Really good camo on the uniforms--and I know what a %$@#*! they can be; I'm painting one right now for the Hetz TC. The Tiger is nicely finished, and though I still think the markings are a tad too bright for my tastes, I will say that you've certainly got that "Greenland look" to them! Nice little radio op's station, and as a Pollack I know that that's not a seam on the kielbasa--that's how they come! On the other hand...  Mansteins revenge wrote: ...agreed, I actually "rushed" it to the pic stage before blending with pigments just to get some online feedback...I have to go back later and still do a few "little" things (add antenae on tank, pigments where figs attach to base, etc...)...thanks for feedback... I think I've seen enough of your posts by now to comment that you seem to have done this more than once: to "rush" things onto the forum unfinished or on bases that don't quite fit the scene. I would humbly advise you to be a little more patient, and wait until you've "got it all together" and then post it at the point of where you don't need to add justifications or qualifications! Or at very least, post your post as a "WIP" and ask for feedback and suggestions as part of the finishing process. Believe me--I'm DYING to post my Hetzer, which is about 98% finished, but have promised myself NOT to post it until it's 101% finished to the LAST detail! Remember the power of "first impressions"!!! I know what Hermesminiatures is saying about the blending of the scene, and I concur about the layout--I think that the space in front of the Tiger could use two of those tankers--or maybe move the lot of them there. They seem a bit "squished" there on the side of it, and then there's that big empty space in front. In fact, after thinking about it, I think I'd "lose" two of the four tankers for the sake of not cluttering the scene? Might wanna fill those seams in the road if you can...I'll be watching this thread; I'm interested and curious as to what improvements and additions in detail you're gonna do to this dio before you call it "finished"!  Overall though, excellent work!

LOL...great points and I should have posted it as a WIP...LOL, I was gonna mention the suasage seams but didn't want to argue that point minor point as many folks probably haven't seen a "real" German wurst...lol...as a matter of fact, a lot of cobbles I have seen in Europe have some seam lines where patches start and stop...I have been to Europe (as I know you have) and those roads never cease to amaze me...the composition does need some work and I'm sure I'll be adjusting before it is "done"...in fact, I am probably gonna replace the Kubel with a Schwimm and add a few more figs as you suggested to the front...I have read your posts on dios and you have a good eye for composition so I appreciate the feedback...and I gotta adjust that camera to the light...thanks for thee tips!

SteveM wrote:

Hey Manny- really great piece. I, too, love the attention spent in your work. Sausage seam lines?. Wow! That's one serious eye he has. I agree about the yellow tones, but I get the same toning sometimes. So I'm anxioous to hear what/how you took them, and any possible solutuins. Did you take these shots outside?

...sausage seam lines: I hate when that happens, especially during combat...LOL...

...the light in some pics are from me opening the blinds in the kitchen...others are bulb lit...I gotta adjust that camera to knock down the greenish hue I am getting and work a little more on the light...thanks for the feedback... 

Cool, Manny!

I concede the point about the roads--I looked at some of my holiday photos and you could argue that there are "seams" in the roads.

Soldier on!--I'll be watching with interest!

Hermesminiatures wrote:

Nice looking dio Manstein. Who are the figures supposed to be and whose tank is it? One suggestion: while you seem to be quite good at producing "pieces", your dioramas look kind of like pieces on a base, not a contiguous scene. A few ways to improve this would be to use a single color of paint or preferably pigment to add some weathering to everything, making everything have the same color "dirt" - I use pigments or a very light overspray of thinned paint. Another thing to try would be to highlight everything, which could be done by dry-brushing or overspraying paint. I might not be sounding very clear here, but the goal is to make everything blend together, and to me it's looking a bit stark. How's the white balance on your camera? Are the pictures any yellower than real life? Everything looks a bit too yellow to me. The cobblestone is looking kind of bare in a few spots, creating "holes" that detract from the flow of the scene. Just adding different dry-brushing in areas that don't need an object to fill them usually improves the appearance.   It's a great dio, nonetheless. You're very good at adding the little details most builders miss.

...thanks, the Tiger "221" represents the 2nd platoon leader's vehicle of Wittman's 2nd company. It was commanded by Untersturmfuhrer Georg Hantusch...the scene represents the day before the ambush at Villers...Wittman is meeting with all of his platton leaders during this time and providing them with the latest intel on the British units which are getting nearer by the hour...Wittman is the fig with the gloves on in front of the tank...he is speaking to part of "221's" crew, while another crew member sits and studies a map with a 101 staff officer...

Buddho wrote:

Beautiful work, MR! The figures are wonderfully done.....

...thanks, Buddho---added a couple more pics of the backside of the dio...

MR,

You really like those female figures!  Awsome work!

m1garand wrote:

MR, You really like those female figures!  Awsome work!

...lol...women, you gotta have something in the dio's worth fighting for...lol...

...I usually try to add a bit of humor in my dios, usually in a hard to see spot...like in my dio: "Road to Rome" posted a while back...there was a woman bathing in one of the bombed-out buildings...

Well, okay...

After reading all this feedback, I honestly have to say three things.

One - I've never looked at a radioman's sausage.

Two - Manny, you have a real talent for figures, and also for those fine details that make it look like these guys are really in this place. The food, the little bucket of coal next to the stove. These are the details that make a dio, in my opinion. I would have missed most of them if I'd built it.

Three - Dude, your dio needs to tell one story. I need to be able to see that story from one angle, one good look. This dio, while impressive in its build, is telling like four stories at once, which is distracting. One, you've got the massive Tiger and its crew (or handful of troops, anyway) discussing when they're moving out, or whatever. Another is the kubel with its driver and honcho discussing something over in the corner. Next, you've got Fritz and Mademoiselle in the tub around the corner (a story in itself) and then you've got the radioman who's kinda off doing his radio thing. On top of all that, you've got a couple more troops going over the map, although they go pretty well with the Tiger crew. So in all this, I'm left trying to figure out what the story is, what the artist is trying to convey.

So again, each piece is fantastic. Just need to simplify your composition a little.

~Jerry

jthurston wrote:

Well, okay... After reading all this feedback, I honestly have to say three things. One - I've never looked at a radioman's sausage. Two - Manny, you have a real talent for figures, and also for those fine details that make it look like these guys are really in this place. The food, the little bucket of coal next to the stove. These are the details that make a dio, in my opinion. I would have missed most of them if I'd built it. Three - Dude, your dio needs to tell one story. I need to be able to see that story from one angle, one good look. This dio, while impressive in its build, is telling like four stories at once, which is distracting. One, you've got the massive Tiger and its crew (or handful of troops, anyway) discussing when they're moving out, or whatever. Another is the kubel with its driver and honcho discussing something over in the corner. Next, you've got Fritz and Mademoiselle in the tub around the corner (a story in itself) and then you've got the radioman who's kinda off doing his radio thing. On top of all that, you've got a couple more troops going over the map, although they go pretty well with the Tiger crew. So in all this, I'm left trying to figure out what the story is, what the artist is trying to convey. So again, each piece is fantastic. Just need to simplify your composition a little. ~Jerry

...lol...I'm GLAD you didn't notice the sausage...

...After having had the chance to get feedback and do some more thinking on the composition I plan on making the following changes:

1) Move the two figs studying the map (one sitting) to the front of the tank, under the barrel.

2) Switch the Kubel to a Schwimm and reposition the two figs so the pointing fig is pointing to the same general direction as the tank's barrel and the direction the sitting tanker w/ map is looking.

3) Blend everything together better with pastels and possibly add a few more figs and misc items...

I believe this will create some consistancy with the "eye" of the viewer. It should lead the viewer's eye off to the left, where the "enemy" is "drawing closer." As far as a "story", the story is there (in the title) in my opinion: the "still before the storm" so to speak...MW is meeting with his platoon leaders just prior to the Villers battle...the tank barrel, the pointing fig, the way the tanker is looking off to the left side should create a little more tension... 

...as far as the sub-plots...that is a trademark for most of my dios...and you really can't see them if it is viewed normally...so i don't even take them into consideration when laying out the actual story...each is actually a vignette initself...but the radioman could be gathering the latest British dispositions and the tanker in the tub could be having a little fun before he is possibly KIA the next day, so I guess they do support the story...

Thanks for the feedback !!!

Awesome work Manny i am a big fan of your figures and the way they interact with each other i am looking forward to seeing the final piece finished, this sure is one big dio.

Ron.

What a masterpeice of workmanship on display....looking at all the seperate scenes and how much detail you have placed in them is simply incredible. Can I ask to how much time you have put into this diorama so far?

Regards, Dan

Biffa:  Thanks, I will probably be rearranging some of the figs, but the Tiger will remain the centerpiece of the dio. 

I think I will be moving the two "map readers" to the area in front of the tank just under the barrel...the sitting tanker will be looking off in the same direction the barrel is pointing...also plan on moving the pointing officer next to the kubel so that he is also pointing in that same general direction...making these changes--will hopefully--cause the viewer to look at the dio from L to R and "tie" in the different groups of figs together...it will also hopefullu create more of a sense of tension and apprehension, as the Brits will be moving towards them from the side that everything is pointing to/looking towards...I also am working on a schwimm to replace the kubel...

...thanks for looking !!!

Buddho: Thanks! I don't keep track of time spent but I believe I have over 100-120 hours in it right now...sometimes I have things already done that are sitting on the shelf waiting for a "home" so everthing you see in a dio wasn't necessarily made during the time the dio was put together...I tend to keep a surplus of figs/buildings and even vehicles painted up...other times, I build everything specifically for a scene, such as my Kharkov dio... 

great work Eric Von--- I just gotta know-- did you or FSM 'bleep out' the little plastic 1/35 scale boobs?-- -- as a person who greatly dislikes censorship, especially in art, I find that wierd  -- but I think the work, although a little 'busy' is top notch and very artistic---tread

treadwell wrote:

great work Eric Von--- I just gotta know-- did you or FSM 'bleep out' the little plastic 1/35 scale boobs?-- -- as a person who greatly dislikes censorship, especially in art, I find that wierd  -- but I think the work, although a little 'busy' is top notch and very artistic---tread

...LOL---I did...I didn't want to push my luck after being suspended once already...I have posted other work in "figs and misc" that I bleeped out as well:

...thanks for looking and the kind words...

Mansteins revenge wrote:

treadwell wrote: great work Eric Von--- I just gotta know-- did you or FSM 'bleep out' the little plastic 1/35 scale boobs?-- -- as a person who greatly dislikes censorship, especially in art, I find that wierd  -- but I think the work, although a little 'busy' is top notch and very artistic---tread ...LOL---I did...I didn't want to push my luck after being suspended once already...I have posted other work in "figs and misc" that I bleeped out as well:   ...thanks for looking and the kind words...

thanks man-- glad to hear it was you, as the artist, deciding the best way to show your talent--- that works o.k. for me--on a sidebar, I remember when you got suspended, and I must say, in a way, I miss some of your irreverance--it was a cool jolt of reality, that when put into the written word was a little hard to get away with here, at FSM--but nice try!-- again dude, excellent job!!--- tread

Jester75 wrote:

Your dios are very interesting. I enjoy seeing the little hidden vignettes inside the dio even if they arent likely to be taking place. Would be nice to see some clearer shots on some of them, a few are a bit blurry. Great work MR and keep em coming!

...thanks, Jester...I like the little "side" stories as well...I think you should be able to "visit" a dio multiple times and discover something new each time you view it...my dios usually are a combination of several vignettes or stories...

...sorry about the blurred pics; gotta get a new camera...!!!

Hermesminiatures wrote:

Nice looking dio Manstein. Who are the figures supposed to be and whose tank is it? One suggestion: while you seem to be quite good at producing "pieces", your dioramas look kind of like pieces on a base, not a contiguous scene. A few ways to improve this would be to use a single color of paint or preferably pigment to add some weathering to everything, making everything have the same color "dirt" - I use pigments or a very light overspray of thinned paint. Another thing to try would be to highlight everything, which could be done by dry-brushing or overspraying paint. I might not be sounding very clear here, but the goal is to make everything blend together, and to me it's looking a bit stark. How's the white balance on your camera? Are the pictures any yellower than real life? Everything looks a bit too yellow to me. The cobblestone is looking kind of bare in a few spots, creating "holes" that detract from the flow of the scene. Just adding different dry-brushing in areas that don't need an object to fill them usually improves the appearance.   It's a great dio, nonetheless. You're very good at adding the little details most builders miss.

"Nice looking dio Manstein. Who are the figures supposed to be and whose tank is it?"

...you can just make out the SS abtl101 insignia on the front and rear hull in these pics: