"Excuse me, Miss--we're lost..."

IYAAYAS wrote:

Seems a shame to ruin such a well done dio with an inexplicable addition of a totaly out of place figure.  I'm not sure why you always push the limits, but I see it as a waste of talent.

Nice one Manny!! Excellent as usual!

I like it, it's different.

Lighten up yah ammo puke

IYAAYAS wrote:

Seems a shame to ruin such a well done dio with an inexplicable addition of a totaly out of place figure.  I'm not sure why you always push the limits, but I see it as a waste of talent.

Actually, i very well disagree! Just in reading some of the experiences of Nazi soldiers and alot of the interactions they had with those citizens in occupied countries, it looks pretty accurate! Is it a bit risque? Sure! But it certainly is believable!

I, for one, think it looks great!

bondoman wrote:

They're not Nazis (political), they're German (national). Just thought I'd deflect that for you. Did anyone see the movie "Cross of Iron"? Great book, lousy movie, but this reminded me of the water tank scene...

   That was the first thoughts that came to my mind. Those Russian girls sure played rough...

   I have seen worse movies. Try one called 'The Bunker'.....

   Boomer...

Average German soldiers are not Nazi's. Nazi is a political party. There are Nazi supporters but I dont feel it's right to refer to Germans in any WW2 scene as Nazi's even with a swastika arm band or anything. My Great Opa was in the German Navy, he wasnt a Nazi and I take offense when mere soldiers are called that because it implies he is also one on the same level. He is simply a soldier serving his country. However SS units (like these guys) I feel can be considered Nazi's because they are supporters and almost a branch of the political party, like Gestapo or SA.

(Im not historian so some of this may not be 100% accurate, just what Ive learned from Hist. 12, wikipedia, library, etc..) 

Anyways, great dio Manny maybe just display the woman facing away from the audience when its on display. You think they would at least be polite enough for her to dress before marching over lol.

[quote user="Manstein's revenge"]

IYAAYAS wrote:

Seems a shame to ruin such a well done dio with an inexplicable addition of a totaly out of place figure.  I'm not sure why you always push the limits, but I see it as a waste of talent. care to eloborate, I'm not sure I understand your comments?

sure...a bath tube in the middle of a field with nothing around. No signs of a destroyed building, not even a small shed. How did she get into the bath with out getting the water dirty? How did she get out, there's not floor or support under the tube so it would instantly sink into the wet ground. How did she drain the tub after she was done. Where's the soap, the shampoo? Should I go on? It's out of place Manny!

You guys are really funny, you chastise a guy like Model Maniac for having the wrong uniforms on a soldier, but you'll let a tub with a naked woman IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE slide! Classic stuff fellas!

IYAAYAS wrote:

[quote user="Manstein's revenge"]  IYAAYAS wrote: Seems a shame to ruin such a well done dio with an inexplicable addition of a totaly out of place figure.  I'm not sure why you always push the limits, but I see it as a waste of talent. care to eloborate, I'm not sure I understand your comments?   sure...a bath tube in the middle of a field with nothing around. No signs of a destroyed building, not even a small shed. How did she get into the bath with out getting the water dirty? How did she get out, there's not floor or support under the tube so it would instantly sink into the wet ground. How did she drain the tub after she was done. Where's the soap, the shampoo? Should I go on? It's out of place Manny!   You guys are really funny, you chastise a guy like Model Maniac for having the wrong uniforms on a soldier, but you'll let a tub with a naked woman IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE slide! Classic stuff fellas!

That's not a bathtub, it's a watering trough for horses. How many peasants have soap or even shampoo for that matter? Look closer! And who cares where you find a naked female as long as you find one? But, I have to say Mr. Revenge, this really isn't one of your better ones.

IYAAYAS wrote:

[quote user="Manstein's revenge"]  IYAAYAS wrote: Seems a shame to ruin such a well done dio with an inexplicable addition of a totaly out of place figure.  I'm not sure why you always push the limits, but I see it as a waste of talent. care to eloborate, I'm not sure I understand your comments?   sure...a bath tube in the middle of a field with nothing around. No signs of a destroyed building, not even a small shed. How did she get into the bath with out getting the water dirty? How did she get out, there's not floor or support under the tube so it would instantly sink into the wet ground. How did she drain the tub after she was done. Where's the soap, the shampoo? Should I go on? It's out of place Manny!   You guys are really funny, you chastise a guy like Model Maniac for having the wrong uniforms on a soldier, but you'll let a tub with a naked woman IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE slide! Classic stuff fellas!

...you bore me with your worthless comments... 

Justify your "selection" how ever you please, but the bottom line is your dio does contain elements that do not fit togther.  It's funny how when the shoe is on the other foot, you become ubber defensive isn't Manny?

If you chose this scene selection you should have at least backed it up with some support.  You choose to slap a "bath basin" in the middle of a field for the shear purpose of including a naked figure in your dio.

If you went through all this trouble to do it, back it up.  Pheasant or not there would be some sort of shelter for protection from the elements, come on now!  In all your historical knowledge I'm sure you discovered Russia gets a little cool in the winter.

However I did get quite the chuckle by the individual that said it was some sort of cattle trough....ahhh, that's classic.  Where's the "beef" to support that.

I think it is a great build and you should not be running the man down he is a great modeler

and he posted some great builds on the forum and for you to run him down is not on!! you speak of support for his build but looks like you need some support cos you are standing alone when it comes to running people and there builds down .

nice work man

Mike

I don't think Manny has anything to worry about...his quality is good, and I never said other wise.

IYAAYAS there are no "pheasants" in the dio. Who said it was winter?

Dont pheasants fly south in the winter anyways? jk jk.

Now in true MM style we would have some dude in the sdkfz. chillin with binoculars looking into the "corner". Im jk, we should all be supportive of eachothers work though. I know mine is definately not up to par with most of the stuff that gets flak around here.

One thing on your vehicle Manny, the Socialist shield decal appears to have quite a bit of visible film around it. I dont know noticed or not, looks good otherwise.

I have to agree...the story line could use some refinemnet.

The Germans don't seem to be walking from the halftrack so much as past it. It seems unlikely the girl is being surprised by these guys since a rather noisy vehicle is parked quite close to her. It also seems to me she would have vacated the premises or at least hidden when she heard the track approaching.

Construction comments...overall construction and painting looks pretty good. There is a mold line at the bottom of the pump(?) thing next to the water trough. Decal film shows up in the enlarged photos. The larger tree trunk could be fitted into the gropund better, it looks like its almost floating.

I'm never one to really question credibility of a scene, and I particularily like this one, if only  because I love that particular verlinden figure

Other than that, the most obvious thing is the decal film being quite apparent on the vehicle.

I think the story is plausible and the figures look great. The halftrack looks like it has only been driven about 3km from the factory. No need to mud ball it or rust bucket it, just get a bit more grime on the running gear and some more dust on it and in it. It is after all on a dirt road. I still think it looks great though. 

A dio is suppossed to be a brief "snapshot" of a particular time and place, and I've never found Manny's to be lacking as far as "telling a story".  You should be able to walk up to it (at a competition table, for arguments sake) and say "Oh yeah, I get this"  A dio may only encapsulate 10 or 20 square metres of terrain, you can't expect to fit everything in it !  We are looking at these from the outside, not seeing every little detail from the soldiers point of view, as far as his eye can see !  To expect to see part of the dwelling, paving stones, plumbing, chickens, fences, farmer Yuri on his tractor, etc,..... sheesh ! ......lighten up ! 

 M.M/A.I runs afoul sometimes because his choice of vehicles/uniforms/weapons/positioning is sometimes innacurate.  I dont think you can make the same criticism here.

ajlafleche wrote:

I have to agree...the story line could use some refinemnet. The Germans don't seem to be walking from the halftrack so much as past it. It seems unlikely the girl is being surprised by these guys since a rather noisy vehicle is parked quite close to her. It also seems to me she would have vacated the premises or at least hidden when she heard the track approaching.

I have to agree with ajlafleche here. This would almost have to be classified as fantasy, as the story is highly unrealistic and improbable. Unless I'm mistaken, the Germans didn't usually install SWAT-style near-silent exhaust systems on their personel carriers. They wouldn't have surprised her in the least, she would have heard the vehicle approaching from a hundred yards away at least. 

The only way the scene works is if she is deliberately showing off, in which case the Germans are looking waaaay too professional and uninterested.

My advice: if you want to showcase a certain figure, fine, but this is not a great way to do it.

From an execution standpoint, MR, I do have to compliment you. Your figures are definitely getting better - the camo patterns are more even and more realistic than some of the first figures you posted here. Most of the elements look pretty good - there are a few sour points as others have mentioned, but overall your construction and painting look fairly good

Manny,

As always, excellent work and you sure do love incorporating underdressed female with most of your diorama . 

Hermesminiatures wrote:

ajlafleche wrote: I have to agree...the story line could use some refinemnet. The Germans don't seem to be walking from the halftrack so much as past it. It seems unlikely the girl is being surprised by these guys since a rather noisy vehicle is parked quite close to her. It also seems to me she would have vacated the premises or at least hidden when she heard the track approaching. I have to agree with ajlafleche here. This would almost have to be classified as fantasy, as the story is highly unrealistic and improbable. Unless I'm mistaken, the Germans didn't usually install SWAT-style near-silent exhaust systems on their personel carriers. They wouldn't have surprised her in the least, she would have heard the vehicle approaching from a hundred yards away at least.  The only way the scene works is if she is deliberately showing off, in which case the Germans are looking waaaay too professional and uninterested. My advice: if you want to showcase a certain figure, fine, but this is not a great way to do it.   From an execution standpoint, MR, I do have to compliment you. Your figures are definitely getting better - the camo patterns are more even and more realistic than some of the first figures you posted here. Most of the elements look pretty good - there are a few sour points as others have mentioned, but overall your construction and painting look fairly good

Not bad Manny. The fungus looked cool. Or atleast thats what it looks like to me. mushrooms growing on a stump. Nice touch.

 I see some of the guys point. To help your story for me I picture this happening just outside her little peasant shanty. Maybe some see it otherwise or cant "see" the hut, but, i do.

And the second guy ... well he's just not quite excited yet. See he's pondering an efficiant way to apply zimm in the field. But any moment he'll snap out of it =)

Manny 

It looks great from eye and I am not so much in to analysing whys and wherefores. Give me an aircraft and that might be another story though!

On a serious note though,  I am ignoring the darker possibility to the diorama, sorry to raise that but as my 18 year old was raped 18 months ago, I am very sensitive to these things now.

But ignoring that, it looks great. I am very impressed just how well your figures turned out. Love seeing your inspirational work!

cheers 

Mike