How to build a Large Normandy Dio in 1/72 scale. Finnished!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow! A masterpiece! and such a small scale too. You are the bomb :)

I try to stay away from such a small scale because my eyes aren't as good as they used to be when I was younger.

Very impressive. Look forward to seeing the rest of the diorama.

Best Regards and stay well.

Nick

Here is a more complete how to of the diorama in this months magazine.

Just great.......!

Thanks a lot guys glad you like it as much as i do. Starting part two soon.

Hi Andy, just got back from the hospital and had time to view the whole post...phew!!! awesome. You've captured the groundwork so well. The composition is excellent and I'm not just talking about the figures and vehicle distribution...it's the trees, shrubs, bridge and roadway that's spot on.

You are also very generous with the use of foliage which absolutely captures the lush greenery of the European country side. Many modelers fail to do this and you end up seeing lots of bald patches or a half hearted attempt at foliage.

Also noticed the same base material that you and I use...polysterene, polyfillar, PVA or white glue, fibres and sprinkled woodland scenic leaves...and that's real cool.

I'm still taking in the whole scene and it gives me impetuous to continue with R & R as I seem to be waning lately.

Looking forward to your article.

Cheers,

Richard

Andy...how did I miss this. Really great work and in braile scale too. I'm in a rush now but will take the time to view the whole post from beginning to end with enjoyment. Really love it foliage and all.

Congrates also for getting it published.

Cheers,

Richard

Andy, as I stated in the other website I hate you (j/k).  I am still awed every time i see this dio.  I can't get over the detail on the figures at such a small scale.  You my friend inspire people to create dios.  Not only are you a great modeler your a great photographer, as your shots have shown.  I still can't do what you do in 35 let alone in braille scale.

I am still trying to get my wife to move to England and move next door so i can come over and just sit and watch you build.  Cheers mate great Freaking great  job!!!

Hawk

aka Sean Hawker

WOW!

Congrats Andy. Definately well deserved.

WOW!

Good show on the article. I still remember this WIP from my former "forum life". Glad to see it will get its due in the mag.

Steve

Congrats! Looking forward to it when my issues arrives in the mail.

Congrats Andy..this is one of my favorites of all time...OUTSTANDING work!!!!!!

Got this one published now, a 9 page article in Military modelling magazine, I was well chuffed.

Bodge wrote:

Valid points all round, and as none of these vehicles or figures are permanantly fixed down they can be moved quite easily.  My thoughts were the crew knew that the bridge might suffer some damage because of its relativly small size and the crew new thier machine was exstremely heavy . Or maybe the bridge allready had a crack and there thoughts were we got away with it this time but how much more will it take or has it got any worse.  Just some  thoughts.  Andy.

I'll be honest, I feel kinda like an a$$ for even mentioning that.  I only thought about it after reading Manny's comment and then realizing you had turned the tank around.  The thing is, as I went back and looked at your pictures (which are SUPERB, by the way) I realized that if I was looking at your dio in a show, I probably would never even think to wonder 'how they knew' to check the bridge.  The layout and poses of the figures just seems so 'natural' that is doesn't matter 'how' they knew.  They just 'knew' and that is good enough.

Once again, Andy, kudos to you.  That is an amazing piece of work.  I have often thought of 1/72 scale as being the scale that I used to build just so I could blow them up with firecrackers.  I thought I had 'grown up' when I started working in 1/35.  Your work has really demonstrated the amazing work that can be done in a smaller scale. 

Mansteins revenge wrote:

This is one of the finest 72nd scale dios I have ever seen...very Normandy-like feel to it...great landscaping... One question: it looks like you turned the KT around from its previous position? It makes a little less sense for the crew to have stopped after crossing most of the bridge to examine the crack in its current location, as they would probably most likely want to clear the bridge completely, les it fall...However, to me I have always thought that the way the KT is now facing was the "natural front" of the dio as I remarked in an earlier post... 5 stars !!!

OK, Manny's post did make me think of one question....

As your story-line seems to suggest, the KT crosses the bridge, it cracks, they stop to check out the damage for the remaining vehicles in the column....  Is that accurate?

My only question would be, considering how loud and rumbling it must be in that KT, how would they even know that had caused damage to the bridge?  To me, it would make more sense that it was the Kubel guys who were checking out the damage as the KT continued on the way...

Now, having said that, I think it is completely cool to take 'artistic license' and since it looks so darn good, you don't really have to justify it...

She,s all writen up and filed ready to go.Just messin about with some old effects on the last photo,s i think they look quite good.

Speechless! 

SPEECHLESS!!!

Yes, as Hans said, WRITE THIS THING UP!  And include some more pics.

This is one of the finest 72nd scale dios I have ever seen...very Normandy-like feel to it...great landscaping...

One question: it looks like you turned the KT around from its previous position? It makes a little less sense for the crew to have stopped after crossing most of the bridge to examine the crack in its current location, as they would probably most likely want to clear the bridge completely, les it fall...However, to me I have always thought that the way the KT is now facing was the "natural front" of the dio as I remarked in an earlier post...

5 stars !!!

Andy, that is awesome mate. The scene needs no introduction which just makes the dio even better. You know exactly whats happening and going on.

Oh yeah and i saw the bunny under the tree LoL. As for the washing line do you mean your blue one in the background?

...Guy

WOW the finished build is AMAZING! and you said this is only one of three parts?!?! be sure to post wip threads of the other ones whene you build them!

Bodge,

I think I've commented on this before, but I've just been looking a all of the new pictures.

I can only reinforce what others have already said, this is a supeb piece of workmanship, and looks huge fun to build! The detail is so lifelike I find myself looking deeper and deeper into the images just to take in all of the realism.

I am a fan of this post, huge thank you for sharing! 

Apart from some minor details eg some equipment and some crew for the RSO,s and some fuel cans and the like the basic scene is done . Here are some shots i took outside today and im well happy with it. But dont forget this is part 1 of a three part layout but i think i might have a break from this for a while  .  I am however going to finnish the article for the mag on this part. Im gonna get on with some 35 scale stuff next over in the armour section and one thing that needs finnishing is my Famo, anyway i hope you like these shots as much as i do, Cheers ,, Andy.PS can u spot the rabbit? and the washing line in two shots?

  Bodge this really is some beautiful work. I think my favorite part, even though it's pretty hard to decide, is the guys putting the cammo on the Panther.

   One suggestion. Have you thought about placing something along the bank of the stream? Maybe a couple of guys filling canteens or even a piece of, dare I say, a downed allied plane?

  You might want to make some room on your wall for the awards I'm sure this will be bringing home