here goes this
~~~~~~~~CHAPTER NEXT
LAYOUT of The BASE
Having this scene rollicking around in my head for over a year, I've had a fairly clear idea what I had set about doing----and as long as it takes to make it come about----I never stopped to draw out a much of a diagram of the full diorama---well, this is going to still take some imagination as it's just the basis for the groundwork, but this will provide some idea of what I'm up to---I need to play around with a few bits even still............
Layout PHASE I - Positions of the gun emplacement & motorpool. Everything is placed onto 9/16" Elmers Foamboard doubled to 1 1/8". The rest of the foamboard, florist foam pieces and rocks are left loose to allow adjustment. I had determined the over-all dimentions I wanted for this Dio long ago, but it takes this kind of layout to be certain of the size. I already have a glass-sided wooden case this will all reside in.
The guns trailing arms will of course be dig-in---a good deal of effert will go into what dirt has been 'dug', displaced & moved.
The steps behind the gun will be a a dirt 'ramp' , up to the parapet, when topped with dirtwork, and everything that isn't the crude roadway will be made to slope this way and that, showing effects of wind and run-off. The vehicle placement here is approximate, as is the ammo box location, and the rocks are not all represented by any stretch.
Layout PHASE II Fire Base
Here's the rag-tag gun crew in position. Remember I'm modelling a makeshift unit of personel sourced broadly for this team. This is to represent no regular unit, but one formed of desperation, only a small number of days from the end of the entire Afrika Campaign. The fire-position is a hold-over from the 1st World War, the blown sand hastily shoveled away from the rockline, to move the Pak 40 in close. (The rock outcropping will be greatly increased in size, and barried in sand at it's base)
I had greatly considered switching the positions of the two figures indicated, as I'd always pictured the infantryman looking over the battlefield as below, but it simply makes much more sense to have him in the rear, as 2nd loader, and the gun commander in the more likely spot, ready to call the shot.
The Alpine DAK Panzer NCO (on the far left) would be a late addition to the unit(supose his Panzer was destroyed ) He is a figure so often seen(as the sculpting and casting are top-shelf), but I haven't seen it incorporated into a large grouping so much at all.
One other minor variation was these two possibilities for the squeemish fellow with his ears plugged, both seem to work to me. Of course any imput about these options is
welcome at this point. I even gave some thought to a 5 man crew without the 'call-shot' guy,(below) but found him to be just too interesting to leave out.
Layout PHASE III The British Attack
Here's where the 'clash' in ~"Clash in Tunisia"~ comes in. The "Tommies' are moving quickly over a rocky approach, from the rear, and blocked from site of the guncrew largely by the Opel truck----There is at least one German(likely to be two) who is just now become aware of the attack, and is forced into action before a full assessment can be made, or warning shouted through the
gun- fire filled air to his mates.
The "man' on point, is the (likely 17 year old) "skinny-kid" as it happens. Nearby is the man with the Thompson, should he find himself in trouble.
As well, I had originally intended all along to have the Soldier sighting down his Lee Enfield in about the place above, but am unsure if I will include him at this point, as I like the simpler scene without him, and don't want to create a "known outcome" to the situation, as he simply can not miss at that range. In any case adjustments need to be made to his helmet, so he's on the bench for now.
You'll notice I'm looking at a late addition to the Axis forces(on the far left) in the form of a nice Fallschirmjager from Platoon(evidence puts some of these elite troops somewhere in the area at the time)I show him in essentially two positions in these photos, and may decide about that last thing, as I want him in motion, near ready-to-fire, but not quite there yet. It's a delicate balance to create a very rough action scene
These two are peeling off around the other side of the truck. The 'targets' are just coming into view of the Brenman at this point.
You can begin to see that these vehicles I've spent all this time with, are not just decorations off to one side, but actually importaint elements to how the story is unfolding.
One 'over-all' shot of --what I got--- at this point. I have this sitting on the shelf this week like an unfinished chess game. I like to think about things at this point and move little things around a some---then I'll remove it all and set everything in the case to keep the dust off while not working with these elements. The base will soon be blocked-in, sided-up, topped-off, sprayed-down....1...2...3....Easy as that
Thanks for staying tuned--let me know if I'm mad INDY