Hi all,

This is my completed dio I've entitled "Fate Worse Than Death". It depicts some German captives of the Soviets heading East while the Soviets head West toward Germany. It's time frame is supposed to be summer of 44, perhaps during Operation Bagration.

Kits used were: Tamiya Russian Tank Crew at Rest (the 2 tankers), Miniart Russians at Rest, and the Masterbox German Captives set. The tank is the Academy M4A2 Marines.

The tank got a Tamiya suspension, Italeri tracks, and a number of other fixes as per the one "in progress" photo I've included (I posted several of these a month or so ago). I added weld seams, cheek armor, the extra handles, the log, tool straps, etc. Nice kit. I used the Italeri tracks b/c I know the Soviets tended to like the all steel type tracks (plus I can come up with many better uses for those rubber chevrons with EECs....think JUMBO!). I just noticed I have to fix that one bit of sandshield skirt attachment on the RHS...oh well.

I liked the MB and Tamiya figs. Not a fan of the Miniart ones....oddly proportioned, HUGE ears (think Baby New Year!), poor fit, and bad seams/flash.

Base is good ole pink polystyrene foam with wood sides (painted black), with spackle with dirt sprinkled on top for the groundwork. Grass is 4 different shades of Woodland Scenics static grass put on in about 20 applications with diluted white glue.

That's about it. Feel free to comment. This is my 4th dio and is not my best, IMO, but I had fun doing it and I like it.

OH, special thanks to AMPS President Danny Egan for the M4A2 reference photos he sent me. They were invaluable!

Rob

Really outstanding work if you ask me. Especially the last German in the bunch looking at the tank as it goes by. What must be going through his mind at that time. Overall great job IMO.

Nice job, simple, great story, great references, nice build. Well done. Tracks may be a bit to shiney, I might add a bit more dust, but nothing really other than nit picking.

Nice

I really like it Robert. The "feeling" is the most striking, the Germans look very much the way they must feel. The interaction between the Russians and their German foe is excellent. The sherman has a nice patina and light dusting. I don't like the "rope" holding the log, it's not lying properly. Maybe try putting some future on it and bending the ends down so it's more natural. Also I don't like the guard, he's too rigid in his pose, might be just his gun sticking out. Any pictures I've seen of of prisoners, the guards look pretty casual. maybe resting the gun on his shoulder.
These are very minors points and I don't mean to detract from a Great Dio

Congrats, on a job well done
-Bruce

Great job Robert! I love it ! I get a feeling of the vast Russian steppes. This really is a cool diorama. all parts blend well tank figures ground.

Excellent job Robert.

I love the look of this dio, the Sherman looks great, the interaction between the figures is spot on and the groundwork is also very well done.
This is a true diorama as it really tells a story.
I'd be inclined to agree about more dust on the tank and those ropes holding the logs down though.

A great dio, one to be proud of i'd say!

James

Don't see too many of these Shermans Rob. Looks the business.
The left track (at least) seems to have too much sag fbelow the rear idler?
What I like most is the composition. Everyone seems to be in exactly the right place. Well done
Brad

Hi all,

Just a few comments/responses.

I've already fixed the rope. I'd forgotten about that when I took the pics.

The soldiers are much grubbier looking in person. My camera, which is not the best, tends to wash out, if you will, dust etc. So believe me, the tank and the soldiers are much dirtier looking in real life.

That one track does seem to sag a bit. Oh well. I don't think I can fix it now.

That's about it. Thanks for all of the comments.

Only 16 Shermans left to build (until I buy more!).

Rob

Very nicely done. I like the paint job on the Sherman and the grass especially.

At first glance I would've guessed from the sandy soil that the scene was East Prussia. I don't know what the steppes look like (in color, anyway) but I have no reason to think they don't look that way too.

I like the way your composition directs the viewer's eyes around the diorama.

Most of all I like your backstory. My German in-laws who lived through the war usually don't have much to say about their actual wartime experiences, but their experience with the Soviets still looms large in their minds, 60+ years later.

Tom
Columbus, Ohio, USA

Hi Robert,

Nice build. Not much to add, I like the composition, and the placement of the figures look spot on.

An unusual finish and nice to see a Sherman in another guise. The tank looks very clean considering the base, but that may be your camera, I'd have been inclined to have it a lot more dusty but that's just my preference.

Great stuff, look forward to the other 16 BTW (only 16!!!!! )

cheers

Al

Looks really good Robert. I like the finish of the Sherman a lot. The miniart tank riders are very clunky aren't they and nowhere near the quality of recent Miniart kits.

Glad to hear their quality has improved. I'm looking forward to their SU-76, and might try some of their other figure sets if they really have gotten better. So far from E. Europe, I prefer Masterbox.

Thanks for the comments!

Rob