Hi Shane and Pat,


Thanks. the MB chaps need a fair bit of cleaning up. On the Sten Magazine pouches, I haven't come across any pics either but with 10,000 odd troops who can say. Looking at the kit, it would appear to be OK for carrying the magazines, but I would think it was difficuly to get them out without a lot of footering about. Much easier to carry them in your standard ammo pouch or top jacket pocket. I've seen pics of them being worn over the standard webbing. Not user friendly probably.

Cheers

Al

Edit,

Hi Shane, yes MB have announced they are going to be doing both a Horsa glider and C47. Drawings I can't help with.

A

hi everyone,
I just joined the site so am kind of jumping in on this one. I plan on doing something simple as I don't have a lot of experience building dioramas yet. But I started a bridge project scene last night and have purchased some German troopers that should be contemporary to the setting.

My gf and I watched A Bridge Too Far last week, and I want to try to recreate the scene where General Bittrich (played by Maximilian Schell) if I am not confused by this scene, tells the British paratroops on the other side of the bridge that he will destroy Arnhem. So in order to do this, I still need a SS officer and a officer's car, along with a few (destroyed?) armored units (maybe a halftrack or panzer) to place on the bridge above. I will probably head to the library to pick up a copy of the book version of A Bridge, so that I can research which exact units I will be trying to recreate.

btw, Ron, I am super impressed with your glider scene, but the other projects are also equally impressive. I hope to post something visual within a few days here...

adios

billy

That doesn't sound too simple to me
Can you show us a sketch or a layout to show how many vehicles and what sort of area you're taliking about

Hi all, my dio is beginning to take shape, i was thinking of a Oosterbeek scene where the battered 1st airbourne deployed its last remaining battalions in a defenceive pocket on wednesday 20 th, the fourth day of the battle, holding a toe hold on the river they prayed for xxx corps armor to bridge the river and counter attack. the polish airbourne reinforced the pocket, but only around 400 or made as the germans were waiting in their drop zone as they parachuted in two days earlier. this was effectively the last picthed engagement of the battle before their withdrawal on the 25th after several attempts by the polish paratroopers and xxx corps fail to break into the pocket.

My idea is of dagons Sd.Kfz. 251/16 Asf. D Flammpanzerwagen burning out defenders within the town or Sd.Kfz. 251/22 Ausf. D the one with the pak 40 mounted on it, i'm thinking of the latter as its tight space in dio base including a scratch built destroyed building, i have picts but my gallery space seems to be full and the files are too big, does any one shrink files to safe space on the gallery ?

hi,
I don't have all the models together so I am uncertain on the lay out. I should have some pictures soon, but here is what I have started with:

I went to some yardsales and collected old picture frames. I poured a plaster of paris base using one of these as a mold. I found a piece of styrofaom packing that came with some speakers I purchased. I sawed part of this off and have begun painting this a combo or rust/grey/black that will serve as the bridge support. Next step is to finish the undercoating of the bridge and set it into my next plaster layer. Then I will start working on the placement of the road- muddy tracks, etc. and the landscaping, etc. I am excited about that part!

thats all, like I said, pictures will follow here at some point.

I also got a few more german troopers today as well as a AA unit. i still need a general, a car, and a half-track, or other armored vehicle, so I don't know if I am going to finish this on time or not, but it is something to work on while i figure out what I am doing for the next round.

thanks for your inquiry into my project

b

hi shane,

sounds like we are both in similar positions with our projects. what do you have in mind for your layout? what construction materials are you using or thinking of using?

-billy

Hi billy, as for materials for landscaping i use ready mixed tile filler or what ever happens to be in the tool shop when i go in As for building materials i use insulation foam used in refredgeration units, its blue in color, easy to work with, though as nails and will not break up as you work it. It also does not have those annoying bubbles or balls that styrofaom is made form. hopes this helps.
As for the layout of the dio, well i'm aiming for a halftrack or what i'm now considering a marder 111m laying fire down a narrow street/alleyway flanked by a shattered building, i am planning for two paratroopers, laying low on one of the buildings floors brewing up come cocktails ready to lob at the marder, a bit like saving private rayn now i think of it,

well thats the idea, i still need to get the models yet though and i dont know if i'll pull it off in time though

Hi shane and Bill,

Sounds like a good idea, look forward to seeing them develop.

Sorry to bore the pants off you all, but a bit more progress.

Load for the jeep and possible front seat pasaanger.





I can't find any reference that is even close for the chap on sitting on the back in a shirt of thay type (see above) so I'll attempt to turn it into a grand dad style shirt and see how he comes out. I like the idea though of him sitting on the back of the jeep.

The MB chaps are about finished. Changes made: Hornet heads, Accurate Armour Bergens, Tamiya kit, pouches, water bottle and weapons. Fashioned straps and the like form lead wire. For the map reading fellow I'll do a bergen but sitting on the ground with his Sten beside/on top.

I'm going to try and turn 2 or 3 more into walking troops with the Tamiya legs, moving towards the rally point.







Choosing a setting is quite hard as there was so much going on at various times but 2 trains of thought are developing. I will draw up a rough plan and post some pics of the settings soon, I hope!!

Al

@ Billy: Be sure that you don't bite of more than you can chew! Start slow with something small(er). It's just as much fun, easier to finish and often more rewarding/less frustrating!
@ Shane: Looking forward to seeing your build develop.
@ Alan: Yes, you are boring us with all these paratroopers going by! And that in a Market garden-campaign!! How dare you?!!!

All joking aside, They still look great and I am really waiting for it all to come together. It must look smashing!

Here is my progress;
The figures are painted and I really need to learn a lot on this matter! Strangely enough some are better/easier than others. It really differs from figure to figure. I am not fully satisfied with them yet. Especially the faces need improvement is the future!
The groundwork has been expanded to by adding more sand, particularly in the holes, so everything is more tied together.

What to do next:
-weather the plane, allthough I have no idea yet on how to do that,
- adding more gear,
- finishing the medical chest,
- finishing the basework by adding more sand and grasses, maybe even the pruple blossom, but I don't know that for sure yet,
- put it away and look at it!

The shots;

Hi Ron,

Looking good. Will you be able to get one of the white stripes on the wing or were they further out? Might be a nice touch. Also on the end of the wing what about an outline of the inside struts to break up that end.

The paras look grand, and the poses work well together. It is a pity the MB pouches are a bit on the square side, but then Dragons are similar too.

Excellent stuff, cool concept.

Al

Hi Guys,

A little more work on the 2nd passenger. Filed down the shirt to give a slightly better representation of the grand dad type shirt worn, Added some basic equipment and a head. Again a camo helmet might have looked better. I'll paint him up and see if he works.

Glad I took the pic, he has an ugly seem running down his boot I wouldn't have noticed it other wise.

Al

I am back with my first attempts at pictures. This should give you an idea how the base/bridge is coming.

Ron> I know. I have a million projects, but since this is my first diorama I just want to see what I can do using mostly recycled or free materials. So just messing around, I figure that I am probably not going to have a lot of room for the action, and that is where I should keep it sparse. So you are right about that- I will probably just concentrate on a handful of figues, the AA gun, and the motocycle, as that is what I have now.

Alan: love the details on those guys. do you have a lot of experience with figures?




and more progress.... with figures to get a sense of the scale

Hi Billy,

I have been trying to improve my figures since I joined the site and started modelling again about 4 years ago. I'm learning new stuff all the time and there is marked improvement. However, like many I struggle with the faces, but they too have improved a lot. Trial and error mainly, plus rolled lead wire

Thanks.

Al

Trying is correct. lol, lol Almost done, just messed up the eyes a bit and need a little more facial work.

Al

Hi Allen your figures look great, the faces dont look too bat at all mate, can't wait to see more,
billy, the base is looking good dude

Ron- real nice, the glider looks great

shane

I couldn't help myself.....

I did it......

I finished my build!!

So now it is time for a and enjoy it and the rest of the builds passing by here...

I added the last pieces to the dio. Sand, grasses, gear and the medic's box. I also added a light weathering to the plane. Just some dirty streaks along the wings and some light dust of the fuselage. I didn't dare to go heavier!

Here are the final pictures;












Ohh, by the way...
Are we supposed to post pictures in some gallery?
I can't find it, so.....

Hi Ron,

Congratulations on a job well done. The additional items and extra grasses work well, cracking scene, well done.

Al

Yeahwiggie,
Very Nice! I really like how the dio comes together and portrays a glider landing. Very effective. The figures look great, nice work. Two thumbs up for a well planned and executed dio!

Hi all, heres what i've done so far,
[img]
[img]
[img]


i've been making some changes to the building over the last few days these include, removing the foor and replacing it with a more scaled plastic strip replacement, rescribing the brinks, i think their a little over scaled

congrats! very nice, and far far before the deadline. I especially like the shruberies as well as the composition and scale. The details are very nice. i can only strive for this level of perfection. what did you use, by the way for the shrubs and plants?

b

more updates on the buildings, i cut away the floor, and replaced it with a plastic strip replacement, which gives a more scaled look
[img
[img
[img]

Hi Shane,

Looking forward to seeing this one develop.

MB Paratroopers Mk II

I got another box of these to see if they might convert fairly easily.

The Mk II versions so far.



Al

I'm going to try to do something for this one, as I have a personal connection to the event itself. Lots of ideas going through my head, not sure yet what I'm going to do (depending on what I have that I can use). Looks like some of you have a great head start already

Hello all, Very cool stuff everyone.
Shane, looking forward to seeing how the building developes. I've never seen them constructed of styrofoam. Cool idea
Alan, Very nice work on the figures. Posing figures is always a challenge for me. The Jeep looks great too. Looking forward to the dio plans.