GO! Bob GO! the dio is looking great. I think that I will have to keep photos of this around to spur on my imagination in the future.

Bob

Beautiful job Mr. Card. It almost entices me to try something similar, despite my lack of diorama skills. I have the Airfix version of that Japanese tank and some appropriate sized dowelling for logs but that's about it.

Cheers,
Jan

Edit: Found my IJA armour.

Jan, nice work there.

Bob

Bob,
Nice job love the palm trees, I built the Tamyia T-97. You are giving me inspiration to do something more with it that having it sit on the shelf.

Bob, your base is really taking shape! The palms are amazing! I looked back at your previous post about the palm leaves - are they just paper and wire?

I was able to get a little bit done over the weekend. A base coat on Colorado and a few figures started. This is my first attempt at any type of camo and I'm still working on my shading/highlighting.








I started getting sloppy with the figure painting, so I decided to spray a coat of DOA Track Brown on the tracks. They're drying, so I didn't take a photo.

Michael

Now that I actually looked at the photos, I noticed the giant seam around the flamethrower tanks. Ugh. It's funny how many things I miss until I look at a photo!

Michael

Michael,
Even with the seam those figures look great its hard to believe they are 1/35 scale. Once you zoom in on a photo you see different thing that didn't appear to the naked eye. Happens to me all the time.

Thanks guys for the comments. If anyone wants to know how I did a specific item let me know and I’ll write up how I did it. It’s all a lot easier than it looks. I go as cheaply as I can.

Jan,
First off thanks for reminding me I’m getting old, Bob is fine, Mr. Card was my father. Great camo on those tanks. I’m still trying to decide how I want to paint mine.

Michael,
Like the light guard detail, coming along great. I might have to get some tips from you on the figures, my worst subject which I save for last. I don’t see the mess you refer to, great job. The photos help me a ton when looking for things I missed, that’s why I take so many of them, I’ve caught myself plenty of times missing things I find in my photos. Also helps in reminding me the steps I took to do a specific job like the palm trees. The leaves are actually a sort of plastic they come from Hart of the South 3 or 4 different sizes.

Thanks again guys and looking forward to more updates. I haven’t heard from a few that have started their projects.
Thanks guys,
Bob

Tom,
From the campaign rules and regs;
"Finished model must be specifically identified by reference and reflect the approximate appearance as it was participating in that Battle. The reference used must be provided (Not the actual document just noted so that we may look it up if written and if by photo where we might view that photo) along with a minimum of 2 photos of the finished model to be awarded the campaign ribbon. The reference can be by written word, movie documentary or photo but must be applicable to the campaign. I would also like to include the requirement of posting in work photos."
Don't forget we need these also before I can award a ribbon.



Nice job on the diorama, would like to know how you did the water and if you had an overall view of it.
I thought I remember seeing this before but I can't for the life of me remember where.

Thanks Tom,
Bob

@ Bob: yes, a write up would be great for those of us (namely me) who need some help with dios.

@ Michael: grat work so far there. The figures look real, even without heads.

Bob

Bob,
Im by far an expert, a new old be to the hobby, but I found it difficult to find color photos of the T-97. I did this 1 for the Axis of Evil Campaign last month


Hope it helps.

Bob
I posted this diorama about the Tenaru on March 28th on page ii on this site.

Tom

Bob,
Anything specific you want to know like the palm trees, the base, the logs, the tanks? Or everything? Please say the grass……

Thanks Sal, I like that camo and it seems to fit Guam, choices, choices….

Thanks Tom now I remember, I knew I’ve seen this before, it’s not the easiest to scroll through 400+ posts to find something specific. This is a great reminder to everyone in the campaign, please put everything together when you claim to be finished, a couple of photos of the finished project, your reference and anything else you may find helpful.

Toms post was;
Posted: Monday, March 29, 2010 - 07:40 AM BST

Bob
This is the finished diorama about the Tenaru River for the Guadalcanal Campaign

My remarks;
"Tom,
Another nice diorama. Excellent water, vegetation and nice layout. A couple of quick things I noticed, matt out the shine on the uniforms (Usually a wash of brown does a good job of that and gives some good shadows on the uniforms and the Japanese with the sword, I think the sword is backwards. I’m not the best with the figures but I paint them just like I’m doing a tank, washes, dry brushing, powders everything. Other than that looks pretty good. Were you going to try for something for this campaign, looks like this area is what you’re interested in? I’m sure the rest of the group would like to see some more of your work, Let us know."

I believe it was determined that your work was started before the start of the Campaign and at that time mentioned above you were not enlisted and that is why we were very appreciative of your posting of the diorama for incentive for the rest of the people in the campaign.
The main question now is when was the diorama started? If proven you started after the start of the campaign, what is the reference you are using? We need some type of reference where we can look up the specific battle you are referring to. Someone here might know, I know, but the problem is you have to know. And again the requirement of in work photos. I have noticed that you did enlist somewhere between May 23rd and May 25th so that requirement is met.

Since the majority of your posts seem to be removed and most of your posts were deleted or missing in your profile, I will need some very good proof that the requirements for the campaign have been met before I can award the ribbon for recognition of the proper completion of the campaign. Sorry but those are the rules and I expect everyone to abide in them, no exceptions.

If met I would be happy to award the ribbon because this is an excellent diorama and would still like to know what you did to get the water to look so good.

If anyone has any objections or recommendations I would be happy to hear them.
Thanks everyone,
Bob

I'll use these pics as references Bob, thanks again.

What is your take on the Machine Guns ?

The top photo seems to show the two shielded 50 cals, the bottom one hasn't any at all.

It looks like the LVT should have the 50's and no 30's as supplied in the kit

Cheers

Paul

Hi Paul,
Basic rule of thumb seems to be if there is a shield it is a 30 Cal, 50's I don't remember seeing any with a shield.

My preference would be 2 50's in the front and 2 30's on the sides like this;


But again, any combination will work unless you’re going by a specific photo and then it should be the same as in the photo.

Bob

Paul,
This site has a lot of information about the LVT
http://ftp.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/ref/Gators/index.html
although there pictures are not great. I looked through enormous amount of photos and only saw 1 with a rear mounted .30 (an Army 1, i think on Saipan). Hope it helps.

Having a chance to look more closely at the photos;


It looks as if the only mg used was on A24 was a 30 cal with a rounded shield on the Left front cargo area. I also see upgraded armor on the front and both sides, which will probably also mean it was on the rear. And there is update armor on the hood just in front of the mg locations. It is the late production armored cab LVT 4 also.

Some suggestions if you really want to do this, the front plate from the Dragon kits is a close match but needs minor adjustments and plastic sheet can be used for the up armored sides and rear. Or Trakz makes a uparmored PE kit. And they also have a kit for the upgrades on the Dragon kits themselves. Just depends on how far you want to go. If things are tight, a generic LVT 4 can be produced just mark it;


A13 and change what you need to represent the other photos of LVT4's found at Tinian. This one has no uparmored on the cab in front of the mg's and I see only one 30 cal on the left front no shield. So you see what I mean.

Either way would be correct.
Good luck, should be a great project.
Bob

Had a chance to spend some time this past weekend, and managed to complete a couple of Japanese tanks. First up - the Tamiya Type 1 Shin hoto Chi Ha







Tracks were replaced with Friul, and headlight is an MV lens.

Next - Fine Molds Type 3 Chi Nu









More Friul track on this one. I also used the Fine Molds photo etch to replace the rear grill over the mufflers. The tank was lightly weathered, as most of these were held back to wait for the invasion of the home islands.

@ Grant: nice Chi Ha and Type 3 Chi Nu. Didnt the Chi Nu have a 75mm gun?

@ Bob: mainly what guide you use to eye the deminsions.


Bob

Thanks Bob,

great feedback much appreciated !!

The Bison decal instructions show the camo coloring in Blue / sand for A24, but show it having two 50 cals at the front with flat shiels and no 30's.

Do you think that configuration would be acceptable for this campaign ?

I should have some pics of the first bit of construction on the weekend - basic hull less tracks I think...

Cheers

Paul

Bob,

Yes, it mounted a 75 mm gun. There was also a long barrelled 75 mm gun version planned, but it never went into production.

Grant,
Some excellent work there and you did it all in a weekend? If I could only work that fast. I have to ask, is this your entry into the campaign? I wasn’t sure so I thought I should ask. I’m strictly a hand painter and sometime rattle can user so I don’t know if I can get mine to look that good.

Bob,
I use the tanks that I construct first and just kind of match it up so it looks close. Same for everything, the height of the palm trees, the diameter compared to a 1/35 scale person, and so on. Easiest way I could think of. Looking at photos you can see how everything matches compaired to each other so you know what to look for. This palm log is about the size of that guys waist, could I lift that size sandbag, the palm tree is about this many times taller then that tank, and so on. Simpler is better for me. I used to have some very small measureing items that I found I use very little of lately.

Paul,
That would work out fine. I don’t know exactly about the shields on the 50, you might have to scratch build those, they are kind of rare to be found on a 50 and I really haven’t seen a photo of them. Bison’s drawing is just an assumption on their part. But it’s up to you.

Nice to see the updates, some really excellent work I see, looking forward to some of the other in progress reports from some of the current in work projects…………..

Thanks Guys,
Bob

Well shut my mouth;

Earliest I could find is Peleliu with a 50 cal with a shield


Iwo seems like they were pretty common




So I stand partly corrected.
Bob

Bob,

Sorry - no, I didn't do it all on the weekend, I managed to put the finishing touches on them on the weekend. Started both just after the Campaign got underway. I wish that I could build quickly - it might help keep the stash under control.

Yes, these are my entries into the campaign. I may take a stab at something else yet - still have plenty of Japanese subjects left to build, and there's the odd USN/Marine fighter as well.

Grant,
Very nice work indeed. All I need is for you to put one of them into the Gallery and pick a reference that names or identifies the one you choose and then we are good to go. They would look great in a diorama setting but as you pointed out I don't think they all served in the same locations. Not really sure but can find out if you pick a specific area.
Thanks again, really great work,
Bob
:-H

So far the completion status

1st. David Carlson CALLSIGN: TheDiggs, USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (DE 413) reference was website for same.

Close to finishing;
Sal CALLSIGN: ltb073, LVT 4 reference Saipan, to finish Weathering and Post photos in Gallery

Thomas F. Sweeney, CALLSIGN: tsweeney, to finish need reference and start date on Diorama

Grant Voakes, CALLSIGN: GVoakes, to finish just pick one of the models submitted in the gallery and select the reference for it.

Campaign in the Pacific Gallery