Missing somethings but what are they?

Frank anybody?

2-3 figures spring in mind.

Cheers/jan

Okay what else I do not do figures so leave them out.

Life!

Your diorama is made up of dead things, so you miss life!
If you don't do figures, then maybe add a tree behind the wall, hanging over the fence, into the street.

Hmmm I was also going to say figures but you already state you don't do them.

Couple of things I thought of when looking at the pics is some rubble at the broken ends of the wall.
A newspaper or propaganda leaflets in the gutter
Equipment that is left behind by the Enemy. Like weapons, helmets etc
Parts from retreating vehicles that have been hit.
And maybe turn the turret a bit like it is pointing into the street to the right of the vehicle... This makes the composition a bit more interesting

Hey Jeff
I like the M4 mate. A couple of things maybe? You really do need figures mate. It is hard to tell a story without, or otherwise simply the cobblestone street would suffice as a mounting point for the M4 detail.

Failing that, where the wall is busted at the rear of the tank, maybe have a rubble pile over the footpath and spilling onto the cobbles... I'd hit the white of the star on the transmission cover that lips up the side of the curved bolted flange. Is it possible to wipe back some of the dirtying of the other stars or artwork? If so, I think having a couple of small sections of each untouched by the uniformity of the weathering; can add a good contrast/blast of colour. Stowage looks beaut, but I'd hit the whiteness of the rope tiedown with some sepia or something...
The periscope glass really pops out in that first photo!
Good stuff mate
Brad

Hello Jeff,

the tank looks like being given up and/or left by the crew.

If you do not like to add some figures, I have another suggestion: Just move the model a few milimeters towards the crossing and then turn right the turret.

That makes it look like targeting something and should provide some more dynamic.

Invest these few seconds only and you will have a vital scene.

I think Ron is right and Robert has some good ideas. I was thinking an abandoned bicycle might help as well.

Hey Jeff,

I would get the 35th scale leaf blower out and blow some of those leaves up onto the side walk and around the light pole. (maybe even a couple wedged into the stowage somehow)

I would add more garbage and litter to the road and sidewalk surfaces as well.

Nice sherman, but rotate the turret a little towards the viewer.

Ryan

Hi Jeff,

The pavement and the road look a bit too tidy and clean. As Ryan said, add some leaves, and even some rubbles here and there.

Regards
Paul

The wall looks a little to clean. Some weather streaks and variation in the block coloring might snap the starkness out of it. That and all the before mentioned additions. Just the peanut gallery chiming in

Honestly .... you are really limited without figures. If this is your decision, I believe you should also plan your bases with this in mind. So my answer is not what you have missing, its more what you have surplus here. Open and empty space.
The open space here crys out for signs of life, to explain why a sherman appears in good condition and is left in the middle of the road. With better planning, you remove the need for this. This is meant constructively ... not an attack because you choose to not do figures.

I like the sherman and stowage, but you have really done an excellent job on the cobblestones and fallen leaves. The painting of the wall looks a bit shallow in comparison ... needs some depth in the colours.

Maybe add an abandoned mg position, add some sandbags somewhere and lots of equipment laying around and like someone mentioned, have the turret pointed somewhere.

Hi Jeff, I like your dio, very nicely done. Since you asked for suggestions,here are mine. With the tank buttoned up I would turn the turret to the right facing the corner of the wall. Add a couple bullet holes to the corner of the wall and a dead german soldier. This might give it the feel of recent action. I know you don't do figures but here two figures that would be pretty easy. Verlinden has a dead soldier in a great coat if you wanted a winter scene. Warriors has one that would fit your scene well,laying with both hands on his chest Both figures would require little flesh painting. Hope this helps..........Vince

Jeff,

Please take this constructlvely but why don't you spend the time you would allocate for the next project on painting a couple of figures ? There is no black art to it, all it takes is practice. And then some more practice. There are plenty of folks on here and other sites that are more than willing to guide you in the right direction.

Just my opinion, but I think you really are limiting yourself to what is obviously within your comfort zone. Unless we practice on our weak areas we will not improve our own enjoyment of the hobby. You seem to have no problems at all with the armour or the groundwork so it would seem the next logical step to round off what in effect is a scene telling a story.

None of us starting out can paint excellent figures first time but that can be said of any part of this hobby. As Frank has said, you need to rethink your display without figures. Why not just put the tank on a polished wood base ?

Hope you did'nt take my comments the wrong way, just trying to help you discover (what I think) is another enjoyable aspect of modelling a scene.

Andy

I don’t think the absence of figures in a combat situation is wrong for a tank. In fact it really is more realistic than the modeling clichés that are common. A tank was designed to protect the crew. The crew is not protected if they are not buttoned up. When bullets are flying, people have away of making themselves scarce.

I do agree with others though, now you are presented the challenge of animating an inanimate scene. So now you have to ask, “Why has the crew buttoned up?” You must create an enemy presence. There have been good suggestions already, a road block or an MG position. You might even use a German vehicle of some sort. In real world a sniper would also cause the crew to button up, but without figures this would not be explained just by looking at the diorama. It could be done if other GI’s left a hasty sign that says “Caution, snipers ahead.”

As was said before, having the gun tube at an angle helps to show that there is a gunner in the turret scanning for targets. The addition of a second Sherman with its gun tube in another direction would really bring home the point that the tanks are searching for trouble. The problem with the addition of another vehicle in this scene is it is too small. You would have to make it bigger.

Perhaps a road sign, some litter or discarded items in the street or sidewalk that refugees might have left behind might help as well.

Yes you can pull this off with the ideas stated but I have to agree with others that at some point you are going to have to bite the bullet and learn figures or you’ll have many of the same dioramas in your collection. After awhile they will not pull in the eye to investigate what is happening in the scene.

Dave Shaw

I agree with Dave, I don't use figures too. Anyway, add some rubbles, etc as noted and change the position of tank and the turret. Also "flat" a bit the ropes.

I have the same tank and base, but by now, I use a home made copy of the same corner....check what some battles can do with it.....



Regards, Alvaro

A burned out or rusted out abandoned tank kind of tells a story without any figures. Otherwise there is, like someone else said, " No life to the story". Even a dog by the sidewalk would help . But that would be a little like a figure. My figures are ,I would say about OK , compared to some of the ones I have seen. Still , I always use them. Why not give it a try ?.........Al

If you have decided upon no figures then I would put in much more debris in the street and on the sidewalk. Perhaps barricade the street with a barbed wire obstacle or an abandoned machine gun position.
Make it look as if the area was too dangerous for the crew to pop there heads out.

C.

Maybe a GI helmet on the ground with a bullet hole through it? If you want to make a unseen sniper presence that is.

Dang all good replies saved will get on all of the answers.

Much appreciated indeed.

More rubbish and stuff scatted about.

Yes dang all good ideas.

Glad I posted I knew it was lacking in things just could not see it myself better to have many eyes then just two.

Cheers Mates.

Jeff

PS I will try some figures soon.

Been looking at Alpine and MIGs Russian Old man civilian,would not have all of the gear to paint and blend.

Jeff, May I sugest this link on figure painting with acryls.

http://www.militarymodelling.com/news/article.asp?a=3490

You can't argue with his results, and the techniques seem geared to the beginner.

Ryan

Check out some of the period photos in the Time Life online archives and concentrate of the sides of the roads.
An army in retreat leaves behind an unbelievable amount of gear--infantry equipment, tarps, broken vehicles and vehicle parts, spent shell casings, and containers of all kinds. And don't forget waste paper. Modern armies generate lots of paper (as do modern cities).

Will do with the Time life deal.

good Idea I have started to add some rubble but want to keep it low key.

Will post more end of the week.

Jeff,

Along with the suggestions noted above, what about "dead" figures?

You could turn the turret, but place a figure (or two) on the ground along with gear, MG, Panzershreck (sp?), etc. The figure(s) could be bent over and/or face down so that you aren't having to paint the face, which I assume is what you find the most difficult. You can also cover them with some dust and debris to cover poor details and give the appearance of the violence of the fight. You could also have both "dead" enemy and friendlies to increase the intensity of the battle.

Another idea would be to have a hatch only partially open with a figure inside, as if the crewman is either opening the hatch or closing it. This minimizes the amount of the figure you have to do/paint.