Hi guys, I normally build aircraft, but I friend's wife asked if I would build a vehicle kit, and make a diorama out of it. She wanted to surprise her husband with the diorama for their anniversary. My friend enjoys reading about the war in North Africa so I dug through my stash and decided to build a SdKfz 222 set sometime in the spring or early summer of 1941. Vehicles of the Africa Korps were initially painted with local stocks and that paint wore quickly and severely in the desert climate. The kit is Tamiya's newer 222, the Palm tree is an AM set, and the crew members are Doug's Original's figures.

Ernest

DSC03449 by Ernest Roth, on Flickr

DSC03452 by Ernest Roth, on Flickr

DSC03456 by Ernest Roth, on Flickr

DSC03471 by Ernest Roth, on Flickr

DSC03470 by Ernest Roth, on Flickr


DSC03479 by Ernest Roth, on Flickr

DSC03489 by Ernest Roth, on Flickr

DSC03490 by Ernest Roth, on Flickr

DSC03495 by Ernest Roth, on Flickr

DSC03480 by Ernest Roth, on Flickr

GREAT job !!!!

I looked at your planes too great work !!!

Very NICE!

Cheers,

Really nice model, the weathering is excellent.

Ernest,
That looks excellent! Great paintwork all around.


Gaz

Very Nice !

One of my favorite subjects done-up very well! ... Nice figure interaction!

Cheers!🍺
—mike

Overall a very nice scene. The weathering on the 222 is first rate. However, the dead/dying fronds on the palm should probably have some variations in color to show varying stages of decay. The figures do show realistic interaction, but perhaps a bit more shading & drybrushing to bring out the uniform details, like the laces on the boots of the guy on the back of the vehicle.

Guys, thank you much for the kind words and feedback.

Jack, thank you for you observations. I took the phots under more direct lighting than I normally do, with the exception of a few photos, as I wanted to simulate the desert sun. You are right that the shading on the figures does not show up well and I may retake some photos under different lighting conditions to see if I can make the shading show up better. Your point about the dead palm fronds is also very good. I may revisit the build and see if I can airbrush some various shades onto the fronds to make them look more realistic.

Sincerely,
Ernest

Overall it's excellent. Some observations -- you've gone at length to add chipped paint on many edges- - yet on some areas that would have substantially more wear due to crew hands and feet, are shown as pristine. Consider the upper edge of the turret, the edges of the anti-grenade screen, parts of the gun, the outer edges of the fenders and the outer face of the wheel hubs.

Step back and look at your model and how the crew and environment interact with it. How does the crew exit/enter. What areas would a man actually TOUCH the body? Why has the right edge of the engine access hatch or middle of the nose in front of the driver worn substantially?

What environmental things would impart wear? Running through shrubbery, branches, rocks & pebbles thrown up.

Also two things to note: the mud flaps are either rubber or canvas and the German antennae were not whip-type antennae but instead, hollow tapered rods. No bending should be present on yours. Hope these small details help/enhance and not frustrate you. You've done a great job so far!