Here is my VE entry. It's supposed to represent a Sherman liberating the French. The people have painted greetings and slogans on the sides and tossed a bunch of flowers onto the tank.

I wanted to add a civilian but I could not find a suitable set within the budget. I photographed it against a dark background instead of my usual deckrail to try and get the color on the flowers to pop. It looks brighter and better in real life.

Something just isn't right. Perhaps a flag? I week to go.

Alan -

Really like the look and feel of this Sherman. It does need that little something extra and maybe I have something that could help. With too many Campaigns going, I've got some extras I won't be using and one is a Nemrod resin set (#35052) of a woman waving and holding a small child. Put a miniature US flag in her raised hand and it might just fit right in. I'm willing to "donate" to the cause and could have it shipped to you tomorrow if you think you'd get it in time (2-3 days?). Send me a PM with address and it's on it's way.

Blade48mrd

Blade thank you very much for the generous offer but I will have to decline this time. I have a few things I want to try.

Lol that figure is in my VE day entry too! Nice figure, I like it!

Martin

i wonder if maybe some flowers along the edge of the tank might add to the scene? start on a base and then look at the vehicle again. you have more to go on then

Update

whoa! better already! even with the street in the initial stages i can tell you're going to have something special there when it's done!

What about the ubiquitous bottle of wine in the crew's hands.....

Alan, I seem to have the opposite problem.. I have a set of civilians, waving flags etc, I also have some of the Tamiya marching Brit Infantry which I can use. I just can't find my Bren Carrier... I know I packed it in a box, for our house move, and can I find that box ? Can I $**^..... I might have to cheat a little and use a vehicle that I have already build, rather than for this campaign, but at least the figs will be done this week.. .
As for your Sherman, I think it looks good, but I think I know what you mean. It might be that the flowers look a bit big and to evenly spaced. Maybe try to trow them more together, on the turret and around the front hatches, and less (or none) on the engine deck. They might look even better in a bigger pile.

Cheers
Henk

I took a look at my DVDs of A Bridge Too Far (liberation of Eindhoven) and Kelly's Heroes (when the town is celebrating after Kelly takes out the Tigers) trying to get ideas.

I think I will add some banners or flags hanging from the lamp post.

I'm going to try and find some marching GIs in my stash

Added some red flowers on the tank

red is nice. i'd add more flowers to the tank and im hoping you'll have some along the street. hey, what about a trampled enemy flag in the street too? maybe have the tank running over part of it and then you'll have the layer of strewn flowers on top randomly positioned?

Alan -

Like the layout of your base. It is simple, straight froward and very effective. That civilian figure would go great standing by the lamp post. Maybe an add to your diorama later? Be glad to send it. Looking terrific and keep us posted,

Blade48mrd

Do you think that the soldiers would march in the street and the tank slows down or stay on the sidewalk?

i'd say you're nearly there! street looks a bit too clean. can you brush some dirt or chocolate milk mix on the base to get it dirty?

Yeah. I've been thinking about that. My trash and leaves don't seem to be enough. I might have to go into the streets and scrap up some small gravel and add it. Perhaps I need a different paint color.

Alan, I really like the look and feel of it so far. I agree that there seems to be something that just isnt making it "pop" though. I think that maybe a little more contrast between the sidewalks and street may help some..also im with G.I. Babycakes in think that the street could use a little "dirtying" up. Maybe add a little bit of some fine sand to the street especially in the edges where the sidewalk and street meet. I think that the idea of the lady and the little boy would be great for this dio...but i understand the time restraints so maybe a little difficult to get it done in time. Also..maybe try adding some flowers of some diffrent colors, maybe yellow or blue. If you don't have any, you can pick up some dried flowers at most any craft store or at wal-mart for a fairly cheap price, usually under a couple of bucks. Hope this helps a bit..
Mary (++)

Alan ..Nice dio coming along ...the idea for the VE campaigne is perfect ...Have you ever noticed (and I too have done this ) we build our roads(I built a bridge) just wide enough for our tanks...Even in Europe in the 1940's I'm sure the roads were wide enough to have traffic meet head on in most places except for one way streets. You might think about getting rid of the sidewalk on this side of the tank and just add some figures standing in the road instead.

Rick

TANKYSGAL: Actually all the flowers are some dried wheat colored flowers that were spraypainted white with the petals painted whatever color and the stems green. I can actually make any color I need as long as I have the paint. There are actually four colors of flowers; red, white, yellow and purple. I am planning of getting some sand from my real live street to add to my model street.

BEAR: Originally the sidewalk closest to the viewer was not part of the plan. However after tested several options without the sidewalk it just looked better with the sidewalk. The idea of placing a fire hydrant on the near side is still being tossed about as well as a manhole cover. Because of the placement of the lamp post on the opposite side I did not want to hide the hydrant behind the tank.

I know that the roads should be wide enough for two way traffic but in this case vanity prevailed. In hindsight if I had cut a slightly larger base I could have included my jeep too. Oh well.