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Ardennes 1944 - Ridin High!

a diorama feature by Eric Sikkema
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Comments

In October 2001, while surfing on the Internet on the site Panzermodeler.com, I found a picture of eight German paratroopers riding on a Tiger 2 in the “diorama idea pictures” section. I like the idea in it self, but didn’t really pay any attention to it. But during the 25-year anniversary of the TWENOT (the Dutch armor modelers association), I came across 2 kits that were also mentioned at the above site. They are the kits 6113 and 6143 by Dragon with the 3rd Fallschirmjäger division. Like with so many modelers they ended up in the closet, and stayed there.

In December I was browsing in a hobby shop and came across the Tiger 2 with production turret by Tamiya, kit 35164, but didn’t buy it then because I was not sure; even though your modeling is at a low pace the ideas remain in the back of your head. I looked at the references again at home and it turned out to be the right Tiger. So I went back the next day and bought it. I started with the tank, but soon it ended up back in the box with only the running gear assembled, because I was busy with other things. Because I had gotten back into serious building again after years, I first finished some older models to create room (these models can be viewed at the site of De Modelbouwer).
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©2002 Text and photos by Eric Sikkema. All Rights Reserved.

About the Author

About H.L.Sikkema (demodelbouwer)
FROM: NOORD-HOLLAND, NETHERLANDS

hello i'm eric and i live in the Netherlands. I'm married with ilona and have three daugters. for the last year i am a very active modeller. Before that the hobby was only a time distraction. I'm a modeller for over 35 years now and i like to share my knowledge with others in any way i can.


Comments

demodelbouwer
Hello Ron, Well it was hard diggin' into the gray cells but it was fun to do... Eric
MAY 03, 2002 - 04:17 PM
Tin_Can
That is nice lookin' stuff. Look forward to seeing more stuff from you in the future.
MAY 03, 2002 - 11:42 PM
demodelbouwer
Hello Bryan, At This time i'm building as you know at the bunker and i'm creating a wooden engineers bridge with 8 horses and carriages together with a mark4 tank ( german) and a lot of foot soldiers retraiting to the homeland in a Russi diorama.... This is gonna be also a lot of work and i hope i can finish it before october 5th. to enter the contest..... Eric
MAY 04, 2002 - 05:50 PM
Tin_Can
Eric, if you can snap us some in progress pics to keep us drooling. What contest you entering it in?
MAY 04, 2002 - 10:05 PM
demodelbouwer
Bryan, The contest i'm gonna enter in october are the Twenot contests. And ofcourse i'm gonna put some pictures up to keep you informed. Eric
MAY 04, 2002 - 11:42 PM
210cav
Eric--great job. Keep up the fine work. DJ
MAY 06, 2002 - 11:18 PM
relichunter00
Nice work Eric, excellent detail.
MAY 07, 2002 - 12:59 AM
normandy
Hi Eric can I just say that I think your figures are really xcellent but I think you did the holsters and canteens too bright. James
JUL 19, 2002 - 03:31 AM
sgtreef
Great job Eric. really love that Tiger !!!
JUL 19, 2002 - 08:02 PM
LUCKYBULLET
very nice eric!! it's when i look at this kind of work and storie that a little voice in my head said"come on move your butt and glue those track links together!!!". great model and dio,keep the work!!
JUL 19, 2002 - 09:55 PM
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