I have this new diorama base I have built. It still needs a lot of work, but you can check out the pictures
http://groups.msn.com/digitaldioramas/boosahmerswork.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=1232
But I need some input. I plan to put an M3A2, full of men and equipment, entering the scene, and a squad of German infantry with grenades, panzerfaust, sniper, etc, hidden in the buildings ready to ambush. I can't decide whether to reduce the buildings to rubble or leave them how they are. For the most part, they are scratchbuilt, except for the concrete fence across the street (Verlinden) Please give me your opinion. Thanks

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Robert

Hello Boosahmer,

Looks like you have a great start. I personally wouldn't destroy the structures but I would definitley add an abundance of rubble around the buildings..which you may already have plans to do. A great help for you on this project would be Shep Paine's How to Build Dioramas. There's a great section on layout featuing an old Monogram Flakpanzer surrendering to a group of British Paratroopers in a bombed out city. The books been around for a long time but I am always using it for ideas.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Don

I'ld put some pot marks in the building like from small arms fire but leave the buildings intact. there wouldn't be need for much rubble if you don't blow the buildings....how about refuse (garbage and trash) instead.. Now that would be different....everybody wants to blow up the buildings and scatter broken up bits of them everywhere yours would be unique

I can't say for sure about the panzerfaust, but a buddy why spent 20 years withthe guard and fired a LOT of rounds from a variety of weapons turned me on to a fact that Hollywood aparently has never learned. You can't fire off a rocket propeled weapon inside a closed up structure, i.e., a room. There's too much backblast. Now, again, a panzerfaust might have less, but unless you have documentaton, you might want to put him outside with a good space clear of troops behind him.

I think it's up to you. I would go to the library and check out as many 'coffee table' books as you can on the particular theater you are depicting. I know Time Life has a series that cover every theater and are very good visually.
That will give you an idea of how much rubble and destruction to have. I have done this an was surprised at how much some places were totally destroyed and others were left vertially intact.
Its up to you, do a bit research and go from there.

This is how I like to do mine. I usually make them half destroyed. Have the front and one of the sides look normal, but the other side and the back blasted out. It's not always historically accurate looking, but I like to see a fully in tact house + it destroyed. Make it to where at one angle it looks fully in tact and at another it looks really badly damaged. Be sure to add lots of debris inside, like furniture. Maybe add something teetering on the edge of a second story almost falling off. About the only thing humorous (not trying to be disrespectful) out of 9/11, was that Bible on the pedestal at the Pentagon that was right on the edge of falling off. Put maybe a china cabinet full of china almost crashing into a pit of rubble. Maybe even a sniper walking on a fine ledge to get to a good sniper position. I always like to see some suspense and humor put into a diorama.