Ok here's a build thread that will cover the remaining process of my current diorama.
A bunch of inquizative soldiers snoop around and see what they can find late in the war.



Its Tamiya's AC, a mix of figures, and CD's building.
Lots to do, Kancali road, big robust base, the usual details, gutters, posters, electrical....

very nice!

one suggestion: turn everyone's head to look at the guy with the bottles (keep their current poses, just turn the heads)
and:
there could be a guy behind (inside the doorway) with a box of wine bottles and an even bigger grin on his face!
the guy on the bench is emptying the contents of his canteen (with the intention of filling it up with booze)

Thats a cool idea, the heads are all glued in already. My idea was that everyone of them has a little something... I think I've got a shot at working another guy inside thought - nice idea.

Hey I remember that building!

Nice layout so far Scott. I like the color slection on the building too.

Jim

Love seeing so much colour in a diorama for a change. They can be so drab and dark sometimes. This one has some pop to it. Eye candy it is.

Looks good so far Scott.
I like the colorful buildings.

Thanks everyone - I really didn't want a pale palette. The door is red

Stay tuned for more. Nothing planned for the weekend

hehe Thought you were saying "Look at this project"... didn't realised the dio was titled "Look at this!"

Looks promising Scott. Have you done a conceptual drawing of what you're planning?

Although it's still early days, I'm having a disconnect with what the guy on the AC is doing.

Looking forward to more

Rudi

Nice start and set-up.
Like the roofing, is that individual tiles or a kit?
Good luck,
Bob

Rudi - yea - I saw the thread title and realized what I had typed.

The guy on the AC is reaching down to share with the guy in front. The guy in front has a helmet full of ill-gotten-booty. The AC guy has bit of 'stuff' in his hand.
Nope - no drawing either, this has changed from an original concept to this and as I went I didn't redraw.

Bob, thanks, and the roof is 99% CD resin. The only pieces that are custom are the "peak caps" on the left side. They are individual cedar shingles sanded and glued

Very interesting idea so far Scott,
hey whats planned for the groundwork, trying to visualize it with different bases.
looks great so far can't wait to see more progress,

Gary

Nice ideas & colours Scott -still there is something I don't understand in your building -that big cicatrice between the front and side wall looks weird!
good luck for the following steps
JB

Its looking good Scott - i look forward to seeing the base progress, are you doing the interior to the buildings?

cheers

Keith

I dont know how many times Ive seen this building in adverts and such .. and longingly admiring it .. but have never seen it actually built. It has never looked so good. The roof shingles and mixture of brick type really make for an excellent background.
Sonny´s idea about turning the heads is excellent ... it may be possible if you havent used too much glue. Superglue has quite a poor tensile strength, when pressured from the side.
Looking good Scott ... lots of detail and plenty going on ... but the custom dioramics building for the background is stunning

Ground work - I doubt I will do anything symetrical at this point. More along a 'blob' shape maybe three layers of MDF. Something with height, I'd like to echo the 'verticality' of the building into the base. The road surface is going to be cobbles/brick with a small sidewalk in front of the shop to extend the stone arch. Nothing is 'set' yet.....

As far as the cicatrice - I have been wrapped up in the project to closely to notice, but now that you mention it.... That big crack is a bit "off", I think some putty patching with a bit of it left open will fix that. Thanks.

Interior - not a full one, but since the window is so big you will be able to see something, so I plan on a bit. Table, shelves, chair...

The building is a really nice one to work with. There was a bit of test fitting to get all the pieces in thier right places. They have another arched road that is similar in style and a great kit too.

You know, I had not thought to turn everyones attention to one figure. Each has his own treasure they have found (it is hard to see in the quick photo and without paint). So my idea was everyone want the attention, not just the one guy. Plus I used two part epoxy on the heads Just a weeee bit stronger than CA.

Maybe a different title - "Mines Better than Your's"

Anyway, I really do appreciate the feedback.

Hi Scott,
Welcome back to the fold!I like this scene, having two different coloured buildings next to each other visually is very striking.There seems to be an element of humour with the guy walking out of the shop which is a nice touch.
A couple of suggestions if i may?It is hard to tell from the pics but both roof sections do not appear to have any form of roof guttering for the rain to be flushed away.If this is the case i would expect to see alot of darker weathered areas added to the top of the green "beam" and stains from where any subsequent water build up has seeped downwards.This would also include the ground area at the front of the buildings.
It would be nice if you could incorporate something above the height of the scene.With two large structures and all of the action on the groundfloor i feel something needs to be added "upstairs".Maybe even someone looking out of a window or an animal such as a cat crawling up to a birds nest tucked between the roof and the chimney?
Keep us posted with updates mate, this is going to be a beauty to follow.
Cheers,
Shay

The gutters are actually built, just not added yet - good call on it though.

I do like the idea of something up at the top, something subtle like the cat/bird.

Nice work so far Scott. The looting angle has so many possibilities !!!
See if you can find a woman civilian fig. with a broom chasing the guy with the bottles out of the house .
Cheyenne

I like the idea of a civilian - maybe inside the store.

JBA, while I was on a bike ride I was milling over this project and realized that the cicatrice never struck me as 'bad' because my gutter downspout is going to be running down the outside corner. It has too because you wouldn't want the water to exit at your door step if it goes down the front.
The downspout always camoflaged the cicatice. It still may need some TLC though, we'll just have to wait and see......

Here's an update
This is what my 1st take on the base shape will be.


I don't want a 360 viewing because of this - the back is partially destroyed. I didn't want to spend a bunch of time resculpting the edges on something that will be facing a wall. Now - for those reading, if this was going to a show- oh yea - I'd sculpt to a square end and finish it off, cuz that would just have to happen.



Other shots - guy on the right will have a jerry can


Composite of the two gutters.

Scott-

Nice job so far, like it. Simple, not too much going on, and like others have mentioned, colorful. Shows a different side of combat, those happier times vice the stress that is shown in dioramas.

Looking forward to viewing the finished project. Keep plugging away! Thanks for sharing!

Cheers!

Tim

Nice progress thus far Scott. I like the colors of the buildings as they add to the 'lively' and light hearted atmosphere of the dio. The buildings hem in the scene nicely too. Maybe a few flyers or cloth banners declaring something about Liberation or the end of the war, confetti or streamers on the ground, garlands of flowers around the necks of the soldiers may add to the gaiety of the scene. Just a thought though.

Definitely looking forward to see the progress.

is it just me or does the guy standing in front of the M20 look like Rodney Dangerfield?
Really like the looks of this dio- should shape up nicely
I agree with CK an banner would really help bring the scene togeather.

It's been a while since I did anything much on this one. I've been busy with other projects and duties.

I've worked on the main figures a bit. Paint wise anyway. Trying my hand at pre-shading figures. I used Tamiya Brown as a base shade then overcoat of Kachi or OD. It shows a bit. But I've got another coat or two to get the tones the way I want them so it may be lost (oh well).

well, if you are about to make a round base -and why not this is a very good idea- it just screams "360°", how can you stop the people to turn around the diorama
Maybe the good way to block the undesired view would be to create a kind of D shape base, with the straight side which would be the one that would be blocked from view -just a suggestion
I like your figs btw!
JB