Figured I'd try my hand at a dio to put the Stug on. Here's a few pics of it in progress. Still need to go the LHS and get some static grass and maybe pick up some shrubbery types to put on it.
The Stug still needs a repaint, so no worries on it still being grey...my dunkelgelb hasn't gotten here yet.

Anyhow, on to thepics. Any and all feedback/criticism is welcome!!! Keith

If the loader's hatches on a Sturmgeschutz are closed, then the machine gun shield must be folded down, as the shield was held up by the forward door (there's a hook and eye arrangement to secure it).

Hi

Looks good from here. I see you are using Tamiyas ole kit "Panzer Grenadiers". Despite its age 8and face sculpting) I think that is one of the figure kits ever produced. It is very versatile and the selection of figures are great. Replace the heads and some of their kit, and you'll have some really magnificent figures.

As for the rest - the things you want critizism on : I think it looks fine. Perhaps a tree or something that is taller than the tank - that would create a nice sort of depth to the scene.

Good luck with it.

Whic kit did you use for the Stug?

As you progress watch the seam lines on the figures. Those old Tamiya figures are rough and have some deep lines.

gerald-thanks for the info on the mg shield.I didn't know that. I'll work on getting it folded down!

james84- it is the old italeri kit.

simon & scott- thanks for the tips on the figures. they are the old tamiya panzergrenediers. I know what you mean by the seams, those things have been a bear to get cleaned up!

I'll keep this updated as I make progress.

Keith -
Off to a good start. Agree with the comments to date, may also think about adding a stone wall or even a simple fence along the road/elevated grass area on the right side of the tank, or even a row of shrubbery, depending on how that kneeling figure would fit in.

Keep us posted on your progress, also noted you removed the right front fender, good touch. Thanks for sharing your project. Cheers!

Tim

Nice little scene so far, a good sense of 'upcoming action' and good use of the old Tam figures.
Interested to read that you intend to spray the Stug in dunklegelb, yet you have already painted the rubber on the wheels and the tools?

One tip would be to cut away the overscale kit aerials and use some stretched spruce instead, will give a much better effect!

Keep up the good work, the groundwork looks great so far.

James

Good work so far. Regarding the aerials, another option is using electrical guitar cords. That should do the trick too. And they are really cheap.

Cheers, mate!

Thanks for the tips on the aerials. Pretty good timing too as I broke one of them off just yeterday working on the MG mount shield!
I painted in grey because I was following the kit instructions. After I posted a bit on this site about diong the tracks, that is when I was informed that it should have been dunkelgelb. Live and learn.

Not much progress tonight at all, as the new youngun' was more intent on me keeping her entertained than getting any building done! Hope to have some more updates here ina day or so.

Thanks for all the input !!

On the antennas use copper wire, this way if you hit them, they will bend instead of snap off at the base

Not too much to update. Spent the week entertaining the youngun'. Hope to get some work done to it this weekend and get some new pics up.

Thanks for all teh tips so far!

Keith

Wow..Things run slow in my house...the curse of the modeler. Got a fresh coat on the StuG, and started paint work on the figures. First ones I've ever done, and now I have an even greater appriciation for the ones that I've seen done on this site!
Here's a few new pics, and as always, any comments and critiques greatly appriciated..

Base coat is good. Nice and even. What's your plan for camo on the stug?
Next step for the figures is to pick out and paint the belts and suspenders and gear - black was the usual color.

One thing I noticed about the stuf was the drivers parascopes seem to have a gap under it. I would try to slide a thin piece of scrap styrene under it and carefully trim it down.

For the StuG I plan on doing a freehand(!) wave pattern with red-brown and olive green.

I was going to start picking details on the figures, but after taking 4 tries to mix what I felt was the right color for the uniforms, and I don't even know how many flesh colors I mixed last night, I had to put them down.

With the holidays coming, I probably won't touch it again for a wek or so, but hope to have some details picked out on the grenadiers and the camo on the StuG by the next posting.

Good catch on the periscopes....I'm going to have to fix that before I get too far on.

Keith

Field gray uniforms were a mid gray green color (not at all blue), and metal equipment like helmets and gas mask canisters were painted approximately the same color (in the real universe, no painted metal item will ever exactly match a piece of dyed fabric).