Hi there
this is my next project
a 43 italy dio
including afv flak,dragon m2 halftrack,6 us figures
and maybe the m3a3 stuart from afv
its still in progress
i need some input about the vegetation
so please leave a comment or tips









thanks for watching
trench

looks great so far, cant wait to see it finished.

the vegitation looks pretty good, however it still needs a little something else i just cant put my finger on it. Maybe some more patches of short grass or perhaps some flowers.

Any how looks good

I like the varying levels of groundwork, it makes the base visually quite interesting. I think just more vegetation of some type would liven it up; could just be that at this stage there's a large expanse of dirt that's basically the same colour. Perhaps a section of fence somewhere.
Will that be part of a farm in the corner? How' bout a couple chickens?

To my eyes it looks great as is at the moment, conveying a feeling of Italy already.

If it was me I'd leave it until I'd got all the other AFV's and other items etc. built and put into position then take a view on it.

You may find it looks "busy" enough and leave it with only minor tweaking on the existing being needed. Maybe something growing up the wall of the building.

Looks good so far. Great touch with the irregular look to the pit wall timber planking. Like it. Well done.

Alan

This may be a stupid question. I just got in from lacrosse practice so I am a little tired. How will the gunners be getting into the pit? ladder? stairs? Other than that I think that you should add some varying color to the groudwork. Maybe some rocks. Also you should consider painting the grass a bit duller or a few different shades of green. They are a bit eye-popping right now. It looks great so far though. I really look forward to your progress!

-Mike

Mike , to be fair he does say WIP in the thread title so I'd imagine its a detail coming later along with stuff like spent ammo boxes etc.

Alan

I like it so far. It will be ineresting to see it when you are all done.

very nice indeed! but i would settle for just the Stuart tank and of course the flak gun. It seems a litle over crowded with so many veichles.

Nice - the layers are great, the pit is well done. I like the vegitation you have now.
My only critique is the non uniform spacing on the shingles of the building. Not excited about it.

I would opt for just the half track and not a tank too. It seems like you may have too much with the figures and the track and the tank. Put the hulls down and do a test shoot to plan that out.

Loving the groundwork, looks very Italian! Well done so far. I will enjoy watching this WIP.

Chas

Great job so far, an excellent base. I think you need to add some variation in colour to the ground and the vegetation in particular, while the patches of grass are good, and well spaced, they are a bit to uniform in themselves, add some colour variation or some different (longer perhaps?) grass to these clumps and you'll be on a winner.

I too would echo the other guys in saying that the half track AND the tank will be too much, as mentioned, build your figures up basically and set them out with the hulls of the kits until you get a good feel for the scene then go with that.

James

I like the groundwork, like Alan said, Italy can be very barren, so with the figures and vehicles added it should be just right.

I do think that the enclosed pit immediately makes one wonder how the Gun got into position? I doubt the gun would be man handled into a pit, if simple digging out the bank would have enabled the crew to 'drive' in. And out, what if the location needs to be evacuated quickly? I would dig out the bank to create an access.
I have seen quite a few diorama's where artillery pieces were positioned in unrealistic places. 88mm FlaK inside a bombed out building for example... You just do not 'pick up' a large gun.

Cheers
Henk

James has hit it on the head here mate.
His thoughts about adding some different grasses and colours will help no end. Try some small stones to scatter about randomly; these can be a lighter colour than the ground itself and will help to break up the expanse of monotone colour. For your existing grass, I'd make them a little more olive coloured for Italian terrain.
Personally I think the diorama is looking a little big, but that said of course you will need this size with all the vehicles etc you want to use... I do like the elevated building though, and the gun emplacement looks good! The timbers are something you can really make different and visually pleasing.
Just be careful with your use of the M3a3 as most were Lend lease to the Brits and Commonwealth and Free French forces...
Keep it up mate!
Cheers
Brad

Yo Trench,

Love you're lay out...what did you use for the groundwork, plaster? Nice work...this one i will follow to the end!

greetz Bill

hi everyone
first of all i want to thank everyone for your interest on this
subject. I guess you are right with the overcrowded aspect.
i think i will go for the halftrack because it fills more space
than the stuart .
posted it on a german forum and got the same question
how the gun crew gets into the pit?
i`ve saw pics where the pit is connected with trenches
but also just pits with steps or wooden boxes as entry(i will use ammo boxes)
with the vegetation....most of you like it
but i think i will go for some rocks and maybe a wooden fence(thanks for the tip barry)
around the barn.
my girl is going to india for two weeks
so i can`t post any pics durring that time


but anyway thanks to everyone who leaved a comment or tips
cheers
trench

Okay, realted question to the one asked about the ladders: How did the gun get into the pit with the carriage up on a different level? Not a gunner by trade, it seems this would be impossible to recover.....