Hello, gentlepeople!

Is there any interest in doing a campaign focusing on the Siegfreid Line? This would be a diorama campaign, with either infantry or Armor/AFVs, or preferably both. The timeframe is August 1944 to basically the end of the war. I'm thinking that a lot of people will focus on The Battle Of The Bulge (AKA The Ardennes Offensive) and that would be great, but it would also be interesting to see some dioramas focusing on other regions or battles. Seeing as how the Germans also began to reinforce the Siegfreid Line in August '44, there could also be some really good maintenance/construction dioramas. Maybe some intelligence-gathering could be depicted?

In terms of scale, it's unlimited. If you can do it, and keep the scales accurate within your diorama, it's allowed! Translation: don't mix 1:35 with 1:48!

Looking forwards to hearing from you!
Lewis

Great idea!

We could use a diorama campaign. It has been some time since we had one of those. I am already starting to plan a 88mm gun emplacement in my head

I am in!

Jesper, I'm glad you like the idea, and I'm glad to have you aboard!

One idea I'm kicking around as one of the rules is that units not from the US, Britain, or Germany either must be shown with one of these, or with a segment of the Line itself. I include this because a lot of the Battle of the Bulge didn't actually take place on the Line, seeing as the Bulge was a German protrusion of occupation (How's that for a sixty-four dollar phrase? ) rather than a specific geographical feature (as some people think.)

Just something to bind it all together with some commonality.
Lewis

Hey Lewis...like this one....and it has been a while since there's been a specific Dio campaign....good luck with getting this one established....When you've got your 10, submit it!

Mike

I'm in. I have a specific diorama in mind. I just need the tank and some supplies. I wish the campaign starts around January. Pretty occupied with other campaigns on the go.

Mike, thank you! It seemed appropriate to suggest this on November 11... Canada's Rememberance Day!

Ralph, and whomever else wonders... I'm aiming to start this about the beginning of February, just so we can all clear our plates a little bit. Glad to have you aboard, Ralph!

And, just as importantly, the American Veteran's Day! How tears do well upon me as I remember "ours and our brethren," the Veterans! May those that have passed NEVER be forgotten, those that are there NEVER be looked down upon, those that will be, be praised for what they will do.

Mike

Awesome! I'll look forward into it.

Good timing! Already looking forward to it

Just a bump to keep this thread visible...

I'm looking forwards to seeing a collection of Dragon's Teeth, bunkers, trenches, barbed wire, towers, and a whole range of fortifications! Some of this could be scratch-built, and some may need to be. Does anybody market Dragon's Teeth? And don't forget, this proposal includes the Ardennes Offensive, or the Battle of the Bulge.

Being a diorama campaign, it opens the doors to mixed armor/afv and figures, and doesn't even need to be a combat diorama, for those of you who enjoy working on maintenance units.

And slightly off-topic, but still on... would a round from a Sherman do anything to Dragon's Teeth other than pit the darned thing?

I think Plusmodel has Dragon's Teeth, check it out.

If my commitments enable me, I might jump in the wagon with a repair workshop behind the lines.

You should try to link to this tread from the AFV and Diorama forums. A lot of people might miss this one.

Maybe a Sherman with a 105mm howitzer could take a chunk of it, but I am quite sure it needs to be hit a lot of times with high explosive to remove one of the teeth. With 75 or 76 mm I think it needs a lot of shoots to be ground down.

Jesper, I took your advice and posted the links. I'd hate to see this fizzle!

Emre, I will check that out, but more than likely I'll scratchbuild them. I already have plan in mind on how to do it fairly easily!

Ralph, keep that dio in mind... even if this doesn't turn into a successful campaign (I'm working on it! ) there's no reason a fella can't build it anyhow.

I'm looking forwards to this being a "go..." and will come up with a banner and ribbon when we've got some more people interested. Or sooner....

Hey, Mike... I just had a thought... should a person perhaps post this over on Historicus Forma, as well?

Gday Lewis
I also would be interested in this campaign, and the start date would also be suitable...
A Sherman or two would be VERY suitable...
As for Dragons' teeth, there are a few manufacturers who make them, but IIRC there was a link to a modellers' website which ahd a SBS on building your own using icy pole (popsicle) sticks and plaster. They were pretty crude in real life, and I'm almost certain that the 'scratchbuilt' method used mirrors the 'real life' method.
Brad

I would be able to help with this. I have been running three campaigns at Aeroscale and have made all the ribbons for the white wash, flame thrower, father and son etc. campaigns here. You can see some of the other Aeroscale ribbons in this tread on aeroscale. Banners at Aeroscale

Bradley, welcome aboard! You're absolutely right about them being crude... they were meant to stop tanks and other AFVs. The only appearance value they had was perhaps intimidation.

Jesper, that would be great. I'm not the most creative person, at least when it comes to graphics/drawings!

And then, we're slowly getting there. Five people so far, not including myself or Mike. Does a moderator's interest count towards the ten for submission?

I am not a big diorama building person but if you read my profile you will see that one of my interests is the Siegfreid Line.

So if you are needing enough people to get the campaign rolling you can add me to the list.

I am sure I can come up with a bunker or something.

Thanks for the campaign idea.

HARV

Harv, that would be great! And nobody said the dio had to be huge!

Hmmm... you might be a great person to doublecheck historical accuracues with!

This sounds like a great one to get in on, so count me in also. The timing works out right and I should have "White-Washed" done by then. I've got plenty of diorama stuff that needs a home so maybe something from around Aachen or better yet, the Hurtgen Forest with a pillbox. I know that the Germans used 'tank turret' pill boxes in Italy (like the "Pantherstellung"). Does anyone know if they used these in the Seigfried Line also?

Blade48mrd

Hi, Mike! Glad to have you!

Man, you're hitting the nail on the head, here. The Hurtgen forest, Aachen, oh, yeah! Beautiful! I personally can't say whether or not the Germans used tank turret pillboxes on the line, but I would suggest probably, as they did use armored cupola pillboxes. Unfortunately for them, according to my sources, the armor plates and such was generally of an inferior quality. Harv would probably have a better idea than me.

Thanks Lewis. Plenty of time to research and it's part of the fun of getting ready for a Campaign anyway. Thinking more along the lines of the Hurtgen Forest as my setting with some sort of pillbox, heavily camoflaged covering a wooded trail. So I've got another candidate if the Pantherspellung doesn't pan out. Would be something like this;


Looking forward to the Campaign

Blade48mrd

never built a dio before, but i like the strong point defenses. i would give it a go

Hey all, it'd be up to Lewis, but those that "don't do dios" or haven't done one before (like me ), the alternative is a vignette....small bit of ground work that emphasizes the subject matter. By this, as I'm envisioning it, a pillbox with maybe a couple of inches of ground work surrounding it or part of a road with dragon's teeth blocking the road and some GIs "checking it out" or a scout car coming up on them doing the same…a recon.

I think there would be a lot of possibilities with the vignette "style" in mind. Vignettes are traditionally small (some ground with one or two focal points)...dioramas are usually larger (more ground, building(s), figures and vehicles [mulitiple focal points]).

Mike

Absolutely, Vignettes will be allowed. While a diorama captures a whole scene, a vignette can capture a specific moment, a certain "feel" and can be truly intense. The whole idea here is to convey the Siegfried Line in some fashion or the Battle of the Bulge. Like to do maintenance crews? The Germans began re-fortification of the Siegfried Line in August '44. A crew working on a bunker, or placing dragon's teeth, is still appropriate. I want to leave this fairly open to your imaginations and research!

We're almost there... eight people already! Two more and the campaign will be submitted!