Hello all, just a few pictures of my latest dio attempt.

Items used are Tamiya Cromwell and British patrol set, Miniart's Normandy house, Italeri House corner, Academy Destroyer set, VLS wrought iron fence and Plus Model "Dragon's Teeth" and bags.

I used Sculptamold for the ground work with Woodland Scenics ground cover.

I really enjoyed doing this as I popped my cherry on a few things ( Sculptamold and Miniart buildings )

Thanks for looking, look forward to read all comments, good and bad

Nice work there ....especially the wall paper

A+ on the overall scene, in terms of composition and such. Figures look pretty good, and so does most of the groundwork. A few things might help it along a bit.

1. The pick axes and shovels look like they are glued to the British backpacks, rather than hung there. Add some straps.

2. If the rest of the building the Germans are in is present (off frame), if they shoot that Panzerschrek they are in for a world of hurt. Backblast'll blow them up as bad as the brits. They're also at REALLY close range.

3. You haven't painted any of the straps on the German equipment (rolled up shelter half, canteens, mess tin.

4. Some of the rocks in the groundwork look like they are sitting on top of the ground...they should be partially buried.

5. I can't really imagine dragon's teeth in the middle of a village, but it's possible they were used as such.

6. The tracks haven't been painted, just had mud smeared on them. They are steel tracks and should look like steel, rather than Tamiya rubber-band tracks. And then mud on the vehicle looks like it's smeared onto whatever you could reach with a brush...inner areas are untouched, yet they should probably be the dirtier areas. On a tank like the Cromwell with big wheels, it's probably a better idea to weather the lower hull with the wheels off, and weather the wheels separately, that way you can get into all the nooks and crannies.

7. Since it looks like they are traveling in front of buildings (not behind), then I think the road would be more pronounced than just twin dirt ruts. It might be dirt, but it would have years of traffic and probably not have any grass in the middle. Good job on the tank tracks, though.

8. The stone wall with "ABRI" on it could use a dark wash to bring out the recesses between the stones, then perhaps a drybrush to highlight it. Rubble looks pretty good.

9. Rifle slings would be a nice touch.

Fences look good.

My list might seem like a lot, but most of it can still be done and make your dio, in my opinion, even better. I've only just completed my 5th dio and am still learning a ton, which is why I'm offering my advice. So don't get down on yourself or anything, b/c it's really a nice scene. I'd love to see one sort of "overall" pic of the entire scene.

Keep it up, keep working.....you'll improve in leaps and bounds.

Rob

Looking good but some of your pics seem a bit fuzzy because of your lighting try toneing it down that way you will see a lot more detail .

Nice overall composition and you've packed a lot in.

Main criticisms (meant constructively, not as nit-picks)?

1) Echo the comment about the unpainted tank tracks & mud above
2) The outer walls of the building need weathering
3) Some of the lichen on the ground looks very artificial and too bright green.

A tip on the photography...neutralize your background with a drop cloth. In ine shot, it lookslike the brits are moving past a giant LCD drive-in screen. In another, there's a giant flower pot.

thanks for all your comments and suggestions.
I tried to use as much natural light as i could hence the tv and flower pot. Going to practice more with figure painting and putting the finishing touches to them. The Cromwell was my first attempt at weathering, so i will rectify my mistakes on my next project.
Many thanks again for looking

vewry nice, better than my first dio. i have those same german figures, but i like ur camo better

I like the overall composition as well. Your definitely off to a good start.

Some nitpicks apart from those that were mentioned would be the lack of rubble inside the house although there's a fair bit outside as seen from the 2nd. pic. A dark wash over the stonework of the house wall followed by some light drybrushing in the 6th pic would have helped flesh out the details of the house better. Same goes for the rubble. Some mud splatter on the boots of the figs following the tank would have help blend them in better to what appears to be a fairly muddy road. Again these are minor details which I'm sure you will get better at with practice.

All in all its a good attempt especially considering that composition in dios is not something easy to get right on the first go.

Washes. If you make some brown and/or black washes and put them on those uniforms they will look so much better. The same with the wall. This is a great DIO and I know you are anxious like I am to get to the next project but if you just give this project 2 more hours you will see how much better it will look.