Hi all,
This is m first ever diorama, besides some stuff when I was in primary school (now 34 yo)
I am after some help with what to put in the back of the building. Its actually a castle that the "scenario" suggests that the germans have occupied as a firm base and set up an 88 in the AT role. If you have any sugestions, please feel free to tell me. If you think I have done anything that I could have done better, please do the same. I hope my photo link works.

Sorry mate, I can't see anything, but maybe that's my problem, I don't know.

Hmm, the link opens my own gallery???

Okay, its got me stuffed why this isnt working for me.....

If yoou look in the photo gallery and search my user name, you can see them, but not when I link them...How odd.

Hi Shayne,

I like the layout and the snow looks very realistic. Some suggestions:

1. Make sure if you are positioning a figure in a high place, it must have a means to get down again. (i.e how did the figure get up onto the platform without a ladder?)

2. Steer away from blue-tacking the figures to the base. Use glue or insert a pin into the bottom of the figure's foot, and attach to the base that way.

The 88 is really nice, but when modelling a heavy object like this, it needs to 'sink' into the base, not float on top. Try pressing it into the groundwork or building dirt up around the base of the gun.

Good job and keep modelling,
Chas

Thanks mate,
Good point, a ladder is on the way. The stuff on the base of the feet isnt blue tac, its glue from where I have them sitting during the painting, the figures are not stuck in place 100% yet, so I still need to remove the residual glue. I wasnt sure if they would stay in the place that they are at the moment. I was considering adding some infantry around the place as well.
Very good point about the 88. I will have to fix that up, thanks for the pointers.

Hey Shayne
A very good compilation for a first diorama!
I like the look and placement of the castle, and the fir trees tie in very well.
The 88 would most likely need a clear 360 degree line of sight though I think...
Seems the sort of place to have a 75mm gun with a limited traverse of say 120 degrees?
The snow fall looks pretty good, but the path would only appear that open if it had actually been cleared? I'd have a little more snow cover on the path, and maybe some mudded bootprints...
Good stuff
Brad

Behind the castle - you need some rubble, the size of the blocks on that castle would leave some behind. Maybe not a lot of little rubble, that could have been cleaned up. But I think the scene fits an very old castle that has fallen not through battle damage but because of no maintenance. The Germans could have come in and cleaned smaller rubble.
How about supplies, more ammo, small personal gear,maybe some oil drums under a tarp, make shift tent maybe.....

Hi Shayne,
First can I say that's a nice little diorama, especially for a first effort!!
The trees look good, and the postioning of all the diiferent elements. The 88mm does look very nice. I've only done one diorama myself involving snow, funnily enough my first one too! I'm certainly no expert, but the snow looks ok, what did you use?
You asked about the empty space behind the walls? The wood needs weathering and perhaps a wash of somesorts. It looks too clean. Chas was right about the ladder, and you need to add some rubble from the walls. You could use smaller broken pieces from the original walls if you still have any, adding smaller bits, such as gravel, crushed brick, sand and even cat litter is good to use. Broken pieces of wood from the floor boards would also add an element to it all, and help fill the space. In amongst all that, add personal pieces of equipment from the soldiers, boxes, crates and especially spare ammunition for the gun. You could also add 1 or 2 extra troops, maybe making the hot tea for their fellow comrades, there's alot of decent kits out there depicting soldiers at rest etc..., that might add alittle extra to your scene?
Anyway, hope some of that is of some use to you, look forward to seeing how it all turns out!

Cheers for now,
SIMON

Thanks for the ideas guys, I have some good things to try


Oh, by the way. The snow was just something that I found in a model train shop by Woodland Scenics, its called "SNOW" The trees were also pre made from the same place, I just trimmed a few shorter to get rid of uniformity.

The 88 and figures are all DML

The elements are generally pretty good but the story line and posittioning of the figures needs a bit more thought.

They have a target at which they are firing and you have a guy taking a break and only one person doing the aiming. Where are the shells coming from? There neither boxes for the shells nor spent shell casings.
The forward section of the shells should also be painted, IIRC, eiother black or green.

Great ground work so far. Aside from the above I think your spotter needs some sort of ladder or stairs to get to where he is. Also, don't forget tracks for the trailer, or the trailer itself. I feel like people tend to forget them.

-MIke

Also, quite random and I apologize, if that is the powder snow that comes in the jug thing that is great stuff. When I use it I mix it with white glue and water before I put it down. It looks much better. Not quite as powdery.

-Mike

Lookin Great so far, I like the groundwork, snow and trees. The 88 turned out quite nice .
The other guys before me said it all , ammo boxes, personnel equipment, rubble etc. Keep up the good work . Happy modeling.

I like the snow