Hi guys, started working on a new dio today. The working title is France 1940. That may change though. I plan on using this Mini-art dio base that I showed you earlier.



Then I'm going to add a couple of kits that have been in the stash quite a while :shock:

First the old Heller Gnome-Rhone Motorcycle with sidecar.


Original Packaging, I hope some kit collector goes crazy!!! These were made to build not save :

Next the old Al-By Panhard 178.



Started on the Gnome-Rhone today. Heres a couple of shots





These old kits are alot of fun but sure can test your patience :evil:
I will keep you updated

Im going to be keeping a close watch on this one. Its an era Im becoming obsessed with just lately.

The base looks good quality. Ive got a couple of the Miniart buildings still in boxes. Might be time to let the see the daylight

Des

Hi Don.


Me too!! This forum is for builders, not collectors
Those little MiniArt diormama bases are something else, aren´t they? Bought one of them myself a few weeks ago ... the one with the blown wall and round advertisement pillar. Exactly the sort of items we need. I think MiniArt have struck a goldmine with these, as they so complete and assembly is minimal. A perfect introduction to anybody considering their buildings.
The little bike looks cool so far, but as with any of the Italeri or Tamiya bikes, a little wiring and some small details makes a BIG difference. Will be following this one.

Hi there

looks interesting and good so far. Always funny to see other kits than the mainstream kits - never seen any of these youre using here anyway.
The base looks good too. Might try MiniArt my self one day.

Good luck with it, and keep us posted

Simon

Now this is an interesting idea!
Always great to see those oldies being used. If possible I would loose the iron fense and replace it. It looks quite ehhh chuncky.
As for the motorcycle; give it some extra attention and detail. it really pays off!!


Which reminds me.... I still have to finish mine.

Nice project so far.
The subjects are unique and really add life to it. I'd be careful dating this, try and pin point when the equipment was manufactured and where it served. Then title/date accordingly.

Can't wait for the next update.

Spent some more time on the France 1940 dio this afternoon. Buillt and primed the side car. Its still not attached yet to make it easier to paint. Then I worked on the Panhard 178. Most of the assembly is done just a minor things llike the exhaust and hatch to go. I also added another figure, so this is pretty much the basic layout. I will start the painting process next weekend!







Let me know what you think

Looks great to me Don. I love the dog and the cat with the soldier watching!

This is coming together very well!
The layout looks good and there are a number of nice touches, like the cat & dog and the officer pointing his kane.
Looking forward to see it painted!

Hi Don. Those figures look excellent. From the images supplied (Ive never seen them before) the details appear to be quite sharp. Would be nice to see them a bi closer (pretty please) and a little more info on them. I know its only lay-out stage, but the figures positioning appear a bit symmetrical just now, IMO. The cat and dog are an excellent choice.

Love the composition, great story. The cat is a bit on the large size.

nice work
*maybe the cats chubby*

Yo Don,

Great start...lots of action you put into it...nice setting!

The kits you're about to use...there been a long time in you're stash i think

But i loved it...gives you're project that little bit more!


Greetz Nico

Hi Don..nice choice of subjects.

If I may, I had a thought while looking at your proposed layout. In my opinion, there seems to be two focuses, or action points....the conversation in the street and then behind them(and perhaps more interesting) the interaction between the dog and cat. I wonder if there isn't some way to integrate the two into one? Perhaps the cat could have jumped onto the AC or into the motorbike.

In this new scenario, the other fellows and the dog will now be directing their (and the viewers) attention back toward the center of the scene...the vehicles.

I always enjoy scenes in which some everyday life and humor elements are incorporated...this is going to be nice.

Thanks for listening.

Rick

Thanks for the kind words gentlemen

Frank: The figures are as follows. The French officer with the cane is an old Heller fig and came with the motorcycle. The French motorcyclist and the 2 French armored car crew are from a French company called DES. The cat is an historex piece( 1/32 that why its a large tom) and the puppy is a Doug Lee creation.

Scott: Both the Gnome-Rhone and the Panhard were French front line equipment during the German 1940 invasion.

Rick: I like you idea about focusing the action towards the AC. I think I'll experiment with this abit. Thanks for the help

Don:| .......









I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO LOVING THIS

being a big French fan, I really admire this one,The rhone, it is expensive, and old, the panhard, also a much awaited release: ) ,and I love the way you made the cat and dog scene flow,nice!!
I'm verry happy meself since I found me a Somua last meet
I'll be... if I ever see a Rhone and a Panhard without buying them, btw I heared that the Panhard is a good,scaled kit, how did it go together?


Greetz
Tha Pit

Hi Guys, After getting some feedback from a fellow dioramist about my current dio that I am working on. I have decided to change the composition a little. Thanks Rick

Heres the original: Problem is that there are more than one primary focuses and it tends to draw attention away from the Panhard.




Here the new composition. With the cat now being on the Panhard the dio seems to be more focused on a central theme.





Let me know what you think

I like the idea of the dog chasing the cat onto the Panhard, interupting the solders from the debrief. More story telling with this layout.

I think both of the layouts are great. The figures really look sharp as noticed.

The story with the cat and dog are a nice touch. The only thing is the soldier in the coat. He seems to be out of place. What is he doing? He looks like he's smoking...and more or less undisturbed by the 'animal'-action.

Well, still its a nice piece and this will turn into a fine dio (with or without the soldier in the coat ).

Simon

Nice setting you have there. Also love the Panhard armoured cars, you're quite lucky to own the pretty rare Alby kit

hmm, I like the crispness of the build so far; not too much elements and the size of the base is well adapted to what you want to show.
The problem I would see is that i personally don't like "off topics ideas" in one scene. Or secondary scenes if you prefer.
So what i would do would be either wiping out cat and dog, or making those the center of the scene by having basically the whole scene revolving around those.
The officer could point to the cat and dog.
And then if you feel like they would have a look to the wall, you could maybve put the cat on the top of the side car and put the both of them at the front left.
My 2 cents, you can throw them away

I like the cat on the Panhard even better. Nice change.

Don,

I think your revised layout is very good. Everything is tied in very well.

I do like like the new scene better. There is one focus - the cat and dog, not two or three as in the 1st scene. My concern is that the motorcycle almost gets lost in the back. The ever famous visual triangle gets lost. Try swapping the position of the car and bike and trun the officers back to us and to the downside/front/right of the bike. The triangle will the dog/cat pair, the men, and the bike. You also get more natual elevation changes (low in front taller in back).

Its getting better all the time and you're willingness to take feedback is great.
Keep up the great work.

Thank you gentlmen for all of the excellent feedback I agree that the 2nd conposition is much better. Having said that I still believe there is room for improvement. I agree that the motorcycle and the dog are being hidden in the 2nd version and need to be placed in front of or beside the Panhard if possible. I will continue to experiment as I begin the painting process this weekend. So be prepared for a couple of more opinion questions :shock: