Well, here goes...These are pics made with a brand new digital camera. I can now see quite clearly the errors I've made. Either I can keep taking photos with my cruddy webcam, OR I can keep practicing to build up my skills.


I think I'll keep practicing. Til then, enjoy!

Nice job on the guy there, great detail!
The sandbags look a little to clean....dont you think?
About the pics, good angles but only one image enlarged. The rest are small
Is that felt for grass?!

vonGarvin:
The pictures look fine, what do you think is wrong with them?

thats a nice little dio good work. Are the sand bags from a set or scratch built they look good but if you did them yourself press some medical gauze over the surface and it will give a nice cloth texture

Hi. I'm attempting (as I type this) to get some zoomed in photos for y'all. The "grass" is static grass (my first attempt. Next time I'll try some patches of longer stuff, so it doesn't look like "War on a Putting Green"). The sandbags are from Tamiya, and they are WAY too smooth. I'll try the medical guaze next time: I couldn't figure out how to get that "texture" into them. Thanks for the feedback!

vonGarmin,

I think it looks good. The only things I could see other than what the others said, are that the breadbag is upside down on the guy supporting the MG42 Machine Gunner and the back of the helmets might need to be sanded a little where they had connected to the sprue. Other than that, I like the detail on the collar and the shoulder boards.

GR8Voyager

Hey
I had to think about it for a minute: "breadbag?" I had no idea...til I looked at the model on the photo and realised it was the gas mask canister. :-) I also see some errors on the models that I haven't really noticed as I built the models, but are now glaringly obvious. Such as the backs of the helmets (as noted) and the stupid sandbags! Anyway, this was my first attempt at a dio ever, so I hope that my next one is better, though I *am* happy with this one. Just have to get a proper mount for it is all. I'll keep learning and reading on what to do. Cheers for now!
Again, thanks for the comments to one and all.

vonGarmin - no, it's the pouch below the gas mask canister - I think it is painted khaki in your photo and is to the right of the shovel.

Maybe I am calling it the wrong name - it is a pouch that I thought they used to carry their food/bread in. And I only noticed the helmet because the figures I build are Tamiya and I hate the way they attach the helmet to their sprues.

But seriously, it is such a minor nitpick. Overall, your figures look good and I am very envious - it takes me forever to do just one. I am still working on my fourth one - well, redoing him. You have inspired me to work on it tonight.

GR8Voyager

D'OH!!!!!!!!!!! Now that you point it out......it's like.... I can see the light! I blew it (eg: I put them upside down on ALL my figs! Easily rectified!!!) Thanks!

OK, I fixed it. Here is one of the fixed lad. Note, this was taken indoors, not as nice as the outdoor photo in the sun, so, please, bear with me

This is a photo showing how the two trenches fit together. They are about ten scale metres apart.

Again,thanks for the comments! Ciao!

Not bad at all for a first attempt. I'm always happy with everything I build because I always learn so much along the way. Sometimes the mistakes are even happy ones, that turn out for some mystical unknown reason.
Maybe you could add some empty casings to the trench (heat and then stretch some sprue, paint it cold or brass, then cut it to length and drop it in). You could also try putting in some real dirt and rocks (or fine kitty litter) stuck down with a light film of diluted white glue.
Just thoughts for next time. Happy modeling... :-)

Hey there Leogunner. I was thinking of the spent casings, but if I'm not mistaken, the MG 42 used a non-disintegrating link. Not sure how it worked, so.... I also am buying some extras: ammo cans, maybe a cup and a coffee brewer, something. Anyway, thanks for the comments. Stay tuned for my next dio: a mortar crew. Haven't decided if they'll be "in action" or "at rest". I have the figures for both, so wait and see!

I think you did a nice job on the figures and the guns... they look quite impressive for a first attempt.

Things you can easily do to improve your overall presentation:

- look closely at the sandbags... you will see they have plastic raised ridge (called flash seams). Take either sanding paper or the edge of an Xacto knife and scrape this away. this is the first step in all models I build... including figures.

- to add "texture" to the sandbags try this:

1- before painting, take an old stiff bristle brush and dip it into glue... then "STAB" the brush into the sandbag surface repeatidly. The glue will soften the plastic, and the brush will impress some texture that will show quite well when painted.

2) - prime your sandbags with a coat of dark brown paint... allow it to dry. Then come back after the paint has dried, and use the "dry brush" technique to put a second & third shade of lighter brown onto the bags. This will help pick up the texture of the bags, and will also give the appearance of shadows.

3) - for your "turf", try either painting the static grass to show different terrain, or perhaps add features like rocks and stones (made from plaster).

The GREAT thing abouit building dioramas as I'm sure you have discovered is that we get better and better every time we do a new project... and that is half the fun.

Good work on the figures and the overall concept!

Actually now that you mention it I think you are correct on the disintergrating links. A piece of masking tape painted the right colour coming out of the ejection port? A mortar crew next ? I'll be looking for that one. Perhaps you in a previous life ? Here's a couple of liks that might help you with some uniform and equipment details. If you look around some of the sights there is a wealth of info..... http://pacificcoast.net/~gmax/
http://www.militaria-online.com/dealers.htm

Oh and here's one just for the heck of it that you might be interested in http://www.skalman.nu/third-reich/index.htm

Those Tamiya sandbags are a pain in the neck, but they are good for starters.

Just look at some REAL sandbags for inspiration :
1) there's no space between them. In scale, you can fil the space with putty, clay or another filler.
2) they never look shiny or smooth. You can add fine sand, cement or another powdery solid substance in your paint for texture. Make sure your paint is matt. You can add a flatting agent to the paint for that. Stay away from the medical gauze an small scales like 1/35.
3) why not get a slab of clay and model your own ? Wear rubber gloves to avoid your fingerprints on the final sandbags.

Wow. Talk about help! I know that I have my work cut out for me, but as most of you noted, with each and every dio I'm certain that lessons are learned. The static grass was my FIRST EVER. I thought about improving this dio, but I think I'll just leave it "as is" in order to benchmark my progress (I hope!). Anyway, I'll keep you all updated when I get my dio done. The figures are mostly done (except the faces...still working on not going insane as I learn to paint 0.5mm eyes!!! #:-) ) See you all later!

Hi! I wonder what is the name and number of the paint you've used on uniforms.

Hi VonGarvin,the indoor pics look best of all,you seem to have done the no 1 thing in figure painting, paint them neat! everything else follows on.
Arthur

nice job keep up the good work