Pedro Machado shows how he created his ''Retreat in Normandy'' diorama.



If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Hi Pedro,

Interesting. Good figure painting especially since you used Humbrol. Also nice foliage used on the Pak 40. I love the natural lichen you have used. When I was in Europe I found some exactly like it and thought it would be perfect for dioramas, but I knew I could never get it past Australian customs!

Only one small issue, the photography doesn't look too good...

Excellent job overall ,
Chas

Hey Pedro
An interesting scene with some stuff I'm not too familiar with (mostly because I'm an Allied modeller!) What can you tell me about this DAS clay; Is it air drying, or does it need firing?
I love the final texture you have achieved on the road. The overall scene gives the feeling of retreat as needed; well done.
Brad

Hi Pedro :

Love what you have accomplished, the RSO/03 makes a very interesting subject. I also must humbly disagree with Chas, I really like the photo, your use of "Depth of Field"; the blurring of a less important portion of the picture; really draws the viewers eyes straight to the main subject of you diorama. Very nice indeed. Well done.

Fido

Pedro-- great work! Very nice
DJ

Congratulations !!!
VERY good job!!!!

Excellent dio, Pedro. The RSO is terrific, the gun is nicely done and great attention to detail on the weathering, rust, odd bits of equipment etc... Well laid out, nice bikes and the guy leaning out the door is outstanding. Simple but polished. Great job on the gated wall and the foliage also. Nice job.
Ironmike

First place, I must give my thanks to Armorama, in the persons of Darren and Henk ,for the invitation and the publish of this feature.
My thanks also to all of you ,for your nice words.
Brad, the good point of Das, is that it dries in air and with no cracks on it.
Thanks

Hello Pedro. Let me first say that I like the overall layout of the diorama as well as the flow of the action but a few criticisms if I may. Firstly, no not lychen for foiliage. There are many products out there that are superior to lychen to depict summer foilage. Lychen is a model railroad product that harkens back to layouts from 30 years ago or more and has a toylike quaility about it. Lychen doesn't look anything like any type of REAL one to one scale European brush or trees. Secondly, where are the soldier's weapons slings? I see no slings at all. Are the weapons held up by magic or magnets under the uniforms? Thirdly, I don't believe that the motorcyclists would be wearing their rubberised full length overcoats and gloves in the heat of summer. They would likely be in fatigues with their sleeves rolled up to try and beat the heat. Lastly, I don't believe any German troops were still wearing steel helmetss with SS insignia or any other type of national insignia by June, 44. Please don't think I'm picking on you. There are aspects of the dio that I like. I think the column of retreating troops fit the scene very well and they immediately tell a story at first glance. I just think that all the other viewers piling on the complients aren't helping you to learn by not pointing out mistakes in accuracy, ommissions, and the like. You can't fix it if you don't know it's broken. Everybody walks on egg shells in these forums. Honesty is the best policy and I truly believe that some constructive criticism can be helpful as long as people aren't deliberately hurtful or nasty. Keep up the good work and happy modelling. Bob Bixler

Bob,
Thanks a lot for your honest comments.
First and about the foliage,
.the Lychen and the tree are natural stuff not toy material, and each one uses what we like much, it`s a question of taste.

.
Everybody has slings ,if you look careful or in other angle.

About the motorcyclists, the pics I saw, they use.

Thanks a lot for your time in leaving your notes
Pedro

Very nice diorama. I particularly enjoyed watching it evole and develop. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Jim,

nice on

Diorama is OK! But where is toning on figures?

Summer isn´t always blue skies and sunshine. The summer season in Europe is like a baby´s bottom ... very un-dependable. We have summer season now ... but in the mornings and late evenings, it gets quite cold and damp, with fog or due.
If this scene is set early morning on a day that still could get quite sunny and warm, the overcoatts would still be necessary ... especially on a motorbike. Daylight still comes early, but the air is very cold as the sun hasn´t come up properly yet and the dew would add to choice of garments used.

Nice dio Pedro. Still love that guy looking out from the RSO.

Thanks a lot guys for your comments
Pedro

Hi Pedro
nice dio.
I was wondering if you could explain how you stop the natural folage from rottting over time. please?
Steve.

Steve,

The foliage is almost in the dry state,but I put lady´s air spray.
Thanks
Pedro

i must say that this is brilliant, im sorry i didnt comment sooner!

the litchen works perfectly, as to be honest when someone looks at a model they dont usually look at the bushes.

secondly i must have a R.S.O

i love them

all the best
James

Thanks James for your words.
I love the RSO too, is very fun to build, the only but is the tracks, you should get ones from Friul.
Cheers
Pedro