Hello friends, here I am again with a brandnew topic.
I am currently making a diorama base for my M3A1 Stuart Light Tank (topic see armor) and my figure, a commander with Tommygun (topic see figures), and also two palm trees (topic see diorama, flora and fauna).

Here is the base :


The base, tile cement added, trees glued in place :


The tank's weight :


Situation of composition (tank not yet in place definitively) :


Soon more of my diorama brewery. Tx for your attention.
G.

Mate, the palms look great in the setting you have chosen for them. I didn't realise it was set in the desert. I did a few searches and the frond positioning (downward facing) looks spot on for desert conditions.

For me, although the trunks are not entirely realistic, they do not detract from the scene.

Looking forward to see the diorama finished.

Chas

Hi Guy,
The palm trees look excellent mate.I know there has been a lot said over the way they appear but if anything it has been a great experience in learning a new foliage technique.
Good luck with the rest of your campaign mate, everything is falling into place quite nicely!
MVG
Shay

Yes, i agree completely, superb palms! Perhaps a bit to green? or ad one dried?


Cheers
Claude

Beautiful composition. Great work on the Stewie.

What scale is it?

Chas, I'm glad you like it mate ! Thanks again for your advice on palm trees.
Shay, thank you too, it's going the right direction now I believe. Still a couple of days to go and then : up to a new diorama and...palm trees ! Tarawa !
Claude, your supporting words are most appreciated, the green is much greener on the pics, I hope the final pics will be better. Bad weather, clouds everywhere...
Scott, it's in 1/35 scale, the Stuart is Academy. Tx mate !

More in a few days. Thanks again for your kind words.

G.

what is the sand made of ? its nice

Very nice. Great palm trees. Did you scratchbuild them?

John

nice beginning to the dio, i was looking at the trees was wondering are those scratchbuilt of from a company i need two just like that for a dio i have built.

It looks VERY nice as usual with your work Guy -I know it's still a work in progress, but don't you think the palm trees are a bit green compared to the rather dusty colours of the rest?
Ooops I just noticed Claude said the same. Ah well, I wonder if you could not yellow a bit the sand..

Patrick : the sand is made of tile cement, mixed with water it is a light ocre colored stuff. I used it only for filling the base and the overall shape. Later, thinned wood glue was added and fine white sand and small pebbles were sprinkled in it. After drying, a layer of desert yellow/dark yellow (Tamya, well thinned) was brushed on. Then a dark wash of oil paint was added for shades and crisp detail in the sand base. A drybrush treatment was the last stage. Following pics show the situation at this moment.

John, Rick : they are home made indeed. Thank you.

JBA : the pics you've seen, only showed the beginning phase of the ground work. Adding colors in different tones, highlights, shades, it still had to be done. Now I know why people said the palm trees were so bright green, it was my photoshop program.
But I will see again, may be I can make the leaves more toned down here and there.




- the ground work needs a finish with Revell matt.
- adding dry grasses, small bushes etc. and make them fit in the scene.
- adding tank and figure, jerrycans, etc.
- pigments.

Still a lot has got to be done, pfff...

G.

Hi mate,

Very impressive, the groundwork is coming along well.

The fronds are very nice, but will you add a few more to the top of the tree on the left? In the first pic, it appears there are some missing.

I think I have already said it but you have also done a marvellous job on the Stuart tank.

Chas

Thank you Chas, you are right about the palm tree, I could have added more leaves, but I didn't want to make this tree too big, my Stuart would look even smaller then I'm afraid.
But I'll see what I can do, because your remark makes sense. Thanks again !
New update tomorrow.

G.

Guy-- you did a great job on the Stuart.
DJ

hi guy

i think you'v done a great job with your dio i just wish i had the patience to do the same.......
neil

Looks great Guy.

Matt

Excellent Dio. I think the palms are just right. Did you make them from leaves or are they made from paper. I am planning a pacific Dio and I may need a few palms, (cocnut) so I am interested in yiur construction method.

g-man
as said many times before,
this looks very nice,
the colors of the palm trees are great!
cant wait to see it finished with figures, etc

greetings

Koen

Nicely composed compact dio. Not sure what the storyline will eventually be but as a consideration you may or may not want to add tracks, wheel ruts, footprints in front or around the Stuart depending on whether the track its going on is a fresh or less travelled track or a well travelled one. Minor though. Having a few dried, brown fronds on the ground at the base of the palms will also help add a bit more realism just like having dried leaves under a tree in autumn.

Very good progress thus far. Hope to see more.

Excellent so far. What did you use for the dust effect - paint, MIG or Pastel. It looks good

DJ, thank you, I'm glad you like it.

Neil, you can do this too I'm sure. I just take my time and lock the kids and wife outside.

Matt, thank you, it's not done yet, but the support I get from modeller friends like you is a good motivation to battle on.

Thomo, you've got a pm in the box. Tx !

Koen, I'm happy to read that you like the colors, it's something personal I believe (?).

CK, good thinking, I was planning to make dead fronds to add under the trees. It will add realism for sure. There won't be a story line in this small diorama. It's titled "My Sweet Sixteen", as the number of the vehicle is 16. I've finished one figure, the commander, to take place on the base. Tx for your advice.

Thomo again, thanks for your support ! Well, the base was painted with oils (mixtures of white, yellow ocre, burnt umber, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue). Later, a dark wash was added. To finish with, I used Mig pigments (dry).

Next update :

Overall view :


Detail of the drum and improvised wooden road sign :


The figure to give an idea of the final look of it :


Next update soon.

GUnit.

It looks very nice! I especially like the figure.

Lars

Very nice figure, and woodgrain effect on the Thompson. The diorama elements are coming along well too.

Chas

battle on Guy, battle on! the result seems to be worth the battle! I concur about the fig, great painting!

Excellent work! All of the scene came out well! Nice!

Cheers -
Tim