Hi everyone, after finishing my latest armor build, I decided to build another dio. All the work you see ( except the models) was done today. I had these figs and the vehicle just sitting around so I came up with a simple little plan.
But, I cant take all the credit. A couple of my friends who dont model, gave me a couple ideas after seeing what I was doing. One of them is asking alot about modeling so we might get another young modeler soon!

Ok, back to business: I still need to weather the barakade (sp?) more and do more detailing with the grass, adding highlights and shadows. The biggest job left though is adding the leaves for the tree.
I need ideas for that one, does anyone have any ideas? Its either cut down the tree abit, or just get alot of leaves. Please HELP!!

Here are some prog pics.


Is the flat tire realistic?


I was intending for the cloth to be an oil cloth. What do you guys think?

Tree to big?


Thats it for now, All critictism welcome.

thxs,
John

The ground work looks nice. Someone should be able to help you out with the tree. What time of year is it if its fall maybe scatter some leaves on the ground. The tire to me looks like a good example of a flat tire looks correct. Nice work.

Thanks Keenan!! You are correct, I was wanting to depict Fall in the scene. I am needing some cheap ways for the leaves though, other than oregano. They dont work well for some type leaves in my opinion. Thanks for commenting on the tire.

John

I have used real leaves just crumbled them into small peices. Just a thought.

Great Idea!! I will try that out and let you know.

John

the tree distracts the viewer i find, i dont really want to look at the figures and car, i want to only look at the tree.... its to big i think

Looks good, I like the use of two levels. A very good base layout, well done.

The flat tire looks fine, good job.

One point however, if this is 1943, it is very unlikely (near impossible) there would be an MP44 (the clue is in the name) and a panzerfaust on the back seat!

James

Hi Jonathon. Some feedback. I see some really well don things in your scene. The mixed level scene really adds a lot to the scene .. making it look both natural and realistic. The flat tyre is another is another excellent touch .. very well done. The patchy ground work is good also.
I like the tree as it has plenty branches, but the overall size makes a small scene unbalanced. There appears to be 2 stories going on at the same time ... the guys pointing away, and the guy looking at the flat tyre .... with only three figures ... one story is enough. You have tidied up the side view on one side and not the other ... this balsa frame should be continued all around ... gives a more complete and professional appearance.
The most positive thing though, is that you are improving all the time. Keep it going now!!

Hi John,

Nice little scene. I like the tyre and the basic groundwork, very nice.

I agree with the others, the tree is far too big. I'd suggest cutting it down to about a third of it's present height. I hardly ever pull a tree straight from nature without cutting off branches and re-arranging and gluing them to different parts of the tree. Another problem with such a large tree would be motivation! If you plan to put leaves on the tree, you are going to get very bored very quickly!

Chas

Actually, the title led me to believe there was one story - that the third guy has just discovered the flat tire. The soldier looking at the tire certainly isn't equipped like he is ready to put on the spare anyway.

But then again, with a tire that flat, you'd know it before you ever got out of the vehicle...

Some thoughts.
I like the shape and flow of the base with its dual levels.
On the grass, I think it looks fine as it is. When you add come leaves to it, there will be additional variations to the ground cover. Several companies have "leaves," often using birch seeds, Have a look here for a side selection of groundwork products
Basics: you have a rather big seam on the exhaust pipe and possibly on the heat guard.
Composition: The two guys looking away from the shwimmwagen draw the viewer away from the focal point.
Gravity: the main weight of the panzerfaust is the warhead. The way you've placed it would cause it to fall out at the slightest bump, if not by itself.
.

Hello everyone for your comments, sorry for not getting you all earlier.

For everyone to know I have cut done the size of the tree about 1-3rds.

Frank- I was going to put the balsa wood all the way around, but I had ran out and didnt realize it. I am not done with the whole layout yet, so I could add another fig, or try to find another position for the figs.
Chas- I have really cut the tree down, plus it is in the fall so most of the leaves will be on the ground.
Vance- I did not think about the feeling of a flat tire when your driving, so I will try to fix that. In the dio I was trying to just tell one story.
Al- Thank you for the information on the leaves, and if the grass looks good as it is than thts fine by me Also I will fix the seam, and the panzerfaust.

Thank you everyone for their comments and advice, I will certainly use them in the diorama.

thxs,
John

Ok so I got the MP-44 off but I kept the Panzerfaust, and I will change the title to, " What should we do?" I think. Anyone else got any better titles, because I dont like any of the ideas I have had.
Also I have cut the tree down quite abit.

So here are my ideas for changes: I want to find a figure, or figures, that will go here-


I have found a couple of verlinden kits of germans relaxing that would fit on the hill, but if anyone has any certain kits they know of please tell me.

thxs,
John

A dog would be nice over there too...watching the soldiers misery. It would also add a bit of humour, and color (for example a white dog). Sorry, I just love animals in dioramas. G.

Johnathon, I like the original title, mabey you could have one of the two figs turning his head to look over at the soldier, as though he's just reacting to being called. I would keep the 3 figures as well, keeps it from getting to crowded. I think you have a very good idea here and it will no doubt turn out well. I'd just suggest trying to tie the two sides of the dio together, mabey by turning some heads or posture towards each other. Keep up the good work!

if you are going to put two more figures in the scene, remember it would be a very tight squeeze in a schwimmwagen. but then again that could be why the tire went flat

i also like the title its sort of double barrelled maybe a T34 on the horiizon and the flat tire

also like the way u utilise MB german tank hunters if u left the grenadiers( holding the stove pipe)head turned that might hold the scene together