Hi there
What a fantastic forum gratz to all. I have only built about 7 models so far but i'm really enjoying the hobby so far, i would really like to try my hand at a diorama from the vietnam era but alas i dont know where to start lol. This is the story so far
Base size 16"x16" to big or to small? i have covered this with plaster of paris bandage and a light sifting of fine sand it is painted with shades of green and brown with some mig production vietnam earth pigment.
Models built but in need of finale painting and weathering
Academy M551 sheridan
Tamiya M113 personel carrier
Tamiya M48A3 patton
Tamiya M151A2 ford mutt with trailer
I bought these models because i liked the look of them and have had some great fun build them lol, but the problem is this, would any of them hit into a vietnam diorama and if so which ones ? or even all of them. Hope you can find some time to help out this noob lol
I wish my callsign was numm nutts lol
many thanks
neil

got anny piccys Neil? would be smashing,
have you not used any static grass? i would hightly reccomend some static grass ror if you want to treat yourself some Heki gass:

i guess your working in 1/35?
have a nice stay here at the Big A

all the best

James
(18)

The M151 is too new for Vietnam. The other kits could be used if configured and painted correctly. The base seems pretty big to me, especially for a first effort. A good dio tells a story without the need for explanation bny the builder. Doing a smaller scene could allow you to focus better and will provide you with less space to fill,.

thanks guys, waiting on new battery for camera should have it tomorrow also waiting for grass to be delivered, i think i will do something with the sheridan maybe a road scene leading to ambush.I will post some pictures as soon as i get me batery
many thanks
neil

I guess it depends on what you want to show as a scene... I like to think of the dios I'm working on as a film scene, with props, actors, extras, location all working together to tell the story. I am currently working on a huge dio, 125 x 90cm, and instead of one scene, it's going to need several points of interest, spaced around the entire dio, drawing the eye from one to another, telling a story as it goes. I find it really helps to play the part of director and set the scene up to suit your story...
There is so much info on the net, and also in books, about the Vietnam war, so it is really easy to get it right - historically. The types of vehicles you've been building may at some point all have seen service in the war, but may never have been seen grouped together. Firebases seemed to have the highest concentration of vehicles - trucks, jeeps, guns, helos, ACAVs - the lot... you just need to think of what each situation needs - tanks need recovery vehicles with cranes to change their engines, artillery needed truckloads of ammo, etc etc.
I'd start small - maybe a vignette - (9 inches square say) and work up from there. Remember; the bigger your diorama, the bigger the door you'll need to get it out!
hth

Richard