Hello there. Here's a few photos of my incomplete first dio. It's meant to show U.S infantry making their way through Normandy on D-day + 1. I cant help but feel it looks too empty so any criticisms or ideas for improvement would be great. Im in the process of painting more US infantry for it, but Im having a hard time coming up with ideas to make it a bit more interesting.
Cheers
Jack

It's looking like a nice build and base so far but a theme is missing. I would be tempted to change it to a battle of the buldge scene. Add a roadsign, Germans in US MP uniforms, with the traffic converging from both ways. All the figures arguing in the middle. Add a few snow specks on top of the dirt and grass. Just one idea, but you need a focal point and theme that is obvious when the diorama is viewed. HTH, Greg

add more g.i's or maybe move the nco because he looks abit out of place if you get me
but never the less its a good diorama with some good painting and ground work

Hello Jack,
Maybe more low shrub type bushes and natural debris on the ground, such as old tree limbs, stumps from dead trees etc.
The shell holes would have thrown up clumps of dirt and sod along with rocks and such. Assuming these shell holes were recently made, the uprooted earth would be darker than the surface dirt.
The ground would have leaves or remnants of leaves from the prior season in and around the fence areas.
Just some ideas,
Cheers,
Charles

Gday Jack
To obtain this outcome on your first diorama, I'd say you have a pretty creative mind. That said, for your next have a bash at some research and photographs before a build. You'd be amazed at how a good read on certain events/battles gets the creative jooces flowing
It appears your base is on styro foam? Easily breakable mate. For a simple yet effective base, why not try a cheap photo frame you could pick up for a quid or two? Ready made borders, and in varying sizes, and then you can add 'retaining' walls of balsa wood, and then add your foam for height within it. Coat with some plaster of paris, and you have quite an inexpensive base
As for your scene, an easy way to make more action is to make the shell craters 'fresh' as Charles mentioned, by adding scattered dirt clumps, maybe breaking a leg off the table and have it half overturned or similar... Suddenly the action is created because of either the panic or cool assessment of the situation by those involved amidst the shelling?
Keep us posted
Brad

All the crew around the table with a nice Calvados bottle to share

Hi,
Nice effort on a first one. I don't understand your scene. A table being an obstacle to a Sherman?
I would eventually start to recompose this part of your dio and you could be able to advance the Sherman a bit and simply cut away the rear part ( with the cornerbroken already) and shorten the dio.

Cheers
Claude

Cheeers lads, some great ideas. As most of you said it's clear i am very much ineed of a focal point and a theme to this crazy dio. The fresh dirt scattered around the craters also a very obvious idea that i didn't think of. And more infantry is deffinatley needed. Ill be workin on this diorama constantly so ill keep ya all posted with pics of my progress to see if i can make this diorama work somehow

Cheers
Jack

Aye! And call it "Union break time".
It's a nice beginning,just needs to be fleshed out I think. Still open to many choices.
Cheers!
Rick

i think you should have the sherman parked up with paratroopers linking up with it
or have paratroopers fighting using the crators as cover

Very nice looking dio!
Can you please write a few words about how did you made that pine tree. Thanks,
Alek

You need to decide what you're trying to depict. The presence of the table would seem to suggest a planning scene, but the figure seems to be directing traffic or troop movement. Decide what the feature element of the diorama is, craft a story around that. The diorama as it is demonstrates good craftsmanship, but it lacks direction. Another thing you could do to cut down on the empty space is make it smaller. This will add drama and create a tighter composition. Hope this helps.