Hi everyone,
Havent had alot of time untill now to get this diorama started. It will be for the Airborne Campaign that is currently on. Also it is 1/35 scale.

I had one question though, is it realistic or close to being realistic for Fallschirmjager to be using a bunker in Italy?

Here are a few pics that I have so far......

pic 1, shows overhead of dio. so far. by the time the dio is done their will be about 9 para's on there. As you can see I used wood for the siding( and I really liked the results)

pic 2,shows close-up of figs and vehicle so far. Their will also be a fig by the tree (he will have a panzerfaust). I am pretty confident about figure placement so far.

pic 3, show front side of bunker. Not sure about barrier placement, I might take it off. Also will have a MG nest inside of bunker hole.

pic 4, I will use all of figures from the right box, and two or three from the left box.

pic 5, shows verlinden stuff. The bunker is part #0116( Was not happy with the kit, I had to do alot of work to make it fit right).
para's is part #2373( might use them, might not). and of course the camo netting.

Sorry for the long e-mail, but I just wanted to get you updated on my build!
All comments are much welcome and wanted!!

thank you,
John

I know that fallschirmjager were used as infantry in the Italian campaign. In fact, they were the guys that held Monte Cassino. Even US & British airborne units were used as regular infantry throughout the war. So I would say yes, it is close to realistic that fallschirmjager would be used in bunkers in Italy.

Jim

I know it has been a LONG time since I have updated this diorama, but school has been busy and weight lifting for football season!!! However now it is settling down abit. So here are some pictures. Please tell me what you think.






Today was the first time I have worked on this diorama so, I am glad with the amount I got done.

GO ARIZONA!!!!!!!!!!!!

thxs,
John

Wow John that dio is coming along really well keep it up

Wow John, glad to see you are still at it again! I'll be sure to keep track of this log!

great work and like the others said perfectly acceptable as a theme, airborne were just like regular soldiers once on the ground, if they needed to defend a line and there was a prebuilt fortification there of course they would use it.

Good luck with the dio

simon

Thanks guys, It does feel good to get back in it, since I havent touched it for over two months !! I will get some more done tonight so I might get some more pictures for you all.


later,
John

First picture shows four of the figures on there.

Verlinden figure

Ummm... Stuff I am putting on.


Later,
John

Couple more pictures!!! Enjoy!




These are photos of two more figures that will be put on the dio. they should be fun to paint!

Later,
John

Good start with the figures and diorama. I think you might have to add some extra branch structure to the tree. You can source fine roots from nature or use the Jan's wire technique (see the top article in the features area).

Very nicely done, John! Keep up the great work!

Hello
That's coming along nicely. Nice figure's.

Thank you everyone for the replies,

Chas- Your right, needs more branches, I have been debating on it.

Mike- Thank you, I am gald you like it!

Shaun- Thank you! BTW- your son, Luke, did a nice job on the M10.

Later,
John8)

ooOoo i really like it!!! i havent seen enough dios with German bunkers!!! this one is cool

Really nice work!

Great dio!

Martyn

Thank you guys, if I complete this one, it will be my second diorama. But I am not that far yet !! I havent been able to work on this one lately, but I will get back into it soon! Been more focused on M60A1.

Later,
John

Fine job on the dio ... great attention to detail!! How did you create the flat tire on the Fallschirmjager?

Intereasting diorama you have here

I like the ground work

keep up the good work

Good battle damage to the front of the bunker, easy to get too carried away sometime. Again great build so far. Warren

Thanks!! For the flat tire, I just used a flat head scew driver, and heated it up with a match or two, and then press it against tire. But dont hold it there to long or it will start sticking!

James and Warren, Glad you like it! I started painting fugures(ones shown unpainted) and they are looking good so far! I'll try to keep evryone updated!

Later,
John

nice work on the bunker, great weathering, and I like how you approached the slit trench, it's not too deep, but it also has some cover for the fig, my only suggestion is that you leave the hedgehog out of the final diorama, and perhaps replace with some barbed wire, or a dragons teeth which would have been a more likely sight on any deffensive line in Italy

Thanks Tom!

Yeah about the hedgehog, I was alittle worried about the looks of it so now that u said that I will take it off. I dont know yet what I will replace it with but, a dragon teeth or some barbed wire might be my best bet like you said! I will look around for something!

I have gotten a lot more done, but I havent had the time to take some pictures!

Later,
John

Hi
I'd go with lots of barbed wire if it was me. Like Fallscrimjager more than normal German troops so am interested to see how you finish this.
Thanks for the comment about Luke, he's busy with school work at the moment so hasn't done much.
Shaun

Shaun,
About the barbed wire, I have tried a few ways of doing it( all of them from this site) and they havent turned out to well.....yet! About Luke, I know what you mean! I have been trying to fit in school, weight lifting, and modelling all in my day, school usually coming, just kidding, other way around!! But I have been able to get some stuff done. Tell him to just forget about school! Just KIDDING!

Later,
John

Excellent scene John, like your portrayal so far. Good layout of the bunker and the figures, nice camo netting on the top. Your tree looks good too, but I'd wonder if they'd have cleared it so not to impair their field of view or field of fire. Either way, I'd keep it there, adds an additional dimension to it.

Keep at it, looking forward to seeing more of your progress. Cheers!

Tim