Here are some pics of my new dio project. Im using in German armour a Tiger 1, SDK222 armored car and SD KF2 259 halftrack. USA, Sherman Tank, M2 halftrack ,Willys jeep and 2.5 ton 6+6 truck.I did very little research so if you guys know of a town this could of happened in and maybe a time period heck why Im at it shoot me some ideas for names for the dio. Also let me know if the armour is correct for this period. http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QQAAAB0Tkm5YWTy*0CjlGgNZFByGBsguUZTc48qjzDBLLB!UPYknqWgS5jclQ9w1I6prHZqVBTdxbBYAifSrzlgk3J2XOpw6JpAIwteMlqw/big1.png?dc=4675424394516064086" BORDER="0"> My idea was to have the us convoy sneaking threw a bombed out town well I guess it kind hard to sneak armour :-) but any way they get off course by rubble in the streets but they are unaware the germans have set a trap make along story short their making a a very bad turn.

here is the pic that didnt show

A very adventurous and courageous undertaking. Is this in 1/35 scale?
Are you going to box off all the dio? How will you paint the internal sides so? Will you have cobblestone streets here ........ buy a few scribers as they only have a working life of 100 hours .
How many figures are you planning for?
What is the big building in the middle going to be? As this is the biggest and most central part, it will need careful planning and extra attention. What will you build all the walls from? Maybe some knocked out vehicles would help set the scene!
Sorry for so many questions..... but this dio has my imagination running wild! Looking great so far. Sorry Im no help on accuracy..... this is how i approach dios as well ..... nice idea, no reference
Please, please keep us updated as you go along! You must have spent a lot of time already with so many vehicles already prepared!
Good luck with this project. You may need it.

Hey plasticbottle let me see if I can answer youre questions. First of all the armour is my collection of 21st century models accept the 2.5 ton truck I did build it . I was tired of them just setting there out of action. But I am not sure how many figures I will use maybe a few infantry. I have not the buildings completely sectioned off this is just a rough layout I will do the walls in sections they will all be bombed out i will paint and whether each individual wall as I go along. Im going to try to do the buildings in diffrent sections so if I ever have to move I can take it apart like a puzzle.Im using 3/8 sheet rock for walls I have a few 4by8 sheets left over a remodling job I try to use what ever I can get my hands on this works fine although heavier than blue insulation like others use . Were would I find cars for this era to be knocked out. I would like to do an article on this but I dont know were to start if you guys can help I might give it a try although I did not build some of the armour maybe the construction of the town would make up for that I hated to use the 32x armour but maybe yall want shame me :-) .

What scale are they? I have never heard of them! 1/32?

EXCELLENT BIG WORK

In the lower right hand corner of the first picture, isn't that an M41 Walker Bulldog? If so, it'll have to go in the final draft as that tank wasn't developed yet.

Wow - huge diorama. You have some very good ideas.

Take my comments as suggestions and pointers not as criticisms.

As Plastic Battle referenced, the wall around the outside of the diorama is a question. Is the final diorama going to be down inside a box? I would suggest considering lowering the wall if not removing it all together (at least in the final version. I understand it may help with demensions and support while under construction). Without the wall you will have an unobstructed view all the way down to street level. It will greatly enhance the viewers 'experience'.
Couple of pointers - the middle building will need to suffer from 'similar' battle damage as the two building across the street. It may not have as extensive the damage but there will need to be some. The building the Tiger is in would be filled with rubble so consider that in positioning.

Here is a link that may help with some cities
http://ardenne44.free.fr/page3.html

Be careful of the vehicles you put together I believe the Bulldog was later if not after the war? Not 100% on that.

As far as civilian vehicles, you may have to scout out a toy store (not a Toys R Us type) and scrounge for a Corgi or some type like that. It may be closer to 1/32. But covered with rubble you won't notice the scale difference.

Keep us posted and ask more questions as you go.

You've got a good start, keep it up.

great work!!! yu'll have to work at least 100 hours to finish up.
about the models: what version is Tiger I? i hope is the late one, because you have there the west front after 06.06.44.
you also have to work a little bit to camo colors for Tiger (ref: Panzer colors) - ambush scheme for late war.
The town could be Caen or whatever you want, somewere in France

Amigo--nice undertaking. I am not sure of the size (1/76?). At any rate, the M41 Walker is a post Korean War tank.
djj

Ditto - but the Walker BullDog would have performed pretty fine in late-WW II...

Gunnie

Thanks for the comments guys, this 1/32 scale. Plastic bottle try this link for 21st century toys. http://www.bigboyswartoys.com/21stCentury.html I was not sure about the M41 thanks for the corection. I have the dio in the box so I can keep it covered until finish I two boys who would love to play with it. All the buildings will suffer damage but I must keep the Germans hidden