Hi, this is my 4th diorama attempt, and thanks for the snow topic help previously. I used snow coat on the base, tree, and also in the same way as a pigment wash on the tracks. This stuff dries solid as a rock, but you have plenty of time to make adjustments when it's fresh. The snow coat directions aren't very clear so I'm making it up. I still have the last chopped up snow and blending left to do.

I made the tarp by soaking a piece of latex glove in warm water and then applying Elmer's(PVA) glue to set it and it dries hard as well.

This is the new Tamiya Marder III in 1/48 scale. Archer transfers. Verlinden figures. Painted with Vallejo paints and washes with Testors. My base coat started too dark and probably should have lightened it some as it's hard to see the details - next time.

The idea came from the German Winter Warfare manual (found online). The tree dragged behind is to help cover tracks seen from the air, whitewash buckets, and heated stones as hot water bottles.

Hope you like it. Any tips welcome

Awesome!! heres two things you can do:
1) make the tank tracks sink into the snow. Remember, these things were heavy.
2) make some red hot coals out of epoxy or something and put them in the barrel.

M4A2Sherman

Greg,
First let me say that I think this dio is pretty nice and the idea has great potential. I like your paintwork on the Marder and the figures.
I think the tarp is neat and will probably try that technique out in the future...looks good.

Now for a little constructive critique:
Diorama base? I hope the paper plate isn't the final setting for this?

I would think with that much snow on the ground that there would be heavy snow in the standing tree also

If the downed tree had been dragged to cover tracks (another good diorama idea) wouldn't there be considerable snow in the foliage of that tree? Particularly closest to the ground?

There would be less snow directly under the standing tree due to the foliage blocking it's fall, maybe some ground/grass showing through?

It 's been mentioned but the Marder, or any AFV would 'sink' into the snow, possibly up to the road wheels (in that depth of heavy snow) or at the snow would be above the lower portion of the tracks.

I can't really see in the photos well enough to tell if there the snow is messed up with footprints in and around the figures and the paint buckets, but they would have had to walk back and forth causing many prints and disturbing the pristine look of freshly fallen snow.

Please don't take any of my comments in the wrong vane. I think for a forth attempt at a diorama this is very well done. (much better than my 4th attempt) Slightly closer attention to detail will come as you show your dios to friends and online (perhaps in shows) and receive feedback
Anyway, looking forward to further photos of your stuff. Where in Cali are you?
Cheers,
Charles

Great post - great critiques. I won't repeat, just re-read above.

I agree with Scott.

So how is that Marder kit? Typical Tamiya?

Hi all, thanks for the good suggestions and nice comments!!!

Q - I was planning to add another thin layer and with broken up snow pieces in track areas, and I will drybrush the stones more red as they're hard to see in the barrel -thanks much

Charles - thanks so much for the tips. I'm going to use them all. The plate will go when the mess is gone
and I live north of you in Charlie Brown's Town

Scott - I agree too.

Bret - No metal hull on this one. Very fast & easy build OOB, except the kit tracks are thin in places so you need to be careful with your cuts. Maybe 4 places to cover injector pin marks

Cheers

Oh, now, why? I thought it made kind of a statement. One guy is saying to the other "See the flowers? Spring is just around the corner!"


Or maybe not.