Hello from a long time lurker - and reader of tips and techniques. I've finally joined in the fray and created an account in the hopes that this community can help me with a little something.

What I would like are recommendations on a fairly detailed kit that works well with a simple diorama -- and hopefully has a good painting/weathering tutorial floating around out there. I would especially like to play with some of the extra little details like cast metal guns, accessory and detailing kits, etc. I'll likely use an existing diorama kit and add to that.

I've included an image below of some recent work -- in the wargame category -- to give you an idea of what I can do at the moment. I'm really hoping to find a kit and tutorial combination that will let me kick things up a notch.

I do have a double action airbrush I can throw into this and don't mind spending a bit to get the right combination of accessories and details.

Thanks for any recommendations -- misterjustin

Model time - still a work in progress:

UPDATE:

Rather than a generic "what's a good first tank and is there a tutorial" thread -- how about some feedback on a specific model?

I really like the look and detail of the German Tank Destroyer Marder III M and the kits available for it. Does anyone have painting tips, or even a blog/tutorial example, for this kit?

The model itself:

http://www.scalehobbyist.com/catagories/Military_Vehicles/TAM00035255/product.php?pg=1&ppp=24&sb=stocknumber&so=a&kw=Marder&sc=35

The crew I'll pick up and stowage:

http://www.scalehobbyist.com/catagories/Scale_Figures/DML00006367/product.php?pg=1&ppp=24&sb=stocknumber&so=a&kw=Marder&sc=35

http://www.scalehobbyist.com/catagories/Detailing_and_Display/VER00001899/product.php?pg=1&ppp=24&sb=stocknumber&so=a&kw=Marder&sc=35

Thanks yet again.

The kit- The kit itself is great and needs little in the way of aftermarket goodies but if you want some are mentioned here

The crew _ I would try to find the Tristar SPG Crew Vol II. Although not specific to the Marder they are way ahead of the dragon set


Here is a review of the Dragon set

The stowage- Despite what Verlinden would have us believe Tthe Germans didn't festoon their vehicles with stowage and that set has enough for 5 or 6 vehicles.

Thanks for the link to the better kit -- and especially on the info regarding stowage. I'm a big fan of stowage myself but since I'm aiming for my first historically accurate model...

I've found a few diorama kits and other infantry figures I really like -- any opinions on these would be VERY welcome. All of the historical lines are very new to me.

Here are the three settings....

I really want to start with a pre-made diorama base and work it up from there. I've narrowed this down to three I think would work well.

European Street

Ruined Street

Eastern front dug out

The first two give me the option to include snow - which is the weathering I've been playing with recently - but the dug out has a grittier feel and I can do plenty of mud.

And here there be people....

If I do snow I'd like to include the crew whitewashing the tank and there are two options I like there:

With brushes....

or a mop...

But the dug out lends itself to additional characters such as

Radio Operators

At ease infantry

Wermacht Officer

Right now I'm leaning towards the dug out....

While I like the idea of using the dug out, officer and radio crew I'm not sure how well everything would fit. I could, if I wanted to, still include the whitewash crew -- it did snow on the Eastern Front -- but it seems unlikely people would be whitewashing a tank while it sat on top of a trench. Really. I also don't know how likely a Marder would be at a defensive position since it's an anti-tank vehicle....

So feedback would be wonderful. I'm going to wrap up a couple of projects on my desk and then I'd like to try my hand at this.

Hi

the Academy set of figures you link to I'd skip and get something else. I have them and you'd need to replace the heads with resin ones from Hornet etc. They are not bad but there are so many better sets available. If its a winter scene here is a selection
Dragon 6176

Dragon 6194

Dragon 6490


Just a few to consider, with a fair few more out there from Dragon, Miniart, Masterbox, and Tristar

Alan

Since you're still considering options, think about going for the Tristar Marder III Ausf.H instead. You mentioned you'd like to try multimedia, well the Tristar kit includes photo-etch.

Here's a comparative review of the Marder III H offerings by DML, Tristar and Italeri: Panzerjäger 38(t) für 7.5cm PaK40/3 (Sd.Kfz.138) Marder III Ausf.H

Nice work on that IG Chimera BTW

Rudi

Hi

I second Rudi's suggestion to consider the Tristar version. It's certainly the one I'd buy. You may find it a little hard to get hold of, they've had some issues of late but hopefully that's behind them and one of the best kit manufacturers today will continue to bring us great models to build.

Alan

Thank you all so much for the replies and advice.

Based on what you've suggested I'm now looking at the Tristar model:

Marder III

Will it work using the

Eastern Front Dug Out ?

That's certainly the scene that most inspires me.

If I can get away with that is there a paint scheme and/or infantry combination that anyone would recommend to really bring this to life?

I still really like the Verlinden Radio Operators and can easily see them on the planking... but don't know if that works from a historical diorama perspective or if there's a better option.

Thanks again for the input. When I get started I'll be sure to keep things updated on the forum -- will this be the right thread?

Hi Justin,

Excellent decision on the Tristar Marder III. I'm not sure what you plan for the scene, but the Verlinden base looks very nice - in fact you could even scratchbuild it yourself...

Rudi

@Rudi: My thought is to have the Marder on one of the two leading edges of the road with a few infantry characters in the dug out trenches... assuming folks more in the know than I am give that idea the thumbs up.

Being new to this I'm not going to scratch build the scene though. I've been improving my painting but haven't started in on my scratch building skills. I don't want to tackle two areas in the same project. I already know from experience that the frustration of that leads to madness.

Thanks again.

Hey, no dramas, Justin - just a suggestion I thought to bounce off you.

A question about the base: is the road wide enough for the Marder to be placed on? Or will you need to extend it at all?

Rudi

hey justin, tristar kit is fantastic
heres mine
thewres a look to see whats in the kit.

I've been wondering if the tank will fit on that road without an extension as well. I'm desperately hoping it will but if not then I can probably manage the little bit of work it would take to widen it a bit.

@James: thanks for the link to your WIP thread and, um, wow. What a model! I'm feeling a little overwhelmed already. This is going to be fun!

UPDATE: Well, I have the tank and the dug out base bookmarked and ready to order. I've posted to the dioramas section just to see if anyone has direct experience (or access) to the base.

The concern about whether or not the tank will fit on the base aside three questions remain:

-- are there infantry models anyone would recommend for that scene?

-- what scheme would I paint the infantry and tank in for a late war eastern front scene?

-- should I post the WIP thread here or in the Armor section?

Thanks again --misterjustin

I'm jumping in one more time to see if there are other recommendations -- and I'm willing to consider entirely different models and/or scenes -- for a start in the historical modeling world.

I'll take any and all recommendations on a good model for a small diorama. My focus will be on painting, of course, if that changes anything.

Thanks again everyone, your input has been really helpful!