Hey there everyone! I just joined this forum a few days ago and it has really inspired me! Last fall I built most of an M113A1, but I had to go overseas till about a month ago. Now I came back, I've made it my mission to finish it and after finding this website I've decided to make it into a diorama and I've been having an absolute blast doing so.

The idea behind this diorama is simply to display the model, the scene is a fictional based crew training in their new M113A1 who stumbled upon another infantry unit training in the wilderness. I'm still working on the infantry models at the moment.

Now this is my first diorama so bear with the poor workmanship, but here are photos of the progress thus far:

The masked 8x10" picture frame with simple topography of a road.


First pass after laying plaster of paris with sand and some 15 year old static grass, needless to say, the static grass looked like astroturf so I had to scrap it.


Second pass with more sand, moss, lichen and a little ballast. Coated with a glue/water spray. (That's what I'm supposed to use, correct?)



Here is the M113 with interior details, also my first replica model.



Again this is my first diorama. I'm an architecture student having built many, many architectural models, but I've found that in my spare time I've begun to enjoy this diorama model.

A critique and tips on how to continue and work on technique would be wonderful at this point as how to continue with this first diorama.

Thanks!!

it looks really good. Im only 13 and i have built a lot of dioramas. This looks great for your first dio. My first dio was terrible. Only practice will make you better. i see myself getting better after every dio. Practice makes perfect.

Simple and effective. Looking good so far.
I would add some dark burnt umber wash along the deep wheel ruts of the road. The light green bushes made out of lichen need some leaves (herbs are easy and cheap.)

The build of the M113 looks good and clean. The 50cal is a bit on the bright side. If you can I would dry brush some gun metal/black over it to tone it down.

Just some suggestions to add some detail to a nicely done diorama. Keep up the good work and give us some more updates.

First off welcome to Armorama glad to have you. Your doing great the M113 is a nice looking model. Depending on what diorama materials you have on hand there are alot of techinques you can use if you want to improve the scene. The best way to improve is look threw the diorama forum and find some ground work you like ask the folks here and we can explain how it is done. There is alot of stuff you can use by just looking in youre back yard or around the house. If you have any questions dont hesitate to ask we are here to help. Just remember have fun and enjoy building you will be addictive to the hobby in no time.

Nice clean start...You said you were depicting a training scenario. You might want to replace the .50 with one from Academy that is set up for a blank firing adapator. Here's a picture of one. NOte the different muzzle and the three rods. If you don't have one, pop me a pm. I'm pretty sure I have at least one in the stash. (The rods have to be added from stretched sprue, however.) ]

The diorama is based roughly around 1964, and I don't think the blank firing adapter came out until the 1980's, but great insight!!! I've been looking for a different US Infantry set for that era as well, the one I was going to use is from the early 90's so the weapons are all wrong.
Now to my questions:

How would I go about doing a wash with acrylic paint, I actually have an umber paint tube that was laying around. Can I get away with thinning it with water or should I go get some paint thinner and do it that way?

And what do you mean by use herbs for leaves? like Oregano bits for the leaves?

Oh! And how should I go about adding wire to the fence?

Any other tips would still be great!
Thanks!

Here is a link on making barb wire.
https://armorama.kitmaker.net//features/107
And for basic ground work there are alot of good tips in this article.
https://armorama.kitmaker.net//features/37&page=1

Update:

I tried adding a wash to the track ruts, but the earth just seemed to soak it all up and I'm afraid to try another coat. It might also be the paint brand, because it didn't seem to thin correctly. It was an older off brand so tomorrow I may go and spring for a better brand paint.
I have however been able to add the trees and successfully create the barbed wire for the fence!


I still haven't gotten the new figures for the infantry coming from the woods, but I have begun to see the M113 in place with her crew:


Critique/advice would be very welcome!

Thanks!!!

looks very good so far! always had a soft spot for the M113. Cant wait to see more!

It looks very good, but you painted your radios (the two items slightly behind the driver's seat) sea foam green. They should be a dark olive drab color as well as the rack they are in (the shelf the rack is bolted to would be sea foam green though).

Here's a good shot of the radio rack from Prime Portal.

Hey everyone! I know it's been awhile, but I've still been working on this project.

I received my dragon US cav set and I've been working on them for sometime and they're almost done! Here is the placement for the setting so far:



I'm trying to make it seem as though the soldiers are all trying to communicate with the officer who seems to be lost in it all.


The radio man has been the most fun/difficult figure.


A closeup of the wires I made running from the handset/headset to the pack. I made the antenna as well.


The next step is to make the soldiers' boots muddy and also finish dirtying up the 113. Any tutorials pertaining to this would be awesome.
I know this is the diorama not figure section, but these figures are for my diorama so I'm asking for any advice or critique before I begin to set them into the base!

PS: Any tips on how to set the figures into the base sturdily would be appreciated!

Thanks!!!