I would like to present a new club SVM that’s been established in this year. SVM organized plastic model competition in Kranj, Slovenia on 9.5.2009. The foundations off the club are plastic model school courses for juveniles that are interested in this wonderful hobby. The courses are organized in public high schools to get as many kids as possible because we are aware that children are the future of our hobby. We have currently about 100 kids in our programs.
For promoting our competition we wanted to make a special project which was made with help from our sponsors: 3FS.SI drew us a computer 3D CAD plan of model tank, MAKETARSTVO.COM and 3DPRINTING.SI printed the model with 3D Dimension printer and members of SVM (Jernej Bukovac&Primož Bajt) built the diorama.
Because we have access to 3D printing technology we took advantage to make this unique model of A7V, which is not seen on a lot of dioramas. Project showed us practical application of 3D print technology in plastic models. Dimension prints are very precise; they use ABS plastic for building material which is ideal for further processing and upgrades. Modelling with ABS plastic is almost like modelling with normal styrene.
The inspiration for diorama came from looking numerous pictures that show the last days of fighting on Western front in WW1. Diorama depicts two soldiers who fund their small pleasure in the misery and destruction. The figures and a part of the base are from Verlinden.













For more information look at the links below:
http://www.svm.si/
http://www.maketarstvo.com/si/
http://3dprinting.si/
http://www.3fs.si/
We would be glad if we get honest opinions and critic.
With best regards Primož Bajt and Jernej Bukovac from Slovenia.

I like the diorama. Mud / standing water effects are very well done.
Just two things as an observation:
This may just be an illusion in the photograph but the figures look out of scale with the tank. In photos I've seen those A-7's were huge and the crew door is like the door of a house in size, the diorama figure size gives the impression that the crew door on the tank is a tight squeeze. Again, this might just be a photograph thing.
Second, I would think with the amount of mud and water that the trench floor would be so mucky that nothing would be placed directly on it such as the jugs and personal equipment.

These are little things that really don't make that much difference, just an observation.

All in all I really like this dio and what is being done for the kids is excellent. Keep up the good work!
Cheers,
Charles

hey I like that Primož, that's a hell of a good diorama -notice too that the high contrasted picture adds a lot to the whole scene, but I really like the nice contrasts between the greens and the wooden colours and then the white and the dark mud -you are pretty right in your use of colour, this is good I like that !

Hi!
Charles, thank you for your comments! Yes, maybe the figures are a little on the big side, you know that a few of the Verlinden figures look more like 54mm than 1/35 scale but in flesh it's not so obvious.
The tank was modelled from the prints from one of the Schiffer books but I wasn't present when the 3D CAD was drawn so I don't know the specifics.
About the equipment on the floor. My friend wanted to show the last days of the war and the feeling that everything is over so there's no discipline, no rules just chaos.
Thanks again
JBA, yes the pictures are a little too contrasted but I think they look good for this scene. Thanks again for commenting.
Primož

Here's a few things for the people that are interested in 3D printing. Plans are from Schiffers book A7V

The finished 3D model finished and weathered

and the 3D print after the scratch building and before the paint

If you are really interested in the process please take a look at this link, dude does some amazing work:
http://twistedpoly.com/blog/?p=110
Primož

I agree withthe comments on the size of the tank here...it looks about half the size it should be for the figures. I'd also question the peeling whitewash effects, though very well done. The tank went into service in late March 1918 and the war was over in November. Most of its service would have been during the summer months. A white painted behemoth like that might just as well have "TARGET" painted on it.

Thanks for the comments Al LaFleche.
The model was made directly from the plans in the Schiffer book. The plans are in my previous post.
About the camo

And one very abused one

Primož

Looks good! I also have plans for some models, which I want to "produce".

greetings...
Soeren

Hi Soeren!
What era do you find most interesting?
Primož

The last black and white photo with the soldier standing in front of the tank clearly shows that the figures in the dio are way too big.

But other than that, the work itself is excellent. The painting, weathering and ground work are all great. And the figures look really good too.

Hisham

Thank you for your thoughts, Hisham!
Primož

Hi Primož, thats a good question.
My "manufacturing plans" are for russian/soviet space things only.
see: http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu138/Gorizont-33/Venera-13-14-resin-test-a7-3.jpg
This is an incompleted 3D-model for helping me to find the differences, and how to make them.

I have 3 real unbuilt model-kits made of resin at home and I will one of them convert into another version, which looks a bit different.

As I saw in the secound video, this technique is not "3D-printing". The machine in the video uses heat and no powder and no "glue" as real 3D-print.
I think it´s one of the "sintering"-types... they are also more acccurate for this.

greetings...
Soeren

Congrats Batjur, apart for the size of tank, the results are very good.

Thank you both for commenting!
Soeren, very interesting stuff. I wish you all the best in your future projects. The 3D printer is from Dimension and uses ABS plastic for building the models. It builds 3D objects so it's a 3D printer; I'm not aware that printers are classified by the material or how they build the model.
Primož

Thanks for your wishes!
A little bit offtopic: ;-)
There are 5 types of "3D-print" available. The "real" 3D-print process uses powder and a special "glue" and is the best known and most used, because of its cheap price.
But there are no fine details possible. (the surface is rough)

The completed model is digged in the powder and must be "found" in this. (sorry for the english) Its a bit like digging in the dirt.

You´re right, all of these machines build 3D-models...

Also I planned some replacement "heads" of resin model rockets useing the Polyjet-technique.
It produces objects with extreme fine details... 1/63mm if one wish. I delayed the plan, because of its high price.

(german text)
http://www.4dconcepts.de/produkte/rp-dienstleistung/rapid-prototyping-modellbau.html
I don´t work there.

I hope, this helps!

greetings...
Soeren

(edit)
PS: I took another look at your photos.
The mud -effect is really fine, also I like the camo and all details!

Hi Soeren!
Very interesting reading! I passed the link to my friend who runs the 3D printing business. Thanks again.
Primož