Hallo everyone!
This is my second diorama on the Finnish Army theme. I'm still a freshman looking fore some feedback in order to develop my building skills.
/Fredrik
Background
The historical theme for the diorama is the decisive fight to defend their country that the Finnish soldiers fought on the Karelian Isthmus in the summer of 1944.
The diorama is an free interpretation of the battle of Tali-Ihantala and captures the moment after the Finnish soldiers had retaken the crossroads at Portinhoika along the road between Tali and Juustila in the evening of June 25th.
The Tank Company from the Armoured Brigade were ordered to retake the crossroads at Portinhoika in order to try to halt the Russian offensive that started the same morning. If the outcome of attack had not been successful the Finnish troops would probably been cut off.
The Tank Company used various (captured) Russian tanks such as T-28, T-50 and Klim Voroshilov and the famous T-34/76 called Sotka by the Finnish soldiers. The diorama Sotka is the Ps.231-3 commanded by 2/Lt Teppo.
The kit
The Sotka is made from Dragons kit 6418, T-34/76 Mod.1941 Cast Turret, slightly modified to be a Finnish lookalike, mostly with scratch built parts and decals from the Wiking Company. The figures is a mix of figures from Dragon and Tank, all with Hornet heads. The weaponry and equipment is a mix of German and Russian equipment.
The Sotka is quite heavy weathered in order to try to achieve a battle worn look to the kit. With the heavy weathering I have covered some details but in my opinion there is no room for spit shine during combat. And honestly I hope that in the end the weathering makes up for what I lack in building and painting skills
The Finnish swastika, Hakaristi, was officially taken into use after an order by Mannerheim on 18 March 1918. The Hakaristi had nothing to do with Nazi-Germany. It was used until 1945 when it had to be changed due to an Allied Control Commission decree, where the swastika had to be abandoned due to the symbol's association with Nazism.
Please comment!
