So, I've been working on this beast since last Thanksgiving. I'm now to the point where I'm laying it our 'for real'. I had a vision of this diorama of a "Y" in the road with a fountain and a bay window overlooking it with some GI's assembling and doing various 'things'.
I'm now to the point of moching up the main building (revolving around the bay window). I don't know....... It's not as fluid as I imagined (or saw in my minds eye). The building will be a mash of cork stone and Skulpy rock details.
There is still TONS to do so this is early, nothing is written in stone.
The black will be sidewalks, the brownis will be roads.

What do you think? To much space? Not enough vehicles? Not enough GI's (that one is almost a given, which sets would be good.)? Do the two buildings work together?
What would you do?

Well Scott, I think it works for me....

I take it the current figures will be in the dio? I would maybe include a few GIs on patrol or something walking past the scene, maybe with a dog pestering them?

BTW, whats the main focus? Maybe too many figures would distract the viewer...?

Just an idea.....

Regards, Paul

Hey Scott
You have got a great 180 degree viewing area at least here!
Is it to be set in Germany? I'm not too sure about the bay window; be it the location or use of it at all? I think the former.The sidewalk reqaching from around the fountain, to underneath the bay window overhang just strikes me as odd, but I can't elaborate more than that
Paul is right in his thinking of too much action may cause distraction unless maybe you have a main focal point most figures could interact with, and one or two 'subplots' hidden around corners etc.
Keep us posted
Brad

Hi Scott,
I agree with Brad. I's the window on the side of the building that is out of place. Your set up gives the impression of a central place in a small town. A small shop or a majestic door with some steps would work better I think.

Looking forward to progress!

Hi Scott,

I agree with what has already been said.
I don't feel this bay window at all. It is way to big, especially compared to the houses on the left side. Where would you run the boardwalk here? Under it?
I only see the bay window set above a garden area.
The overall mismatch of the heights of the houses is not going well with me also.

Now you could, leaving aside the mismatch of the houses fo a moment, move back the big house even more and cut it in half. The space gained (in front of it) could be filled with the said garden area, or perhaps here, an open Café-terrasse.
Eventually i would then even heighten the building even more to get this bay window of the ground.
You will have empty spaces to the right of road and in front of the fountain.(it will be good to find an similar reference of this one also.

Why not skip the houses on the left, minimize the roads on the both sides of the big house, and do a dio with the biggie, a terrasse (with the entrance to the real Café under the bay window) and only a road area between the terrasse and the fountain.

Have fun

Claude

I agree the bay window dictates that this has to be in France, north of the Alps.
The white/bay window building will be some type of shop with a sign above the door on the right side.

I can't put my finger on it either but there is something that isn't quite right.

Two more thoughts:
1. Narrow the wall the bay window sits on, more emphasis on the window, less on the building.
2. Remove the pay window, put in awning (sp?)/ cover/ umprella and some cafe tables?

Claude - we were editing at the same time

I read your post and have to agree. As I read your post I got a vision of the bay window on a grand mansion in the south west of France. It's overlooking a sunken garden with grand stone walls and ivy all over.

Now, the project at hand....

Yo scott,

For me the houses are not in size with each other, but as sayed above here. That will be solved.

I should leave the two houses on the base, a café does sounds nice. Maybe the GI's could unload the transporter with wooden trunks of beer

And maybe a second command vechicle on the diorama as well.

Greetz Nico

Hello Scot !
I love that way to share project in initial stages, where you get input and ideas from friends.
For me different things :
I like the idea of the fountain being the center of your diorama, in order to keep attention focus on that. Most of your gi must be there. Why not making a priest celebrating a mess (even if it would have been made in a church in a non combat situation) or something where all the gi's are turned to the same point of attraction (musician, circus with bears etc..).
So th fountain should be central and the buildings should be distributed around such foutains, with at least two streets leading to the foutain, the buildings being at the corner/ angle of such streets. I would lokks like pie charts. I don't know if I make myself clear but I could make a drawing if needed.

Re buildings, I agree with Claude, The big white building could be cut into two. It attracts two much attention, and is two empty..I would suggest to apply the same architectural style to both buildings. I must say that I rarely have seen bow window in France, and of such tall, maybe one or two in Paris, but small compare to it. But I've seen loads of them in England and Germany. I second other opinion, the bow window seems to low.
I also like the idea of a café in a garden.

So to sum up I think I would place the foutain at the center of a round diorama, or at least half round dio, putting the figures concentrated in the center, with some others in the different corners. But that's just my feeling, and I hope it will help to build your story.

Best,

Julien

Thanks guys. These are the suggestions I need. This diorama is taking a major diversion from my original 'minds eye' version.

I think I'm going to get rid of the bow window (funny because that was the insipiration) and go with a shorter (height and depth) version with cafe tables out front. I'm contemplating another vehicle in the back to fill in things. I like the idea of an imprompt mass, so I need a couple more relaxed figures (drivers) to partake in mass.

The window is going to go to another diorama for another day.

More to come...

Sorry, i take that one late Scott -my only advise is FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS, no secondary plots and don't put in your plate more than you can actually eat
It looks good that being said..
JB

Hi Scott! Good looking scene so far, even if still a little 'raw'. If it's Alpine,France, late war, then a good focus might be MP's directing traffic with a comm station,command table,maps, sign posts and boards w/updates,etc. Then you can load the scene with troops and vehicles in a vacationland rush hour gridlock? If this comes to be, I can see a couple officers w/ski gear ready to hit the slopes. Great looking bay window. You scratch that?
Cheers!
Rick

I'm in the same spot with my current work as well...reality is not the same as "in the minds eye". I like the idea though.

How about having a troop of soldiers marching past? Or a sherman loaded with GIs rumbling by? Or make it look like a "repple depple" (replacement depot) with fresh GIs milling about and a few NCOs shouting orders?

Just some ideas. Good luck!!

Hi Scott. In my opinion ... No. The big building with the bay window is consistant the little fountain and gives an urban feel. The other buildings on the left have a rural/village feel and should be left out. I actually like the bay window, and think if more detail was added to the rest of the house it wouldn´t stand out as much, as it does now. Its actually very well done. Id keep it, and go with your original inspiration, and move the fountain more to the left so that the window comes more into focus from the front. Just my €0.02!

Thanks for the feedback guys.
One thing I'm getting is - more 'stuff' to create a better focus/story. I can't argue with that at all.
Frank, you offer quite an opposite intriguing option - I hadn't thought of ditching the side building. The building with the bay window will definitely get tons of detail, stones, gutters, bricks, signs, so on and so on.
What I can do is two directions - play off the bay window and replace the left building with a building facad. and an alternate cafe version that replaces the bay window building.

Either way more to do.... Thanks again.