hi all

A few pictures of my first completed Diorama in over 3 years finished for this weekends IPMS scale model world and the Vietnam campaign

Titled "Respite" -

res-pite - A short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant

A Marine Crew of a m50a1 Ontos take a well deserved break during the 1968 Tet Offensive in Hue City.









Thanks for looking

cheers

Keith

Hi Keith

Good that you are still able to finish something. !

Now, honestly, my first thought when i saw your dio was "Plastic"

IMO the palms look to regular, out of the box. Maybe you could play a bit with different greens (the lower plants have the same looking green as the palm), add a brownish dry leaf, or only partly brown.
That is my impression, i may be wrong.

The lowest part of the wall, especially on the backside could also use some weathering, moss, dirt, whatever

Gorgeous vehicle, great look, but to clean also?

What do others say?

Claude (hopefully not to harsh on your first since three years)

Looks pretty good to me, I often think we go a bit far with "dirt" sure stuff gets dirty but military vehicles in particular do get cleaned regularly. About the only thing in this scene would be to dirty up the rear of the RCL's, I don't know what it would look like specifically but I DO know that the ol' 106 made quite a mess with the back blast.

The guys are also in Hue so in town there is not as much dirt about. MAYBE a little mould or similar on the concrete but I don't think the dio suffers too much.

Nice clear photos do tend to make a scene look a bit less realistic, but I much prefer good pics over "realistic" pics that look like they were taken in 1968.

As for palm trees they seem to be surprisingly difficult to model. I'm yet to see anything that looks remotely like what I have in my front yard BUT the impression of a palm tree is there.

I really like this dio, it’s very nice and atmospheric and those figures are great! IMO though the ferns are a little too green, especially in contrast to the dry looking grass … just my opinion.

Regards,
:)

I'm with Claude about the "plastic" look of the plants in the dio, and about adding more shades of green, brown for dry leaves, and so.

About the palm, I suggest Keith the tutorial about the "ficus benjamina" system to do coconut palms

https://armorama.kitmaker.net//features/2439

That system is good too for making any other plant like banana tree and so.

I use to use natural plants whenever is possible, because the plastic and p.e. ones are very unreal.

About the tank, my opinion is that should better to turn it to the right, for a better view of the inside of the vehicle and to suggest that the wall protects the crew from the NVA in front of them.

And last, the position of the soldiers in front of the hole of the wall is an invitation for a a snipers shoot, just like in the film "full metal jacket" (just joking ¡¡¡¡).

The figures are very good painted, and so the vehicle.

Good work, and with some touches could be a very very good one.

Congratulations Keith.

Santiago.

I like the atmosphere of your diorama, Keith. Great job!

Keith- a nicely finished dio- the Ontos looks great as does the wall with the hole in it. The figures are set up nicely aswell. I think this is the first dio I've seen an Ontos in, which is a bit strange considering it has been out for a while.

as usual - your normal high quality project. Very well done.

Hi Kieth,

I really like it.The plants are maybe a little too green.
Nice work on the figures and Ontos.As for the guy by the wall,I would rationalize that he's new,tired and not thinking that a sniper may be able to get him on an angle.

Tom