A dio as far as I'm concerned is a model representation of a moment in time. A photo so to speak. The T-34 is moving at X mph down the street so would be further away before the Jerry fires the Panzerfaust and then drops back into the sewer. I think it would be more effective less the tank commander as it would be a "shoot and scoot" job with the Russians getting a panzerfaust in the arse and being a complete surprise. I like the concept as it works, however I see a lot of negative waves here.

I absolutely agree with Karl, to me it seems very well represented, also there were no perfect circumstances in war and I believe sometimes we should leave part of the story to be interpreted by the viewer instead of trying to control every aspect of it, leaving some space for imagination.

I like it the way it is.

Agree awesome concept, the panzerfaust guy could be shown levelling his prjectile rather than ready to shoot. Alternatively a shadow box dio viewed from optimum angle with a '48 scale tank and commander could also be an option, have looked up arming distance for the panzerfaust and it appears to be five meters which scale wise looks just right in your dio if the antitank guy is suicidal

Hi all, I really appreciate the interest and feedback in making this work. Again, we're compact here because it's a model dio. I've been next to an AT-4 firing close at a tank so I get the need for distance thing.

I took some more shots with the tank angled more and giving a little more distance. I think spreading it out any further will lose the 'At a glance' message of the dio. I also will need a way to widen the base for this: 1. Triangle to one side? 2. Widen rectangularly from the sewer brick wall back ? 3. ?












another thought is maybe have the panzerfaust pointing as is, but move the tank to the right like the tank is moving across, and the panzerfaust is getting a lead on it?

some panzerfaust video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6m9luVN9mRg

Greg;

The way you have arranged things is quite what I was "looking for" (as if I was anything of the sort )! - By me, this makes it pretty much come right together - there's a sense of both possible tank motion AND alternatively, the tank has stopped and the "rats" eased up and are about to blast it (OK, suicidal-close, but still... 1945 and all that ) and the commander now conveys a little urgency at having noticed somewhat late that things might be going west on him big-time.

In fact, you have maybe created a super cool opportunity, I think, to add some element of surprise and "craftiness" ... as the tank is no longer needing to have driven over that hole, there could be some rubble or a broken cart or something - anything- a spare wheel, old drum, small pile of bricks, even (OK, a little creepy, but) a dead body - partially hiding the hole from the Russian view. All sorts of stuff littered the streets of Berlin in April of '45 - and much of it crews probably got used to - more so than ignoring visible open sewer holes, I'd bet! The tank was creeping along and has paused. The German has quietly popped up and readied to shoot it from this impromptu ambush, and the commander has late realized that there WAS something fishy over by that junk in the road...

I think you are onto something better, here! Just my HO, of course!

Bob

Thanks again Bob, I got the base angled to the left now drying over night. I got a wheel and some rubble bricks and wood ready to try out. Putting the tank together now.

very clever diorama idea Greg, i like how original the layout you've created is. thanks for sharing this project's progress. cheers, bd.

Thanks Bruce



Here's where I'm at now. Still gotta make the turret and (after painting) the bedspring armor. Still need to carve the road bricks with magicsculpt

Zon - thanks for that info, the water effects are very interesting!

Greg - I like the way this GB project is evolving - the idea of having the tank in motion with some mud splashing out from under the tracks is great - looking forward to more! What about some tank riders to add more action?

Konrad

Hi Konrad,

Something I'll consider. Once all those bedspring screens are on there, I don't know if there'll be much room for tank riders. I don't really want to use Tamiya figures with these guys, and I don't think there's any resin running infantry I could use along side the tank, so...




I'm not sure that I like the base as it is now. I'm thinking of making it all rectangle and putting a wall and sewer drain to close off the underground left side. Thoughts?

Looking good Greg. Tank makes some great resin Russian tank riders . See http://www.tank-model.ru

Greg-

Yes, the pie shape is diatracting, maybe you can work the resin base into a more conventional shaped presentation, and limit the viewer's lines of sight to focus only on that bit of the underground scene as you suggest. You may be stuck with some brickwork, but it will be worth it.

On the other exposed sides you can show the ground as cut away, maybe a corner of a basement with hiding civilians or a UXB burrowed into the ground. Even a Roman relic or a Mideval foundation might lurk. I use left over resin pour blocks to carve bits like that BTW.

Konrad

Hi,
I really like this one. A very Cool Scene.

milvehfan

Thanks Milvehfan


Here's some progress. I added some plastistruct brick wall to the side and will add some bars to the drain. I was thinking of doing a name plate on the front empty area saying 'Berlin Duel 1945' or something catchy.
I used 3 different old paint brushes and bent them to stone making shape then varied the directions (ie upside down, angles) to press into the TAP plastics to make the street. I'll smooth out the sides once this dries. Tips / ideas always welcomed

nice work on the street stones. Interesting concept diorama

Thank you much

Well I have to say it's looking great so far.

paul

greg, very nice work. I love the original form of the diorama. thanks for the idea of ​​the stones, I will use it for an upcoming diorama. steph

I'm going to add a destroyed kubelwagen on the left side too. Everything is getting nearer to the painting stage.

Wow, I love the way this is going, becoming one of my favorite 1/48 dioramas.

Go with the screens, I think it'll be worth your troubles.

Keep pushing!

It could be a little late for this, but I think adding a casualty on the street or even in the sewer would really give the diorama bit of a darker feel to it. Just my opinion though

-Conor

Hey Carlos, thanks again for tuning in. For sure I'm going with the bedspring screen armor as it's only fair to the poor Russian with a six shooter.

Conor - Thanks for the suggestion. I'll see once the Kubelwagen is in place if more things will be needed to fill any empty space. I'll need to practice a few mud splash puddles in action and take pics to see what it looks like. Might be funny to have the tank splashing the panzerfaust guy to do a lighter dio I'm going to keep it going pretty much the way it is though

I primered with Home Depot rattle can and the airbrushed Tamiya flat black and thin coats of Nato Green. I think it worked ok as this was my first attempt at shading in this manner. Was definitely faster then a brush!













I 'll add the bedspring armor after all painting is done.

Hi Greg,

Nice set of changes to the plan, this looks much better and very effective. Excellent progress so far.

Al

Hi Greg,

Regarding the range issue of the Panzerfaust, I can recall a short clip from the Lybian conflict, where a guy just fired an RPG to a tank from a very close range, immediately after it passed by, so I guess it can absolutely happen IRL, when everything merged into chaos.

You used a very clever way to creating street stones, I like it very much:)