In the beginning there was this:












After comments were made about the trees, old plastic ones from Faller that I added Noch flocking to, I removed some layers of branches to improve the appearance.

Meanwhile, there was this: a mud-daubed over winter whitewash Marder






Then, the SU-122 was changed to this diorama after I read an article about Russian self-propelled guns used as dug in artillery.












In the meantime, the Marder replaced the Su-122 on the old diorama:








I grew tired of the SU-122 diorama and also discovered a mistake in construction of the Marder. I decided to re-work the Marder and it became this:











The SU-122 was returned to the original diorama, with the addition of the barbed wire obstacle:















I decided to alter the SU-122 by removing some of the fenders and improve the appearance of the spare fuel drums. In the process, I managed to destroy it. I have decided I will replace it with the Ba-10 armoured car.

Too bad for the Su-122, as I liked a lot it in the dug-in emplacement... It really looked like it belonged there...

What was the building mistake on the Marder? I thought it looked excellent.

Gaston

Hi Gaston, I am in Northern Manitoba at the moment (no modelling going on). Thank you for your words regarding the dug-in diorama. I might use the GasoLine Su-122 hull and re-do this one, or order spare parts from the Tamiya distributor, and have a stripped down hull without mudguards and fuel drums, possibly adding camo netting. I made a fundamental error mounting the shield of the Marder. For some reason, I glued the two forward shield support pipes to the perisocpes, instead of in the little socket just under the periscopes.

Very nice Glenn, though I have to agree I liked the SU as a dug-in as well. Really liked the original dioramas solution for the pine trees as well.

Nice work, Glenn, but one observation on the SP is that it needs some roughing up - weathering, rust/wear and tear and a few dents. One more point with the AFVs in your collection, heavy vehicles don't float on the ground, they are heavy and sink into the dirt/mud. The tracks should rut into the soil and leave grooves as they pass. Grind 'em into the ground. Watch a tractor working on a street or lot and see the build up of clumps of dirt and mud and what the tracks do to the ground. Good start.
Ironmike

The "floating" SU-122 was a problem with the first diorama, as the SU-122 was not my original intention and was added after the groundwork had been completed. Also, adding snow turned this into a winter setting and the ground is much harder. The reason for putting the SU-122 into a dug-in position was because I needed a reason for the driver's visor being closed. Tamiya moulds the driver's hatch and visor with protector down as one piece. It can't then be depicted realistically as being driven. A static emplacement is much more realistic. I was wondering what to do with the old dug-in diorama but after the comments here I will get a new SU-122 for it. As for the weathering, the SU-122 had very subtle weathering and highlighting with graphite that, for some reason, did not photograph well.