A 1/35 diorama of the US 29th Division coming ashore on June 6th 1944.













































































































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Hi Gerry

You capture a lot within a small area. The fact that it is all confined gives a lot to look at and helps get the eye moving from one part to another, trying to keep a track on such a confusing and traumatic episode for these guys who actually fought through the beaches.

You have, in my opinion, got a diorama that would look the part in any museum for D-day.

The way you have represented the shell shots and the massive explosion is well executed and would obviously be an eye catcher to give kids and adults a feel for the horror these guys went through.

Cracking work as always

Nige

Nige

Thanks for looking and the kind comments.

I tried to capture the sheer mayhem there must have been on this beach.

This was my first attempt at water and creating an explosion so I wasn't sure how they would look.

Cheers

Gerry

Gerry, thats a nice looking diorama. The blood looks a little orange, not sure if thats the flash from your camera changing it..

Also, how did you do the big explosion, looks really effective..

You are a cotton-ball artist (I assume that's what was used for the explosions). This is truly an amazing diorama; even the blood (I know someone will complain, but they can shove off). I have to agree with Nige, this could easily fit into a museum.

Paul

Thanks for looking and the positive comments.

The blood does look orange in the photographs but it is red on the dio. My photography skills are quite bad so I would put it down to that.

The explosion is created by making a core with modelling clay and inserting plastic arms with plastcard coming from it. It is then covered with cotton wool. The core is then sprayed with hairspray.sand and the contents of tea bags is then blown onto it. I then air brushed the core. The plasticard arms are then covered in cotton wool and are airbrushed.

Cheers

Gerry

Christopher

Thanks for looking and the positive comments.

As you can see from my reply to Paul I did use cotton wool.

I included the blood to show the horror of war but tried to keep it to a minimum as I felt it showed the horror of war without going overboard.

Cheers


Gerry

Yep Gerry

It is a fine line to tread between realism and gore !!!!!!!! Lots have folks have been slated before for their ghoulish (but maybe accurate) representation of death and destruction in war !!!!!!!!

Yours is a good balance that lets the viewer get close but not too close !!!!!!! As I said before, great for a museum that has to be very PC especially if viewed by the young or squeamish !!!!!

I think its strikes a great balance of action and realism !!!!

Great job

Nige

You did a great job capturing the chaos. You can feel it, and really see the urgency.

Love the bilge pumps.. Nice touch !

:-)

I like the bilge pumps too. The whole thing is incredible. Beautiful work!

Hi Gerry,
A very nice job depicting the chaos on Omaha Beach in a very small space. Just one quibble, constructive I hope. The best photos I've seen of Omaha Beach on D-Day are those taken by Robert Capa of Life Magazine, who came ashore about 0630 with the first wave of the 16th Division. His photos show almost no shadows at all. Apparently the beach was shrouded in haze. The same thing is evident in a photo I found of the Canadians going ashore on Juno beach an hour later - still no sharp shadows. I'd suggest you try more diffused lighting when photographing your excellent diorama.
Cheers,
Dick

Hi Gerry,

You have a lot of interesting elements going on here and a very active scene, something that's difficult to achieve.

The initial landing by 116th Regiment and the Rangers were from LCA's not LCVPs.

To me your LCVP looks too far up the beach, with a good portion of the boat out of the water.

I'd agree about the 'orange blood' not very realistic but that should be easy to dull down.

You have a good mix of figures that blend together well. Adding straps to the haversacks, back packs and life preservers would help improve the look of the soldiers kit. Also all the pants look the same colour and much too clean and dry.

It may be the photograph but all the obstacles look the same colour? You could vary the depth of rust around the joints to help give them more depth.

Your water, explosions and the LCVP are are really nicely done, but the sand spurts from the bullets seem much too thick and too high although I realise that would be a very difficult thing to model.

The defences were in depth so the tops of some obstacles sticking out of the water would be very appropriate.

I like what you've tried to do here a lot, there are many creative and excellent elements in the scene so well done. At the end of the day you have a setting that not many would attempt and with a little extra work one you could improve on if you wish.

Thanks for sharing, enjoyed it a lot.

Cheers

Al

Excellent work! Whew... that's a lot of photos to look through and I loved it.

The water work is my favorite as you should be quite proud of it.










~ Jeff

Jeff

Thanks for the positive comments.

My photography skills are c---p but glad you liked them.

I have never attempted water before and was not sure how it would turn out.

Cheers

Gerry

Alan

Thanks for looking and the constructive criticism.

My photography skills are not the best and do not really do it justice.

I take on board your advice and am grateful for it as this is one of the reasons I joined the forum for advice from fellow moddlers.

Cheers

Gerry

Richard

Thanks for looking and the positive comments.

I take on board what you have said. My photography is not the best but I am learning.

Cheers

Gerry

Alan/Dave

Thanks for looking and the positive comments.

Cheers

Gerry

Very nice. Lots of little details to look at. As pointed out, a few minor fixes could improve upon what is already an excellent diorama. Well done!

Thomas

Thanks for the positive comments.

I will be taking on board all the constructive criticism and transferring it to the dio.

Cheers

Gerry