Hi All!

Well, after finding a post by Shaun Keenan here on how to make a simple diorama, I found the courage to make my own first diorama.

I've decided to set it during the early weeks of Operation Barbarossa, where a German division is approaching a Russian position near Minsk.





I'm also adding a few figures from these two sets:


I'll also add a road sign on the corner of the fence with the word "MINSK", pointing the same direction as the tank.

Right now I'm in a dilemma what to do with that hill in the corner behind the fence... My first plan was to put some trees and bushes, but I don't know....

Suggestions, comments, critics are welcome of course

Hi there!
Are you sure that's your first one?!
The groundwork looks the part! Maybe you should add some dust on the tank chains and wheels, to blend it with the groundwork...
Looking forward to see the figures!

Cheers!

I'm pretty sure it's my first one. Thank for the compliment!

Yes, I still have to do some weathering on the tank to blend it with the ground.

nice groundwork you have some very apparent talent keep up the good work

Agree with the other gentlemen...keep up the quite impressive work.
You are really talented!

Do some trials (and errors) on the upper corner (crudely assembled figures, some lichen for bushes, etc) until you are happy with one choice, and then start work on it.

You will find the right solution, I'm sure!

Cheers

Romain

Well after a 2 year break, I got back to the Dio and finally completed it.

Here's a link to my youtube video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syI_RQX8enI

Unfortunately it's too complicated to post pics in here with that weird KitMaker service, so I didn't bother loosing time on it...

Darek

Darek,

It turned out wonderful! Never seen the old Tamiya set look so good! Did you update any of the equipment?

Is the Pzr 38(t) dark gray with a heavy coat of dust, or did you paint it panzer yellow?

Regardless, super work!

Thank you Frederick!

I did update the equipment of the 38(t). I added some stowage equipment from Legend Productions (item LF1201).
The tank was painted grey as seen in the first pictures. Then I lightly airbrushed Tamiya Earth on the bottom, and added dust with MIG pigments.

The figures are a combination of old Tamiya and (much better) Master Box Panzer-grenadiers. I just added a few straps to some figures using aluminum foil from a whine bottle.

The telegraph pole is from a Italeri kit, and the lichen and green grass are from Woodland Scenics.
The rest I made myself.

Darek

Excellent work Derek,
The video is a great idea.
I was going to say add a tree for scale.
The figures are very well painted and the groundwork is done very well. All in all it's a great dio.Keep it up.
My only comment would to be trim the tall grass a little more so it's not so even.
Downloading with Kitmaker is a pain. Use Photobucket.Makes everything a way more easier.

Tom

Hi Darek!

I enjoyed the video, especially the editing — blending of the dio with historical footage/imagery.

Very nice dynamic scene with figures complimenting armor and vice-versa ... and not to mention the great ground-work you've created!

—mike

Thank you Gents!

Thanks for the advice Tom.
Yeah, I was wondering a little bit about that grass... I was thinking that perhaps it's a bit too long?

The video doesn't give justice to the figures. I created highlights and shadows by layering with Vallejo acrylics. I'm still new at this, but they look pretty good from close-up.

Thanks Mike!
I love how the ground turned out - especially the road. My first try was with sculptamold, as seen in the pictures, but I wasn't that satisfied. After looking at different how-to videos, I changed my approach and tried using sand/plaster of paris/elmer's glue/water. After weathering it, it turned out so much better!

Well done!The tank and groundwork look great, and you breathed new life into those Tamiya figures.