Ah, more subtle weathering!!! Very realistic! Congratulations!!!
Should you want a tad more contrast, you could always add some deep shadow spots in the recesses where the rope or straps run over a crease. Just a small "triangle", not more.

I would also love a closer look at the figure. the greenish colour of the uniform looks a trifle odd! Maybe it's only the photographs!?

Cheers

Romain

Thanks for feedback!

There are some light/shadows, but disappeared a bit after the dusting. Will touch up later.
As for the uniform I've tried to represent a kind of olive green, which is used for DAK uniforms often. Something like in the picture. The figures are not finished yet, only painted, after the weathering (filters,dust) contrast will be more subtle.



Regards!

Hi Venelin,

I know what you mean (and colours tend to be perceived differently by every single viewer) and I wonder what your picture actually shows (replica or..?).

I was under the impression that DAK uniforms were a little more on the brownish/greyish side, like this

http://www.militaryshop.biz/repro-wh/wh-tropenbluse-m40.html

but fading and decreasing quality of german goods may have produced 1000 variations of the planned colour.

Forget my comment! I'm sure it will be perfect in the end!!

Cheers

Romain

Hi,Romain
I suppose the picture is replica, but in uniforms there's lot of variety-different manufacturers, fading, washing, dust etc., even captured stock from Allies. I've tried to represent different uniforms, if you look at my previous images of the figures most are different. I don't want uniformity in uniforms , especially in N.African conditions.
Maybe you are right, but I rely mostly on images from Internet, discussion forums etc.

Regards!

Diversity in uniforms is definitely the right way to go!!

Cheers

Romain

Some progress with the terrain. Base is styrofoam, then a mix from wall spackle/ chinchilla sand/ cheap acrylic paints. Various rocks are added when the mix is still fresh, real terrain is mainly rocky. Also footsteps, traces of wheels and tank tracks (subtle, not very deep). The well is put in place, palm are temporarily placed. Some painting with acrylics, more will follow along with dust effects, grass etc.. That's for now.

Sorry for the pictures, I made them on the balcony, but the weather is cloudy here whole week













Cheers!

Nice layout and materials. The colors are effective as well. Nicely done. I would make a minor suggestion. This is something almost everybody gets wrong,including me. If you look at your rocks,in some places they are equally distant from each other. We humans subconsciously do this when placing things down. We want things to be orderly. But in nature,there usually is NO order! More randomness in the stones will enhance the reality.
J

Hi, I know what you mean, I've tried to avoid orderly placing the rocks, will correct some of them later.

Thanks!

Some green grass around the well and palms, longer grass is from painted cheap brush. There will be more tufts all over the base, but with different color for dry grass.







Cheers!

Hi Venelin,

have you tried to "blend the stones/rocks in"?? They look slightly imbedded when compared to your last posting.

I must say I like the first version better!

What Jerry said about the randomly placed stones is absolutely correct....but it also means that the rocks should not be "singles". Look at your terrain...and most of them are!!

I suppose you will tone down the green colour of the grass! Desert means dust...lots of it!!

Waiting (impatiently) for your next posting!!

Cheers

Romain

Small update (don't have much time recently )
Some dried desert tufts (Mininatur) here and there, I will add more if needed, also green grass.









Cheers!

Nice progress!
J

Somehow lost track..!

Nice tufts, don't forget to tone the "grass" down a bit!

Would you consider spoiling us with nice pics of some progress??!??

Cheers

Romain

Hi,
Just have some progress on the Stuart- tracks , dust etc.





Cheers!

Very nice!!

Thanks for the pics m8!!!

Cheers

Romain

Hi Venelin,

Just now I discovered your work ! Sd.kfz.222 and panzer crew are really good and the diorama is growing up really good.

Hope to see your next posting !

Great work!

Hey, how did you make the donkey's mane?

Thanks!

Frederick, donkey's mane is made from old paintbrush. Plastic one is not very realistic

Cheers!

Some images of the layout . I've repainted the DAK vehicles in the RAL 8020/8027 colors, which I think are more correct (AK RAL 8020 is strange yellow-cream color, which I didn't like ). I think soon will finish this diorama, figures and some touch-up left










Cheers!
V

Coming along nicely so far.
J

Vehicles almost redone, some work on figures left, and final weathering and blending of the whole diorama

Some effect are more subtle and not so visible on pictures, maybe the vehicles look a bit clean on some places


















Cheers!
V

That will be the position of the figures, although not fixed to the vehicles yet







Cheers!

Hi Venelin,

I love your vehicles!! Weathering is subtle but very effective IMHO! And I'm sure they look even better in the flesh!! And the load on the scout car looks terrific!!

Photos are a separate science that I am not able to master entirely (far from it I'm afraid)

Overall, great show indeed!!

There could be a few points worth taking into account for a future project:

- The PzIV sits on the sand, not in it. Think of its 20 odd tons!!!
- The whole scene lacks a story, (unless you wanted a vignette display?)
- The local on the donkey is a tad lost. Always ask yourself whether you could simply leave elements out without modifying the "story".
- A ground a little more 3-dimensional would have added drama (the tank could be tilted f.ex.)

Please understand that I do not want to appear picky or negative, just wanting to help!

Cheers m8!

Romain

Romain, thanks for the feedback!

It's my first diorama, so I have many thing to improve for sure.
I'm not a very good photographer (another thing to improve ), in reality effects are more clear.

The dio is not finished, so:

-there will be some garbage around the well and palms-cans, planks etc.
-I will add some ancient or other ruin;
-I think will redo the ground under the Stuart tank, to be more tilted, you are right, now doesn't looks good.
-the panzer will sit a bit in the sand, now is only put on it. Although my representation is not truly sandy, but rocky terrain.
-the local is not lost, he is traveling from his village to another, stopping for water.

The whole idea was that the Stuart is part of recon unit, caught by surprise and destroyed by part of the column of 15 Pz.div. led by Rommel himself, on way to Kasserine.
Of course there's an artistic approach, not 100% historically correct, but that was not my intention.

I have other commitments for a week or two, then will proceed.

Thanks again, advices appreciated

Cheers!

Venelin!

I decided to add some ruins around the well and the palms, there's open space around them. I started with one roman column, which will be standing, there will be fallen parts of another column also. There's an optical illusion on pictures, the lower part of the column is slightly wider than the top . Next will be painting and weathering





Cheers!