Excelent job!!! I like it

Thank you all for your comments, both positive and critical, and thanks, too, for the personal remembrances and photo. Every diorama involves some choices, and as modelers, we can only do our best. Someone commented privately that the MG42 gunner looks as though he's firing on his own men. I meant for it to show him covering their advance (while sticking close to the rear of the tram in case he has to take cover). Is that realistic? I don't know, only the viewer can say.

Regarding the border between the burned unburned portions of the first tram car: I don't know of a practical way to recreate blistered paint. I have seen other modelers do it, but I have not found an acceptable method myself. It would be a better solution, but perhaps my shortcoming there will inspire one of you to out-do me.

I'm very grateful for all the encouragement, and plan to enter this in some upcoming show. Thank you all, it's the accolades of one's peers and betters that makes sharing here on Armorama worthwhile.

I love the concept! I really like the expanse of the cobblestone street area. Nice work!

Regarding a comment you received: "Someone commented privately that the MG42 gunner looks as though he's firing on his own men." I have to laugh! In those times, soldiers were constantly muzzling each other! Just look at WWII footage, it happens a lot -- even today! My Brother, who is in the US Army is always suggesting that I position my WWII diorama figures into poses which reflect "modern fighting/covering tactics!"

One question: What did you use for the electrical cable that strings the towers together? I just finished the MiniArt 'Russian Street' which uses the same towers and I'm stuck trying to figure out the best method for electrifying (not really!) the system.

Link: https://gallery.kitmaker.net/showgallery.php/cat/29054/page/2

Michael, very nice work, very good dramatic tension and placement. You didn't overdo it, either. Some dios are so packed with stuff that it loses the impact.

Regarding the tram cables, I used EZ Line. It was a mixed bag, since the power towers are very thin and will bend with too much tension. I used brass rod for the connectors on the "arc" of the two towers, then GENTLY stretched EZ Line between them.

Stretched sprue or some other hard material would likely be a better choice for a shorter length, but I had to span nearly 2 feet between the two towers I used.

Brilliant work, congratulatuons Bill, thanks for sharing

Thanks, Ricky, I hope this will inspire some of you to buy this terrific kit.

You guessed it, I bought it! -- beforehand, actually. Then, when I saw your creation(s), I got really amped. My Tram build is on hold for now but it constantly haunts my dreams!

Hi Bill,

Nice work and concept. I agree with Robert and Romain, more street litter and some depth to the burnt areas.

"Ola Bill

Well you can almost use anything you like. Unused kitty litter, Bricks cut from cork. Strips of wood, stained painted and torn up, Newspapers drifting in the wind. Easy to print or make your own with a pencil and a scrap of old thin paper. Crates always work well. A sparewheel and other parts from a vehicle destroyed just off the edge of the scene. Which would work quite well considering one of your Trams got a few hits as well.
Tangled wire on the street. An overturned Park bench. A dead horse. The Piano on the street from Saving private Ryan and Band of Brothers. Pretty much anything can be litter in Battle."

"The only thing I would do is reduce the harshness of contrast between the burnt abd unburnt parts! The marks would not end in straight lines. Moreover, burn damages include colour cracking under the heat, i.e. a surface that is actually not smooth"

If you look at the top of the burnt tram there is a nice range of depth and variation to the colour. If you could replicate that in the smaller areas that would enhance the look a lot.

There is a product called crackle medium one of the Vallejo range of products (code 598) that does just that causes the paint to crack that might be worth looking at. Mig also do Ashes White P022 and Old Rust P230 (careful here very strong)that might be of use.

Lifecolor also do a set of weathering agents, Set 2 with some useful colours as do Vallejo. Might be worth looking at.

If you remember Pat McGrath did a burnt out Sherman a while back the thread has a lot of useful ideas.

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/197120&page=1

All that sounds a bit negative, the build looks great, the two trams certainly make for an interesting setting, excellent concept so well done with this one.

Al

Michael, I'm glad to know you're inspired! Go for it!

Al, not negative at all. These are really artistic decisions that we make (and sometimes unmake). I will look at the products you mentioned and see about incorporating them into this build or perhaps another one. And Pat's Sherman should get a re-look for anyone who's thinking about a wrecked vehicle. Thanks for taking to time to address this.

Bill,
Thanks for the EZ-Line tip -- worked like a charm! In addition, I was able to achieve another goal -- suspending the outer ends. By coating the EZ-Line with CA Glue, pulling and giving them a shot of Kicker Spray, I was able to suspend the outer wires into space. Now, I'm even more excited about my upcoming European Tram build!

https://gallery.kitmaker.net/showphoto.php/photo/413959
https://gallery.kitmaker.net/showphoto.php/photo/413958

PS: I see you're from Jersey. What exit?!!!

Great job!

I'm exit 151 off the Garden State Parkway.

In this diorama, in which direction was the tram moving? I am asking because if it was moving right to left then the car on the left should have been the one connected to the power line. With these old trams the leading car was typically the one that was powering the rest of the tram.

Hi, Martin, you are correct, but I chose to have the power connector collapsed because of the intensity of the fire.

Here is an interesting period photo of GIs on a tram:

Found another....

Very nice work.

Thanks for showing off your diorama. Been looking at buying one of these, but having it in San Francisco. And yes, I know they use a different style of tram, but want to get back into modeling after 15 years and do NOT want to lose my modeling mojo in scratch building something like that.

Thought I'd have it being stopped by a bunch of protestors that WERE holding signs saying zombie lives matter but now they are being attacked by zombies.

Sorry, Bill but the glass on the ground just doesn't do it for me. The pieces are far too large and the glass left in the windows looks like it melted, not shattered. I know safety glass didn't exist at the time but if it wasn't broken into small pieces in the initial impact, the secondary impact to the ground would shatter it into small shards.

Other than that, I love the concept and look forward to seeing it go places with the additions you plan! Great idea to use the trams... maybe a dead body or two in the scene would add an element!

Good luck and good modeling!

What an incredible build! Fantastic work. It "feels" right as a combat scene.