This dio has been up for a week and unlike your other 2 more recent ones(Song of Victory & One Horse Power, no one has commented. Not sure why, but I'll take the plunge. On the plus side, the painting & weathering on the vehicles, gun & figures looks really good. There's lots of interesting details throughout the scene. On the minus side, the sandbags on the halftrack seem to be blocking the driver's view; the left side track seems to be floating a bit; all the gear on the back of the 222 looks like it would fall off if it went over uneven ground. And I'm a bit confused on the title, cause the scene doesn't seem to connect with that. The gun, 222, troops and halftrack are all going/looking in different directions. The figures of each element (gun/track/222) mostly seem to be ignoring one another. Don't get me wrong, I really like the contents in the scene, but to me(and maybe I missed something), it doesn't seem that they are consolidating anything.

Wow!! Great dio!

The detail is great. But it's too busy. Anybody who isn't reacting in some way to the gun crew's action and the presence of the enemy shouldn't be there. In this kind of situation, there are only three kinds of people: those who are participating, those who want to watch it happen, and those who want to get away.

It's a great show of building and painting skill. It just needs to be trimmed to improve focus.

Hi Gerry,
As I said before, you've got skills and ability. I'm completely envious of your figure painting skills. But I had the impression that this dio was about the retreat into Tunisia in 43' and not attacking out of Tunisia in 41'.
The pak76r came after Barbarossa. Likewise, the Ramcke Brigade para and mg42 wouldn't have been there until 42. I'm less sure about uniforms and finishes on the vehicles. I don't think Rommel gave much time for them to change into desert camo after unloading, but it's been a long time since I read about the campaign.
I hope I've been helpful.

Best wishes,

Gary

Great job on the weathering.I also really like the sweat patches on the figures (I'll have to remember that when doing my desert dio.) I don't feel qualified to comment on composition but you certainly have plenty of elements to look at. Thanks for all the photos, it's great to be able to have a proper look around a dio.

I have to say on balance I like this. I would agree the timescale may be slightly out but otherwise it works for me. There is clearly a road through the position other units are relocating on. What I find impressive is how you have made a old bear of a kit, the old Tamiya Sdkfz251 look half decent. The 223 is also an old kit but shows up well here.
Figure painting is great. love the sweat stains - clear these guys are working hard in the heat.
Artistically it may have been better if the track had run at an angle across the baseboard, this would have allowed the focus to be moved to the gun crew, and the other units more "noises off"?

Hi Gerry,

Nice build with a lot to see.
The only question I have: it must have been a German guy who grew up in the UK or USA who wrote the text on the sign since it is a mix of German and English!
Just teasing!

Happy New Year and thanks for sharing.

P.

The sweat soaked uniforms (good attention to detail)