Im currently working on my first diorama ever (have over 10 years modelling experience though). A part of it shows a Marder II and a Sdkfz 250/1 rushing through muddy terrain to a german stronghold . What i would like to know is the following: How do i make realistic tank/wheel tracks in the muddy part of the diorama?
Any thoughts about this?

Thanks

Hi,

Use the tracks of your tank over a film plastic while the stuff you use for groundwork is not dry.

See DOC DIO second diorama.

I tried with plastic bag but I find that the tracks don't stay to marked for a muddy road, so I tried with that very thin plastic film used to pack sandwich or other food.

If you are a TRACK LINK member see also this THAW 1945

Hope it helps.

That's it. Clean and simple. Use some different tyres and tracks though. There are probably more vehicles that passed that road before.

Is anyone else having trouble seeing the track-link images??

Paul?

Wish they would have given me an account, I can't acces the pictures.

Josh

Thanks for the tips Jose and Danny !! :-)
Im gonna try that right away when i get home from work.

Dolf

i have created some "track sticks"... basically, an inch or so of extra track that I have found here and there (mainly cheap tanks and armor found on ebay or at swaps). I glue a piece of track section to a chunck of stiff wood. I drilled a hole in the wood, and put a pencil in the hole and glued that. Once dry, i now have a "stamp" that I can use to make impressions. For wheels, I did the same thing, but placed an AXEL through the wheel so I can roll it across the wet turf before it dries. To keep everything "clean" first spray some silicone spray (or "PAM") on the section of track. Once you are though making your tracks, wash off the stamp, and store it for the next use. Works great!

Keith Magee

Sounds good Keith!
Ill try that out too

Dolf

If the tank is/ was going fast enough, there would be a little spoil around the tracks.
In my experience, the only time I got a perfect track print was in semi-soft/wet soil
If the ground was very wet/muddy, the print would quickly fade into a goopy mess.

John