Hello all

I've just written War and Peace on this then my PC crashed so this is the shortened version.

As stated this is my first attempt at a diorama and can be viewed in My Gallery section.
I still need to paint the church (Italeri) and would like some tips on how to liven this up. Its undercoated at present but please bear in mind that I dont have an airbrush.

The Univ Carrier (Tamiya) is almost complete and the diorama will also have two figures from the Brit Infantry on Patrol (Tamiya) pack. All figures are currently in drying mode and thus arent shown.

Ina nutshell the Carrier crew are taking a break and the patrol are wandering past and they stop and have a chat - like you do. The sites previous occupants are nowhere to be seen but someones been there - hence the fire.

Id appreciate any comments particularly regarding the church window.

Thanks in anticipation.

David

For a first dio, I like the advanced thinking showing the church floor tiles under the rubble. Currently you have a lot of open space which I understand will will have a couple of infantrymen. Hopefully we will see the balance when you add the figures.

BTW I like the Ostwind in your gallery. Any chance you will build a dio around that baby?

I have a confession to make. The church floor tiles are actually what was in the picture frame (a bear on the toilet - it was in the house when we moved in, honest).
It was my laziness in not totally covering the frame as the rear of the window is, how shall I put it, not meant to be seen as it has no detail and is hollow. Thus out of sight out of mind.
Saying that, now you mention it, it does look quite good though

PS No plans for a dio around the Ostwind as it was the second kit I built after getting back into the game , the Univ carrier being my third, and I was just using it to get the skills up to scratch.

Thanks for the kind comment though. It REALLY is appreciated.

Ok First of all I make the pictures visible in the post so everyone can see them much easier.
Here are Hip priests pics of his first dio.



I have to say that`s one hell of a start you made there.
I personally don`t think the rubble is too rocky. These buildings like churches were often built with really great stones. I would add more Wood around everywhere and even around the chruch you can add more rubble. This is not completely necessary but it gives a good view of how big the building should have been intact. On the inside of the Church you can lay abandonned German material. Maybe you could even add a plateau just under the Church window as it is the perfect position for a sniper or a german with a panzerfaust. Also lay some scattered pieces of colored glass on the inside and outside of the Church window. A handfull of normal sized bricks spread around everywhere would be a nice touch too. A couple of loose Jerrycans in the rubble or a Oildrum also gives a nice touch to it.
You even can put in a german roadsign or such.

Ok enough Picking Really good start mate and I like to see it finished

On the front of the carrier you have a cable/rope. If it represents metal, I'd go a darker color on it. It if represents rope, I'd go with an off-white or tan. Loks good so far.

Boy do I feel like the fool! Anyway now that it's there you might as well utilize it. Maybe a busted chair or some other internal component on the "floor".

One more thing. I think the rubble color needs to match more the church wall color.

Now I have built one of these walls A couple of years ago and I solved the Hollowness by filling it with plaster and scribing a brick pattern in the backside. This way you can add an small interior in it or lay around items as Eyecatchers.This way also the inside of the church is just as interesting as the outside and the rest of the scene.

I agree with Faust. I recently did the same thing with the church ruin from Italeri. Just poured some plaster in it and with an X-acto knife I carved the stones. Piece of cake but a far better result in the diorama.

Here's a sample pic :


This was also my first attempt so don't be afraid and experiment.
To weather it, I drybrushed with some lighter teints of grey and added some dust pigments on it.
Here's the sample :


I added a little detail with an add that I printed on high quality photo paper. It comes from Faust Vintage Collection. This is a file with a lot of add's from the period 1944 in Holland.
You can just print them and use them. Looks great and adds so much more 'life' to the dio.

greetz

Hip_Priest, the only comment I have is a lack of rubble. Maybe some church- type debris-
pews, glass etc.

Great first dio! you make it look easy, I'll have to give it a try myself!

I believe that u have made a good effort over there . I d just take car to the size of the rumble compared always o whats rumbled down. The addition of only one figure would give life immidiately . Good try