Charles - looks great and some real dynamic poses there. Some suggestions if I may, not criticism by any stretch: The back of the pickup where the guy is firing the 12.7mm DShKa would be strewn with empty cases, this will also give the impression of a long on-going fire fight. The pickup that is abandoned looks weird with the back blanked off. Would suggest doing it with the back sheared off, maybe in an explosion which would remove the need for the blanking plate. The diorama base needs to be better 'blended' onto the wooden frame base - a bit of wall filler painted black would do it! As I've said, just suggestions.

Very nice work overall.
Have to agree with Ian on the abandoned truck.The plate on the back looks odd.Why not just leave it open?

Tom

Charles - looks great and some real dynamic poses there. Some suggestions if I may, not criticism by any stretch: The back of the pickup where the guy is firing the 12.7mm DShKa would be strewn with empty cases, this will also give the impression of a long on-going fire fight. The pickup that is abandoned looks weird with the back blanked off. Would suggest doing it with the back sheared off, maybe in an explosion which would remove the need for the blanking plate. The diorama base needs to be better 'blended' onto the wooden frame base - a bit of wall filler painted black would do it! As I've said, just suggestions.

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Charles - looks great and some real dynamic poses there. Some suggestions if I may, not criticism by any stretch: The back of the pickup where the guy is firing the 12.7mm DShKa would be strewn with empty cases, this will also give the impression of a long on-going fire fight. The pickup that is abandoned looks weird with the back blanked off. Would suggest doing it with the back sheared off, maybe in an explosion which would remove the need for the blanking plate. The diorama base needs to be better 'blended' onto the wooden frame base - a bit of wall filler painted black would do it! As I've said, just suggestions.

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From a constructive viewpoint...

I would at least triple the spent AK47 (other weapons) empty brass casings on the ground as well...if your budget allows. Except for the DShKa, everyone seems to have 30 round magazines. That gives an impression of an even bigger firefight than what you show with the numbers of people represented. What my 'mind's eye' see is that these guys have been at this fight for what seems maybe 30 minutes or so. And since I mentioned the subject of magazines, litter the area with a couple/few of those too!

If you can, or are willing, I would also find a product (Testers Dull Coat perhaps) that softens/dulls the "brightness" of some of the clothing your "Freedom Fighters" are wearing...then apply a bit of shadowing in the creases.

Hope this helps...damn fine work so far! More than I would ever attempt. I guess I'm suggesting you make your scene look 'busier', but in a good way!

Tough crowd Charles! I agree with prior comments but I’d also just like to say you’ve got so many fantastic details in there & my initial reaction was unprintable in a good way. And what a difference daylight can make - very nicely done

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Charles - looks great and some real dynamic poses there. Some suggestions if I may, not criticism by any stretch: The back of the pickup where the guy is firing the 12.7mm DShKa would be strewn with empty cases, this will also give the impression of a long on-going fire fight. The pickup that is abandoned looks weird with the back blanked off. Would suggest doing it with the back sheared off, maybe in an explosion which would remove the need for the blanking plate. The diorama base needs to be better 'blended' onto the wooden frame base - a bit of wall filler painted black would do it! As I've said, just suggestions.

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From a constructive viewpoint...

I would at least triple the spent AK47 (other weapons) empty brass casings on the ground as well...if your budget allows. Except for the DShKa, everyone seems to have 30 round magazines. That gives an impression of an even bigger firefight than what you show with the numbers of people represented. What my 'mind's eye' see is that these guys have been at this fight for what seems maybe 30 minutes or so. And since I mentioned the subject of magazines, litter the area with a couple/few of those too!

If you can, or are willing, I would also find a product (Testers Dull Coat perhaps) that softens/dulls the "brightness" of some of the clothing your "Freedom Fighters" are wearing...then apply a bit of shadowing in the creases.

Hope this helps...damn fine work so far! More than I would ever attempt. I guess I'm suggesting you make your scene look 'busier', but in a good way!

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Appreciate your suggestions. Thank you. Will see what I can do. Do you know where I can find AK 47 spent brass shells? I have been looking for some since I started this but no one seems to know where I can find any.

Hi Charles,

Coincidentally I’ve just been knocking out some spents – 0.2”/0.5mm Evergreen tube cut to 2.5mm roughly representing the Maxim’s output. There’s around 100 there which took an hour or so including painting, works for me...


Thank you Tim. Great tip. I will give it a try.

I've used 0.4mm brass tube. No need to paint!

7.62/35 = 0.2mm
5.56/35 = 0.16mm

In reality these are too small to see so I use 0.4mm

good sense of movement in the diorama with no 'empty zones' (well maybe clutter up a little more behind the wall where the tyre and the plastic chair are, maybe a couple of Arabic newspapers or something)
Agree with the comments about magazines and shells, i always use plastic rod painted brass and chopped to length

hey really outstanding work I see youve used evolution miniatures for some of the figures could you tell me where you got the guy wearing the red tshirt from would fit in well with a dio wip for me