A while ago I started a concept idea of a Museum diorama

topic : http://nl.armorama.com/forums/22658&page=1

And recently I showed you all my progress on my Pzkfw IV

Topic: http://nl.armorama.com/forums/30011&page=1

I am almost done with this tank and I am starting my Sherman, but here is the dilemma / problem:

For my Pz IV I made the "PE" myself but in the meanwhile I bought a Etchmate and have the Aber set for the Sherman in my stash.

Should I use the Pe for the Sherman or also make it myself??

Would it look good or bad to have one vehicle withe homemade PE and one with Aber PE on it (considering that the Pz IV is more in the background and the Sherman is in front (look at the sketch)

Also second dilemma: I also recently asked some questions about 1/72 scale tanks because I am planning a diorama inside the museum diorama but this scale is way to big so I was thinking about 1/285 scale or 1/600 scale

But I received the following comment



What would you do? go for the 1/600 scale or simplify things and use small pieces of plastic to represent tanks of about 5mm??

i know a lot of Q but i appreciate the input

PE and Non PE - that really depends on the quality of the kit without PE. I wouldn't think a non PE sherman and a PE Pnzr next to each other would cause a problem. Dis-like subjects next to eachother - who'll know. If you had two Pnzrs next to each other THEN you have a problem. You're giving the view a compare and contrast study.

As far as a dio is 1/35th scale FOR a 1/35 scale I would personally use 'bits' of styrene painted the appropriate colors. Stack a round one on a rectangle paint with wire for barrels. At that scale I would say you get close and leave it up to a viewes mind to compelete it. Kinda of like reverse impressionist painting.

Oh - just saw your question from the other thread (sorry I didn't until now) TLC = Tender Loving Care. The seam looked a bit rougth.

I think it would be alright. Consider that the panzer would likely be a recovered battlefield wreck and the Sherman may be a fully-restored vehicle (perhaps one straight from the factory that never saw a day of combat).

EDIT: About the models-within-the-model dilemma -- It's go ahead and use the micro-armor. Not all museums use 1/35th scale models in displays -- many use larger ones. Remember that 1/35th didn't become a "standard" scale until sometime in the 70s when Tamiya started making consistently scaled models. Before then, most military kits were in aircraft scales or odd-ball scales that fit in certain sized boxes.