Ok, I know you guys have probobly all seen it but this is for the entry! Comments/Critism appreciated!








BTW: This was my first diorama... So I will hopefully get better after time. It took me about 2 months beleive it or not. I went on and off with deciding on doing it or not. Sorry about the horrible pics, as you can see im not the best photographer out there...

Hello Harrison!
I would say for your first Diorama atempt you have done very good! I realy like how your dio tells a story!

Congrats,

Garry

Nice work harrison.
COngrats for finishing the campaign

That's a beautiful diorama. I like the tank camouflage. I also like the overall simple composition

What did you use for grass and snow? And how did you make the tree?

Congratulations for finishing the campaign in such record time.

Angela

Congrats on finishin the campaign.
For your shooting abilities , they ll get better by time , and then u can show your work even better. This one looks nice and i think tree and snow are beautiful. Canot say more for the tank and figure cause of the distant pics. I just have one question about the colour of the tall grass if after a snowfall would be like that and if some snow hasnt sneaked in the tall grass also as in the rest of the area. Probably also the tree would have some snow remainings on it .
Nice try
Keep on working hard

Tsunami,it`s an excellent first effort,congrats for stickin with it and finishin it. Nice work!

Ok, well I made the tree with Woodland Scenics fineleaf trees. The snow was made with baking soda sealed with Hair Spray. The baking soda is still pretty sensative so I try not to tuch it at all. The grass was woodland scenics "field grass". Also, was covered but since I moved my dio so much the baking soda fell off the tree... Well thanks for the great comments.

TsunamiBomb -

Very nicely executed diorama. You've got a subtle, uncomplicated display that supports the theme well. Just the right amount of detail and emphasis to effectively portray a new, light snow with the advance.
I was wondering if you'd thought about maybe adding some extra track links on the PzKpfw III for added crew protection. With this "older" version tank in the Ardennes, it would be highly susceptible to US Shermans, US tank destroyers, and bazookas with it's thin armour and their more "advanced" offensive punch. Just a thought and doesn't take away from an excellent job. Hey, you've even got plenty of time left to do another for "Ardennes"!

Blade48mrd

If you havent noticed the hatch doors, they are open. I was trying to portrude a "knocked out" tank.

Hi Harrison,
Well, as you asked for comments and crit, here goes...

Firstly, well done on completing your first dio. I don't know many folks that are brave enough to attempt a winter scene as their first dio.

okay, here's the crit...
The figure: it looks like he's wearing a greatcoat - I can't be sure as my notebook's lcd screen isn't as clear as my normal monitor - the greatcoat was never produced in camo. However, that said, I like the way figure is posed, it really looks like the personal equipment is bouncing around as he's running (as it would). I also really like the rifle strap - it shows attention to detail.
The tank: Unless the tank was reversing - which it wasn't given the track imprints to it's rear - when it throws its track this will be to the rear. Also remember that the thrown track will normally rip up most of the fender, spewing any loose equipment all over the place. Also, if the tank has simply thrown the track the crew will normally try to fix it on the scene - tanks are expensive pieces of equipment and Germany was running into equipment shortages.
Terrain: In general I like it. The trees are nicely done, as is the grass.

Once again, well done on your first dio. 2 months well spent! I look forward to seeing the next one.

Oh, I only realized now that it is an abandoned tank.

Tarok gave a great insight about the knocked off track. there are no track prints to determine which way is the tank moving.

Assuming that it went on reverse, as the way the track is placed, tracks are heavy. In your 6th pic, I can see the front end of the track rising up. This should be lying on the ground...which means you have to glue it to the groundwork.

Also if this is the knocked out tank, then it should have some sort of damage why it was knocked out. Perhaps removing some of the wheels and depicting battle damage would do the trick?

Angela

Ok to answer Tarok's first statement: The figure has a Waffen-SS smock thrown on over his great-coat.
Tarok's Second Statement: The track fell off in the mist of battle the day before. So the tankers went off to battle fighting for their lives and forgetting about their tank.
Angela's Statment: I realise that my track is lifted a little and ive tried everything to get it to stay down. I figured it wasnt a big deal and before now no one has really noticed it (or said somthing about it).


Thank you for you kind words, and your awesome Critism. I really enjoyed answering your comments.

Hi Tsunami
I realised last night while going through a modeling books that the smock was probably over the greatcoat. Must have been hellishly uncomfortanble and restrictive for those poor guys, but I guess desperate times call for desperate measures.

Tarok, actually I have done that same exact thing. The greatcoat for warmth and the smock for camo. It might have been a little poofy but it sure helped in both ways.

Hi Harrison ...Excellent dio for your first attempt...The only thing is I would have placed it more in the winter of 1943 some where in Russia and not in the Ardennes... The Dark grey base color and the white camo is more to that time period ..along with the fact that the Panzer III was still the main battle tank back then.(slowly being replaced by the PanzerIV). By the time of the BOB ,if there were any Panzer III's left (I haven't seen any evidence of a PzIII used in the offensive)they would have been painted in a 3 color camo and I haven't seen one picture of a white winter camo used during the offensive. But if just looking at the dio and not placing it in your time frame ,it look great.

Rick

Its called white washed, almost ever tank was whitewashed during the offensive to blend in with the snow...

Hi Harrison,
I have to agree with most of the comments here. I think you have done a great job for your first effort. It can only get better from here. I also Have to agree with Rick that by the time of the Ardennes offensive AKA the Battle of the Bulge. I dont think any Pz III's were in use. Also as Rick said the base paint (under the whitewash) would have been at the very least Pz Yellow and not dark grey. From the looks of it you have a great Eastern front dio going on. Take these comments in the spirit they are givven bud. Keep going, you have got the bug now keep moving forward.
Cheers,
Bryan

I think I know what a white wash is ....I was only trying to help but ...If all you want to hear are oooohhhs and ahhhhs well okay ...These forums are here for us to learn from and if you re read what I wrote I complemented you on your scene... I did a bit of checking and yes there was one Pz III photographed in the Ardennes but it was a command vehicle and not an ordinary battle tank. And so far from what I have found ,it seems that "whitewash" was seen in January when the Germans were back on the defensive...but I still haven't found one during the attack... Remeber it started to snow 2 days into the battle so I don't think they stopped the collumes to repaint them...
Sorry if I offended you in anyway it was not my intent.


Rick

I like the shell hole in front of the figure. Looks good w/. the soil over the snow.

Tom

The bear, Sorry bro, I didnt mean to be rude. I really liked your comment, and truley I agree with you on the fact that it looks more of the eastern front. I thought that you meant my base coat was white... In your comment. I was like... Well anyways. If I remember correctly my tank was painted in a 3 tone color scheme. There was no grey in my base coat. It was yellow, green, and brown. Thank you for your kind words and sorry for the misunderstanding.

No problem here!! Sorry for the misunderstanding too!
;)
All the best and Happy Holidays`
Rick

Happy holidays to you too!