Just to show that I am actually building something.....
Lots left to do, uniform pastel work all over, position and glue the figures, reigns for he horses, a bit more tall grass, pastel the grass a bit more, there is more gear to add too.

Can you see anything else...

WOW! Great, lookin good. There is one figure lying down in the grass that looks a bit glossy. But that might be the camara! This is going to be an extremely well done diorama, and Im looking forward to seeing it done. Keep us posted!

The dio looks good so far! I assume that I'ts a German camp? I really like the blacksmith! It's the first blacksmith that I've ever seen represented in a dio! I like the creativity, you don't see to many relief camps as dioramas. Good work, be sure to post the final product!

Verboten, I think those are cooks...

Isn't there an anvil? But yes I think you're right, my mistake.

Slodder -

That really looks great and I think the theme is excellent. Very pleasing and well thought out. It's nice to see a more relaxed, non-combat theme once in a while. Reminds me of Costas' dio with Officer talking to Greek kids and others playing. Great stuff.

And that is a Blacksmith set up withan anvil, forge and one seated figure looks like he's holding a horseshoe. The one standing figure in apron (which were used by blacksmiths also) I think may be holding a ladle but could easily be a blacksmith's hammer. Again terrific details and really nice touch. Keep us posted.

Blade48mrd

Hmm.. Yes Verboten, that is an anvil inside the shed in front of the forge. And with one of the soldiers in an apron & another talking to a horse, a natural assumption would be that a Blacksmith is reshoeing the horse (that pulls the feldkuchen) while his mates rustle some grub. I think however that Scott has placed the Feldkuche team in this setting for visual interest, just kind of a convenient place for the Germans to set up, as shelter & water would be available, as well as fodder for the horses.

Scott- I like what you've got so far. Are those the horses that come with the Tam Feldkuche? May be perspective, but the one in the shot looks kind of pony-ish. As for additions...
How about a few more leaves on the roof? Maybe a small corral fence around the side of the smithy, to give the smith someplace to put the horses to be shod( I realize the smith is long gone, but I'm assuming he had something of the sort set up pre-war...)
Also, field relief stations saw lots of traffic, so maybe some wheel ruts in the area of the Krupp?

Oh, Yes, I realize Theodore Giesel was German, but was Horton The Elephant a member of the Whermacht? If not wouln't he cause some consternation lurking behind the shed like that? :-) :-) :-)

[EDIT]- Blade, I do belive that's a Kielbasa, Not a horseshoe...

Hi Scott, It is looking good. I am glad you get to model and dont have to spend all your time editing things It is looking very good and I am glad to see a couple figs there that I recognize. Cheers Kevin

Thanks for the comments guys.
It is VP blacksmith shop and the cooks have taken over. The guy on the ground is actually from Jaguars "What's Cooking" set and he is holding a sausage and has another on a cutting board.
The blacksmith connection is definitely the horses (one more to come). The shop was 'let go' by the original owner. And the new crew is using the tie up for the horses, the water, and work areas as a resupply area for the convoy(s) going to the front.

The dio run down
VP Blacksmith
Tamiya kitchen
Tamiya Soldiers at rest (at the Krupp)
Tamiya Krupp
Jaguar Whats Cooking - back three figures
VP heads on figures at rest
Tamiya German Mounted MP (without the MP)
Dragon horse (to come)
scratched details all around (gear, trees, resin barrels, stumps etc).

I was going for a well used hard packed road without a lot of ruts.


[EDIT] - Yea - Horton was doing a bit of recon for Allies, trying to blend in and use his super hearing to get the plans....

Scott, Looking real good, I agree with Robert how about some leaves on the roof? other than that no other things I can see.

EDIT: one question...........what did you use for the roof?

Leaves on the roof it is! I've got a bit of green moss, but I do like the leaf idea.

The roof is the Kit roof, I painted it in oils, burnt umber, burnt sienna, white, black mix. A couple of washes and there it is.

Build note - don't use the thin flat 'waxed' floss for anything other than cutting styrene. It doesn't hold paint and CA doesn't work on it

Kielbasa are good!

Wow!! A pop top party!!

I never thought about using those tops for anything, think I will start saving them now.

Scott,

great looking diorama...

How do you do it ? Wery busy with the editors Job on Armorama.... A regular job, a mrs. and kids....and still some time to build ... Do you live in a part of the world where the days count 72 hours each :-)

Now without kiddin'; this is excellent work mate. I always consider animals like horses a big challenge in a diorama... because of their large sige they are a very important part of the overall scene and can make or break the layout. Yours looks to be very well done.. my compliments on another great project.

Danny, thanks. I get my time from 6:00am to 7:00am and then I squeeze about an hour a day Sat. and Sun. in 10 - 15 minute spurts.

This diorama has been in the works for over two years, from planning to this point.

Thanks for the kind words everyone.
:-)

Scott,

Excellent choice of figures, they create a very interesting scene. A little suggestion, the roof near the flue would have discolored slightly due to heat. I like the swap of heads on some of the figures you have completed, front right, from the “At Rest” kit. Look much better than with the helmets. Very well done, BTW nice use of coke bottle tops.

Jay

That's a very beautiful diorama in the making, Slodder. It really conveys a scene of relaxiation.

Except for the person who is back-to-back with the one mixing the stew in the field kitchen (the one with the laddle), are these the final positions? If so, I like it. It effectively uses an interplay of angles and lines-of-sight to direct the eye of the viewer to all parts of the diorama.

How did you make the barn/shop? A kit or scratchbuilt? If the latter, can you teach me how?

Superb, superb. And hey, thank you for helping me on the pics in my gallery. You're a saint.

Angela

Hey Scott i see you found some horse's. Dio looks great, well balanced out w/ somthing going on everywhere. Can't wait to see it finnished.

Bah, you call that building somethin?

I am excited to see all the elements put together.

Are the figures hot glued onto the soda bottle lids?

I find soda lids and hot glue a so-so combo for painting and not the most stable option...

Keep on working. Looks like it will be great!

Happy Holidays
(:-)

Michael

Again - great feedback.

A bit of weathering around the flue on top and that'll look great. Good call.

The shop is VP's blacksmith shop. It could be duplicated pretty easily with kancali's roof sections and a bit of plaster, etched for rocks.

The soda lids are very nice to use. I use them this way and as mixing containers. When I use them here I drill a hole in them. I usually mount my figures to the base with a wire pin. I just insert the wire pin in hole and I've got an instant holder.

well i think thats a pretty nice setup there . I like a lot quiet scenes that tell a story , or many of them . I am waiting for the next step Scott and some more closeups ..Nice work

Costas

I felt relaxed looking this. very nice overall and details are so good when noticed....and i am glad to see a friend still using Tamiya German soldiers at rest kit ,it was my favorite for relaxed german dios when not much available in market.