Sup fellas, been workin on this thing for about 2 to 3 weeks so far. Not even close to being done. I havent finished 1 figure completly although Im pretty close on 2 of them. The figures are glued down in the position that I think i want them in, but I didnt try to perminently stance them so I know they might be titlted and stuff. The halftrack still needs a lil work also, its an AFV club. The Figs are warrior and verlinden. Oh and also, these are some pretty half-assed pictures so most of the stuff doesnt look to its potential. Give me comments on what I can change now that im still working on the diorama. TIA

Looking good so far Harrison. Your cobble stones have come out very nice as is the camo on the figures. I realise that the figures are not yet 'fixed' but I think the officers in the Halftrack need to be repositioned, as the guy with the map seems to be preaching into thin air.. .
I'm glad to see that your Photographic skills have also improved a lot. But are you using a tripod? You should, as you can then adjust the aparture so that all of the pic is in focus. But you have the lighting spot on.

Cheers
Henk

Ya, I dont have a bipod, as a matter of fact ive just been borrowing this camara from my grandma for a long time. Thanks for the comments.

Pretty good so far Harrison....
I go along with the preacher dude..... Just a little relocation, and he's fine.....
How was the show? Did you have a good time? Did you enter and win anything..... PM me, let me know what happening dude......

Looking good so far, You may want to tone down the silver streak on the right hand side of the cab, it looks kinda funny.

Cab? where? whats a cab?

Cab is driver/passenger cabin area. The work so far is good. Are you trying to make a scene where the commanders in the halftrack are sending troops out to battle?

Cab: The body of the vehicle.

It's quite good. I like the groundwork and how you painted the half track.

A couple of things aside from the repositioning as mentioned above:

1. The bare metal that is showing throu the paintwork of the vehicle is too shiny...to silver. You need to tone it down a bit. Mix silver and a little black. You should have a sort of gunmetal/metallic gray color.

2. Wash/drybrush a little in of the vehicle's interior. Since this is an open top vehicle, the insides should be weathered a bit too.

3. The storage compartment inside the vehicle can be filled up with grenades, canteens, magazines, etc.

4. Maybe it's just me but the stowage at the sides of the vehicle looks like it is glued on and not hanged. You could put straps made of lead foil or rope made out of sewing thread and place it behind the items and attatch them to a protruding part of the vehicle. This gives the illusion of being hanged or strapped.

5. I'm not sure if I'm correct but I think those soldiers marching down the road came from the vehicle, right? If so, try to find a figure who is ducking/bending over while exiting the rear door of the vehicle. It will "unify" the other figures by acting as a link.

6. I'm not sure but the camoflaged figure behind the figure looks...out of place. I dunno...his head is hung down. Is he looking at his boots or is he just sad? The thing is, the figure steals the scene/theme away. But that's just me.

Other than that, I think this dio will come out great.

Angela

Angela, thank you so much for the comments. Heres a couple of answers though.

1.) none of the figures came with the halftrack.

2.) I am not done with the stowage on the sides and I will be weathering the interior.

3.)The soldier in the back with the camoflaged zeltbahn is warriors "dazed and confused". He is supposivly looking for his unit. The guy hanging off the end of the halftrack is scraping mud off his boots.

BTW shermie, the halftrack NCO's arent sending them off to battle, but your free to think that as it is an option. They are more of just hanging around talking.

A nice deployment dio.

A couple of comments (IMHO) though:

1. How did the half-track get to the front? Where is the driver? I don't think they would deploy and just leave the vehicle unprotected - especially when they are ab zur front (the translation is "Off to the front", for those that hadn't guessed it already )
   
2. I'm not sure if it was common practice to send 2 officers to deply troops from a half-track
   
3. "He is supposivly looking for his unit." Mmmmm, not that obvious...
   
4. What stage of the war is this?
   
5. What were the tarps made from? Are these the kit issue?
   
6. The last picture is of a section of wall, where will this be placed?
   

Overall, I think this shows plenty of potential - and your pictures are not as bad as you may think

Harrison... I believe you miss-understood one of Angela's comments.....

5. I'm not sure if I'm correct but I think those soldiers marching down the road came from the vehicle, right? If so, try to find a figure who is ducking/bending over while exiting the rear door of the vehicle. It will "unify" the other figures by acting as a link.

I belive she was referring more as - Are you trying to deplic them as having been transported there by the half-track..... and just disembarked from it...... not did they come with the kit.


I like the dazed and confused guy..... he'd make a good state of NJ employee.... probably would become a supervisor...... :-) :-)

Hi Harrison.........
Who makes the officer with the map in the halftrack? Looks like a really nice figure.
Cheers,
Charles

P.S.
Pleasure to meet you at SCAHMS

The figure is Warriors Halftrack NCO's. BTW grumpy and angela, the walking figures were not transported there by the half track.

The wall that I showed you is one of 4 walls that I will be putting up where the "dazed and confused" figure is standing.

Those are the halftrack NCO's, the halftrack was obviously drivin to the front for that is what its use was for. The vehicle isnt necessarily "unprotected".

Like I said earlier, the officers arent sending the troops to battle. But you are free to think whatever you want.

The figure with his hand above his head is looking, I dont really care if hes very obvious, because I never sculpted the figure.

I havent really thought of the time frame, because its not a big issue to me right now. but I will think of one as the dio progresses.

There are 4 sections of the wall, I will be placing them where you see the concrete sections. I didnt want to glue them on yet, because I would have to take them off to paint them.

Harrison thats a very nice build you've started there. But if I may make a few comments, # 1 These are in progress pics. so I would'nt want to get to critical, as you've stated you still have alot to do. # 2 You're not finished yet so I would not want to comment on something you might at this moment be correcting or changing. # 3 You're not done yet and have laid out your progress so far for us to view and it would be presumptuous of me to tell you what to change or redo because so far it looks good. # 4 Your progress from prior builds is really coming along but on this dio you might want to ...... oh yea your still working on it. # 5 The figures are not complete but so far what your doing and the placement looks fine but then again your not done yet. # 6 Aside from my criticisms, you being a young modeler are doing just great. - Cheyenne

Get going and camo those troopers. I have always liked the work you do on your figures. Those two you have mostly done have great camouflage patterns on them. Once you get the rest of the figures done and into position then perhaps a better assessment can be made. At this time the halftrack looks good and the wall looks good. Everything else is too incomplete to comment.

Hi Harrison
I think the diorama is coming together well as it has been pointed out its under construction and things change, bit like when i did my mountain man he was only going to sit on a bloody log,and my imagination went mad thats the beauty of what we do with dios.
I think its going to look great when its done lots of things to catch ones eye and your technique is coming on leaps and bounds,keep it going my man looking forward to seeing it done.
Remember the planning, construction and completion of any dio is the pleasure that " you" get from doing it .
Keep up the good work.
Cheers Chris

Shermie and tango, I really appreciate those words alot, they really meant alot to me. It gets me inspired to start working on my models. BUT IM STILL AT SCHOOL! grrr. Thank you guys, armorama has really helped me progress in modelling. I mean, people consider me better than modellers that have been modelling for 10 years +. I have only been modelling since the beggining of last summer. Maybe i can show you guys my first figure just for some laughs. :-)

While you have superb building skills, I think making a diorama needs to be thought out really clearly. I read your explanations but, personally, these are not obvious in the dio.

I can't find the supposed confusion of the figure; it's not that evident. What is he confused of? Maybe you can give him a map or a complex equipment to figure something out. Maybe you can put him in the middle of the road, not knowing where to go.

It's also impossible for me to discern whether the soldiers came from inside the half track or from some other place unless there is a linking factor. The viewers have to assume that they came from the halftrack because they are near it. And even if there is a linking factor (such as soldiers coming from around the building), then what is the halftrack there for if the soldiers did not come from the halftrack?

There is also no evidence that the officers are NOT sending troops to battle. From my viewpoint, they ARE sending troops into battle. From what I know, that's what officers are there for. That is thier job anyway, and that's what they appear to be doing inside the cab...directing those troops.

In other words, while your builds are technically awesome, your dio's theme/depiction/planning needs to be improved. You cannot just pick up models and figures and put them together, hoping that viewers will understand what is on your mind.

You see, a dio needs to be very concrete, which means that the theme/depiction/story that it portrays must be very clear. In order to do that, you have to choose your subjects carefully to fit that theme or story. That is why building a diorama needs to be thought out carefully so that the theme and story of it hits the viewer instantly. Every line, figure, vehicle, accessory must somehow fit the story.

That is also why simple, concise dioramas are usually the best. There is less confusion. The theme/depiction/subject is direct.

Of course, your dio is not finished yet, as what you said. But if you have to explain and justify what's everyone/everything happening and doing in the dio aside from the title and maybe a few summarizing words, then I think you have to plan it more thoroughly.

Angela

Whats so hard to understand with a column moving to the front line? The halftrack is there to fill up space, it doesnt necessarily have to be driving the figures from place to place does it? Are you telling me that the figures have to be from the halftrack because they are near it?? To me that is very nit picky, are you saying that they cant just be walking by because its not there space to be around because its not there halftrack? Angela, these are not "just any figures" they are ones that I specifically baught to put in the diorama. Also, Angela there is such thing as somthing called battlewearyness. I havent been in complete life or death combat before but I did go to a D-Day paintballing tournament last summer. After running around non-stop dodging paintballs I was a bit confused and dazed afterwards. I am also a reenactor, I have found myself dazed after a long harsh battle with the enemy.


People have different types of dioramas. For some people they throw it out there "hey thats obvious". Some people make you think a while and really use your imagination. Its like an art, some artists like to make confusing pictures, and some just throw the concept out to you. It doesnt necessarily mean its bad to make you think is it? I make dioramas so people can use there imagination to think of whatever they want to think. There is a reason I havent shared you guys the complete story of this diorama. Its because I want you guys to use your imagination. Go wild fellas.


Im not sure if its the diorama thats confusing you guys. Could it possibly be the name of the diorama? I thought of it in about 3 seconds so the name doesnt despict the diorama actually after I think of it. I am thinking somthing now like "The endless Road"


Also, what placements/figures can I change to make this diorama's theme be more specific?

Perhaps you shouldn't name it until after you're done.

yeah, well i guess the name is also in progress.... :-)

Harrison:
Relax.
These people are trying to help you. There is no need to get defensive. You are awful quick to dole out advice to modelers who have been modeling "10+ years" longer that you have, so be prepared for constructive critism when you post on any of these forums.
Do not take it as a personal attack and please do not jump on the people asking questions or making suggestions.

How you handle these kinds of posts are up to you, but it seems everyone that has posted thus far wants to help.

You're off to a great start with this diorama (the Oakleaf looks great) and it looks like it will be a nice piece of work. Have fun with it and the people who surround you in this community...

Dear Harrison

i am no happy that i have to second what Nate said..I rememeber some month ago a post of urs that u were complaining that not many people comment ur work. Here that people are taking the time and are willing to make u constructive criticism u dont like the style or the kind of comments. Well, from my point of view , since a public forum, means i can give my opinion on the exposed subject (as i suppose u want us to do ) i dont want to do it with the fear that u may misunderstand this .

Maybe not all comments always are right, but as Greek Ancient Philosophers said " I dissagree with ur opinion, but i will fight to death for ur right to say it freeley", and i think thats the point. U can let people say their opinions, and listen carefully, grab any good ideas or suggestions, and if some things, may not be in ur appettite, just dont use them. There is no reason to stand against anyone thats just trying to help. As Nate said , imagine that i have 25+ years of modelling in my back. Would i have to carry a shotgun to shoot anyone that criticises my work?

Ure a good modeller, but modelling doesnt stands up for just holding an xacto in our hand...remember this

Costas

Harrison
Looks very good, i agree with the guys, your figs and overall skills are good, as for the composition of the diorama, personally i think its fine, it is how you say, simply a line of troops moving along, i dont think it needs an extensive story line as to why the troops are there, and what they are doing next to the Halftrack, i simply assume they are moving along, right?
anyway mate, i think by now, we all know you have somewhat of a short fuse :-) .... now if you wanna take the great advice of a wise 17 year old :-) ...relax, dont bring out the guns when someones questioning your work, this will happen alot, trust me, the best thing to do is talk to them, debate it if you must, but always stay cool.
another thing, did you hit the lottery! :-) :-) :-) Looks to me everything except the AFV is resin!
Anyways mate, i look forward to seing this thing finished.
Cheers