Finally had a chance to take some pictures of my nearly finished entry. It is a small diorama based on this drawing (soory for the poor scan quality):


It is a drawing done by a 26th Volksgrenadier during the Ardennes Offensive. It is found in "The Battle of the Bulge" by James R. Arnold published by Osprey.
I still need to add the snow and the barbed wire and then attach the PAK 40 and the two figures (as there are only two figures in the drawing, I won't be using the standing figure, but I painted him up anyway as it is just as easy to do three as two figures). I had originally planned to use the Dragon PAK 40, but it had an accident as my elbow swept it off my workbench. I substituted a Tamiya PAK 40 from my stash.




As always, questions and comments are welcome.

Keith

Those figures are awesome. What set is that? I like how they are wearing long coats and they have that dusty and dirty look to them like it's been a long campaign

Those figures are indeed awesome. The groundwork looks fantastic too. What did you use and do for the grass? There looks like quite a lot of snow in the picture, i hope your not going too completly cover that groundwork up.Superb work so far.
Andy

The drawing is great. I love it. I even like the quality. It gives it more of a rubbing feel than drawing.

The figures are coming along nicely. If it's going to be a cold day, you may want to add a touch of rosy red to the cheeks.
Don't for get to dig in the spades

Keith,

when looking at your work I can say only one thing: WOW!!!

Or atually I do have a small thing. I liek your figures a lot... a whole lot. Yet looking at their faces it seems you have done their eyes (or at least those of the guy without the shell), but not painted their mouth (could be the lighting though). Do you intend to paint it, as that might give their faces a little more expression.

But again, this piece looks awesome.



Harm

Thanks for the comments everyone. As for the questions:
Alan: the figures came with the now demolished Dragon PAK 40 set (they were originally issued as an infantry set, in a set called Winter's Onset maybe?).
Andy: the groundwork is a mix of Celluclay, Durham's Water Putty and white glue (along with craft acrylic paint mixed in for dirt color). I built up the elevation using foam core board and styrofoam. I used play sand and cat litter for the dirt/rock texture. The fence posts are from Tamiya's barricades set. I first laid down a layer of Woodland Scenics static grass (mix of colors) and then glued Heki grass on top of some of those areas. The brambles are rubberised horsehair, generously provided by Kevin Gardner aka Jackhammer81.
Scott: I will try to add some rosy cheeks with pastels. There is an "indentation" for the left spade, although it is not visible in the pictures. I couldn't make out one in the picture for the right.
Harm: The mouths are painted, it is just not apparent from the pictures.

Keith

Keith once again you have came out with a dio that shows your skills. Excellent work again my friend I really love your ground work, heck the figures are pretty amazing too. I must have missed this set. I will have to look for them. You wouldnt happen to have a part number? anyway back to the dio itself. I think as you add the snow this will turn even more impressive. I'm looking forward to seeing it. Cheers Kevin

Kevin,
Thanks for the positive comments. I misspoke above. The original issue of the figures (as infantry) was not the Winter's Onset set, but 6190, Frozen Battleground (Moscow 1941).

Keith

Great little diorama. I like the smaller dios. I think people have a nasty habit of trying to either cram too much stuff on a little base or putting too few things on too big a base.
Anywho, you might want to shine up the rails behind the breech on the gun with some graphite. I don't know if the gun is still "in progress" too or not
Love the figures, esp. the mud on the coats and boots.
As far as the spades go, it was mighty cold during the BotB. It might not have been possible to dig the spades in as much as normal since the ground was frozen.
Can't wait to see it finished,

Shaun

The dio looks great, I just made that PAK 40 kit and it looks awesome. But nothing compared to yours. Great job and cannot wait to see this thing finished!

Hi Keith, I think your figures are great you really have portrayed the cold well.
i also agree with everyone elses comments about the groundwork
looking forward to seeing it done.

Excellent work Keith.
I really really like those figures.