Decided to call my dio " Prelude To Autumn Mist " which was Jodl's name for his operational plans for " Watch On The Rhine ".
Worked up some figs. awhile ago to use in the dio. but couldn't take decent close-ups. Sorted that out and now they are not the greatest pics. but much better than what I was taking before.
Cheyenne

Wow, cool figures. I've never seen any of them before, who makes them? If you did, then great job. As always, I can't wait to see this monster finished.

Did they just blow the bridge or is it just the way you cropped it to fit? It's really jagged at the end so I thought it might be a demo job

Hey there Cheyenne,
Im sorry to tell you this, but I beleive that Max Fischer is using pretty much the same name for his diorama "Autumn Mist". Im sure you guys will get yours sorted out, so heres the critiques. I really like how you have the vandaleer on the german soldier carrying a carbine, as much as I doubt that hed be doing it, he would be. So thats a very creative little touch. Also, I dunno if I would want to carry an MG-34 on my back like that, and with a full tank of gas in my hand. I think I would fall over lol. But thats no biggie just. I really like what youve done, keep us posted definatly!

Hi there, these figures look great, This will be a great dio when finished but as always everyone has points to add.
Firstly about the guy with the MG34. While no expert on how they were carried in them days, when using the sling I think the barrel would be pointing towards the floor if he tried to carry it on his back like this as all the wieght of the weapon is more towards the front. If he carried it like this I think it would tend to slide round.
Secondly maybe put the two smoking figures together as they tend to huddle together when they smoke(unless of course the two figures are too similar and need to be distanced).
Cheers
Robbo

thats looking good,the bridge is some fine peace of work.can you tell me where you got that chain from,,that is just what i am looking for.

Oops, sorry Max, and thanks Harrison, I'll choose another name. I've got plenty of time this dio should take forever.
The figs are not going on the bridge, I just posed them there for lack of a better back-drop. Both sets are from Dragon - Ambush at Poteau and the earlier issue s.p. gun crew.
The bridge is part of the dio. and yes it is bombed out. When complete there will be the other bestroyed side in the dio.
As for the guy with the m.g. on his back he won't be carrying it across France with the jerrycan. He will be placed loading a vech from a pile of supplies, short distance, threw it over his shoulder to bring it to said vech. [ don't worry he's a big strong German lad ].
And Harrison, Harrison, Harrison, the Dragon - " Ambush at Poteau" kit comes with the looted G.I. M1 carbine, 45. auto, pack of Luckys, oh and I had to scratch the Zippo lighter from some p.e. I just added the bandolier not a vandaleer, a vandaleer I believe is a French graffiti artist. It's also not very odd for either side to be carrying looted stuff.
But then again Harrison, if you didn't stay up to the wee hours playing " Conflict Vietnam " you might of spelt it right l.o.l.
Cheyenne

Love the bridge! You've done some nice work htere with straps, etc. having read you expalnations, I'm going to guess the guy in the third pisctiure wil be in a vehicle, right?
Now the guy withthe gas can and MG 34 may look incongruous to the scen in his heavy winter garb when the others are in standard uniforms. The other guys don't even look cold and he's doing some heavy hauling in winter gear and a turtleneck sweater. He's going to be one funky smelling dude at the end of the day!

Thanks Al, I thought about that also, but I'll give it a shot painting him with the reversible camo side, if it don't look right then I'll 86 him. - Cheyenne

These figures are very,very good! I'm looking forward to seeing them painted!
Cheers and happy modeling!
Prato

Excellent choice of figures Cheyenne.

Cheyenne,

a very impressive start !!!

I really have nothing to add to this, you seem to have it all under controll.

Keep it up and keep us posted !!

Cheyenne, Nice selection. I look forward to seeing this develop. cheers Kevin

Very nice bridge work. The figures are well selected for the scene. I like very much the beginning of your dio. Keep us posted..

cheyenne, its no problem if we have the same title, I think im going to have a new title, "Hold up " or something like that, i justed used it as my title so we can share

Thanks Max, is your title actually " Prelude To Autumn Mist " or " Autumn Mist ". I'd like to keep the prelude mist title if you don't mind. The dio now has a time line of Oct. or Nov. I really don't want to get into a " Wednesday 3:47 p.m. on Nov. 8th " type of build. It will surely take the fun away and lumber me with research instead of building. The important research will come when I start with which PZR. groups etc.
Besides 3 yrs. from now when I finish this cathedral of a project It probably be a moot point anyway l.o.l. - Cheyenne

Hi Cheyanne

Looking great i like the idea of the figs in the pics they will look really great painted, please tell how you will create the flame for the zippo ...lol cant wait to see more.awsome job.
Cheers Chris

Hi Chris, whats up buddy, the sun's out this morning haven't seen that sucker in a week and a half.
Ya know, " flame on the Zippo " as drunk and insane as I usually am thats my kind of challenge l.o.l. I could probably borrow [ or worse case scenario steal ] that dam orthoscoppie [ sp? ] thingie from my Dr. and snake a wire up to it through the fig. and use a yellow l.e.d. light. I'll get right on it after I find proof Bigfoot exists. - Cheyenne

What's the problem? Many of the other figures are muffled against the cold, at least 2 are wearing "toques" (issue scarf-like articles). Not everyone has the same resistance to cold.
About the use of American weapons - I've seen some well known footage from the Ardennes showing this in action. Also the old Almarks title on German Combat Dress had 2 pictures showing this - 1 of an SS man in smock (with cigarette, so may be part of the footage shot @ Poteau), the other of a Luftwaffe ground trooper similarly equipped. Strangely the British Sten gun was also much prized by German troops. While they were probably not impressed by the build quality, they did (in the pragmatic fashion of the front-line soldier) admire the fact that due to the magazine projecting from the side, it could be fired from a prone position without having to expose yourself, unlike the MP40.