This is my first attempt at a diorama. It's very late for the Victory in Europe campaign. The tank is the Tamiya Jumbo. I sprayed it with rust colored primer, then painted it with Model Master acrylic rust, mixed with baking soda for the texture. I then stipple painted some areas with black and gray to give it a bit more color variation. The grass is parsley flakes, and the bushes are moss I got at Hobby Lobby. I made the wood base from scrap molding material, and used air drying putty similar to silly putty from Wal Mart for the ground.

I will have to give some kind of dry brush coloring to the bare earth areas, but I'm not quite sure what is needed. I also am looking for suggestions on what to put in the area to the right front, it seems to need something to balance things out. I was considering a barbed wire fence, but I should have put it in before the base material dried. I'm thinking maybe a modern era soldier, perhaps from one of my Tamiya Abrams or Humvee kits, that could be shown looking at the old tank.

Any suggestions will be welcome.

Good attempt at a novel subject Rodger. Apart from the groundwork (which you already know isn't finished) I think that the rust is far too red - should be more brown/orange. Perhaps the usual dark wash and drybrush coats would sort this out without actually repainting it - they'd bring out the detail as well.

I have to agree with Dave, it's too red and bright. You could also try a wash over the whole thing to tone it down.

I think its good for your first try...throw in that modern soldier and see what it looks like. You could also use a modern civilian.

Eddie

There is a lot of open space, what's the plan for that area? Are you going to have civilians finding it or exploring it? May be a dog or two walking by, or a deer or something like that.

Let's see it again with different flash setting??

Hi Rodger,

I really like the concept here. I seem to recall a couple of Shermans on the range at Ft.Polk. (This was back in the early 80s, I'm sure they have M-60s parked out there by now) Perhaps you could model this in the same manner (as a range target) since youre adding a modern tanker.

I would agree with Dave in regards to the variation in rust shades. I think if you were to use some darker variants it would bring everything out more.

I do really like it though, I can't wait to see the finished product.

Best wishes
Steve

Looks good so far, Rodger. For the tank, I agree that the rust looks a little too bright and should be toned down a bit. For the ground work, maybe you could try sprinkling some sand/gravel on the terrain to give it some more texture. Then add a wash and drybrush afterwards. That texture may also help balance the dio but if it doesn't, I like the idea of the soldier looking at it.
Kyle

Where in Vietnam did you take the photos?

Rodger, I think your dio is very good! But I also agree that you should put a civilian instead of a soldier looking at the tank! It will look better and more natural!
Cheers and happy modelling!
Prato

Thanks to all for your suggestions.

I see now that the rust is far too red. If all your comments didn't convince me, which they did, a e-friend of mine on a history site noted that it looked to him that the tank had been hand carved out of SPAM! I've put two washes of raw umber on it and it looks much better. I may play with that some more.

Scott, the problem with all the open space is that I didn't have a plan for it. I used a base I had lying around and didn't really plan it out ahead of time.

Kyle thanks for your suggestion on the sand/gravel, I may try that.

James, I thought the same about the stars, but I wanted them to be showing up and I took a little artistic license.

Prato, I would use a civilian but the only one I have in my stash is the guy from the Tamiya Churchill handing out wine. I'll use some more artistic license and try a soldier, supposedly on maneuvers, who comes across the tank.

Thanks again to all who replied.