Well im planning on a second diorama right now, my first is on Iraqi Freedom. This second one im planning is going to be on world war two. I only have about 14" left on my desk to put the completed model, so I would like to know what you think i should do. I founf a cool site with lots of stuff and would like some opinions on what to buy (keep it modertly cheap) http://www.netmerchants.co.uk/index.php?jssCart=b59466a006e3efe74d1413581069f0b2 i prefer working with the 1/35th scale. The total amount of space i have left on it is, 14 1/2" by 16" or i can turn my current diorama vertical instead of horizontal and make it 18" by 16". Thanks!

Also, the models on that site cost pounds, not dollars so http://money.cnn.com/markets/currencies/

Your request is a little vague. WWII spanned 6 years and was fought on a myriad of fronts. Winter summer, N Africa, Europe, Asia. US, Russian, German, French, Italian, Japanese, etc. all participated in the war. Do you want to do one with softskins or tanks. The posibilities are endless. Give us more ideas of what you are looking to build and you will get better answers.

Have to agree, the request is a bit vague. But I'll toss out some thoughts on where to start.
One thing is16x18 is a pretty large diorama. You'll need quite a bit of gound work and or buildings and AFVs. Not impossible and totally a doable thing, but it will take time and money.
The net store you linked to is in the UK, not a bad thing, lots of good business happens over the pond. Just realize where you are buying from and account for shipping costs and time of shipping. Also as you noticed the Brit's like thier Pounds.

Back to the modeling - the way I get an idea is twofold, I know what I have on my shelf and before I had a shelf full of models I knew what I like (US Armor) the 2nd fold is to look through books, magazines, web sites (historical and model oriented) and see what strikes me. If I see something a bit different or something that I have a kit of I go with it.

Understand,a winter scene will require snow and or fallen leaves = more work and winter camo. Pacific theater stuff may require water = more work and money for product..
Try to stay fairly focused so that you don't loose interest and you can keep the skills to your level.

Most of all - have fun

The diorama will be based on the fight inbetween us and the nazis. Summer.

Still doesn't help much. Do you want a tank in it? Any ides what kind of tank? Sherman, Panther, Tiger, etc. How about artillery pieces, trucks, a jeep, etc? Troops fighting? You kind of have to have an idea of what you want. Best bet is to do some research and get a picture of how you want it to look. If you can describe what you are thinking about, it will be easier. Take a look at some photos or watch a WWII movie to get some ideas.

........ I said can I have ideas. The point of the topic is to tell me your thoughts on what would be an interesting model.

Steve,

Ok... we've established you want a summer dio with the US or German forces...

What are your interests? Land, Air, Sea?
Which theatre? Europe or Mediterranean?
Early, Mid or late war?

These questions may help us help you. We also need recommend something that is within your building skills... it's no use if we tell you to go off and build a railgun dio like we recently saw in the forums...

Also, may I recommend you use Squadron? Netmerchants are great and have great service, but they're UK based... why not support a countryman? You'll also save on postage...

Hope this helps...

Rudi

Hmm, you want ideas ay? US vs Germany? Ok

Well we could have a Pink tiger tank with a "flower" type camoflage. Next to it could be a US soldier riding a Unicorn to the front lines. :-)

how about we focus on things that arent completely stupid. Thanks for the help to, next time i see a unicorn model, ill get right on that. Anyway Im pretty good at making models, and i guess i want fight scene or a tank with a crew with scattered casulties

Well, I read that you wanted to have the "US vs Nazis". So, i gave you an idea with "US vs Nazis".

And I said id get into that if I happen to come across a Unicorn model

Here's the corrected link: http://www.squadron.com

Steve, here's the thing... it's not really about what we find interesting, it's about what you find interesting...

I know what exactly what you're try to say... so here's my suggestion... and as I'm not about to give any of my personal ideas away, as I am using them for my own future dio's...

Check out http://www.webshots.com and have a look at either the history or hobbies galleries under the community galleries... there are plenty of great ideas there... I have got several from there...

Wrt a combat scene... these are typically huge dio's as it's very seldom that troops fight hand to hand, or in close quarters... city scenes are typically quite challenging, but if you're up to the challenge go for it...

RR

Bump

Why should we tell you what to build?

if you want to go crazy have a panther getting jumped by five shermans in Normandy.

hey mosseman its kinda hard for us to tell u what to do because its usually up to the modeller on what they would want to build. If it were up to me i like to build dioramas out in nature where i can do alot of groundwork and trees etc. I think you should just brainstorm scenarios and fire us back your ideas and we can either tell u the thumbs up and/or give you extra facets to the scene you might want to add. Or shoot your idea down because it would never happen in ww2. You can look at some dioramas on the net and get ideas from them also.
check:
http://www.missing-lynx.com/gallery/gallery_dioramas.htm

http://www.planetdiorama.com/

http://www.ww2modelmaker.com/articlepub/kubbr.htm

hope this helps
Ian

Why don't you simply go to the campaign page, read about the on going campaigns, and decide on one to join.
I personally can't see any reason for asking anyone "what you should build", seems to be extremly vague, and childish.
Joining a campaign would help you get to know the active members in that campaign, and they would probably be more responsive to your questions, and more than happy to help you comform to the parmeters of that particlular campaign, than an open ended "what should I build?" question.

Welcome to the site.

man what did i do wrong?

Where did you go wrong? Here's all this great advice and you still ask where did you go wrong??? Personally I think Grumpy's idea of signing up for a campaign is great.

Hi All!

Sorry guys! Even if the request of Stephen was a little vague, I don't think it was very elegant to make such jokes about him! He just wanted some advices from more experienced modelers, that's all!

From what I have read in some of his posts in other forums, I believe this is a 13 year old child that want to enter into modelling! Now read the whole thread again!

So give him a chance! And if someone thinks he can't be of help, he shouldn't post an answer rather than making jokes about a new member!

Isn't Armorama a big FAMILY? Aren't new members supposed to be welcomed here? Remember the first time you posted your questions!

Jean-Luc

P.S. Stephen, you should go to the introduction forum to give us some infos about you! You will receive there some nice welcome comments!

Hi steve with a diorama find a nice model (I love M5 halftracks with all the gear all over them and I would then place it in a situation that is about o happen or has just happened - Some of the better dioramas tell a story ) you could have the half track in a ditch with the squad against a hedgerow as if they just took incoming fire, or you could have them in the halftrack and a german machinegun is hidden and about to open fire- just some ideas Stephen and I hope that will get you started
Ian

Check these gallaries out for ideas:
http://community.webshots.com/topics/1/100501_views_0.htm
http://community.webshots.com/topics/4/107204_views_0.htm


How about this desert scene with a 88?



Rudi

I think ill make one with 2 halftracks parked near a artillery, maybe more than one. I would have one of the halftrack being fixed up a little and the other being leaned upon. The halftracks would be transporting artillery to the artil. Where would this type of secen probably take place? And thanks luc, ian, and tarok for the help

Hi Stephen,

We need to know a little more information to guide you to kits for this. First off here are some things that we need to know to help more:
1.US or German
2.NW Europe, Mediteranean, or Africa.
3. What type of artillery. (ie: Flak, howitzers, cannons, self propelled artillery)

There are so many variables that you need to figure out before you can start a diorama. For me it takes almost a month of research for me to end up buying kits and accessories to even start building the diorama.
I suggest that you spend an evening searching google and finding a picture that you think might interest you and then work from there.

Regards
Matt

Sounds pretty good. Im pretty sure halftracks were not used to transport ammo though. You could replace those with a couple of opel blitz's or somthing though. I dont think your going to find the figures you want in plastic as far as leaning figures or fixing figures, but I might be wrong because Im more into resin than plastic. Resin youll find what you want for sure. But your looking at $12 per figure, somtimes $15 for 2. So its alot more expensive. But I do know that DML and tristar have a couple kits that have figures firing arty. Good luck