Hi, it's me again...99% completed on this dio of an MG nest. The figs are DML's Heavy MG Crew set...It's almost done, but would like to know, what stuff can I add in the nest? I want to make it look like the crew has been manning the post for a long time. Suggestions?






How do u guyz like the spent cartridges in the last photo? pls ignore the unpainted MG42 at the corner of the bunker. Forgot to remove it.

Cigarette wrappers would be evident.

Your figure that is prone has a seem line going down his leg. But everything else is great, I like how the extra barrel casing is laying on the ground, opened. I also like how there are bullet shells laying around. But if they were to be sitting there for a while, there would be enough rounds to make a reflection to the airforce saying "I am an MG nest, come take me down". :-)

Good job bud!

Very Nice Job!

As to what to add... think about being stuck in a position for days or weeks on end – with rather unfriendly people out there, attempting to end your earthly journey. Soldiers are people too... really we are (were)! So what would you have to keep:

COMFORTABLE-

Ammo crate or old farm stool to sit on. Poncho or blanket off to one side. Personal gear – canteen, mess kit, cigarettes, open rucksack or kit-bag.

WELL FED-

food stuff Military or "borrowed" from the locals... And maybe a few wine/beer bottles over the side (away from NCO eyes).

ENTERTAINED –

book, newspaper, cards, letters from home, picture of girl friend

CLEAN -

Trash… inside and out… Stuff you keep and things you through over the sandbags to keep the rats and flies away. Remember a young 2nd Lt. who endured his first firefight while covered in his breakfast and coffee and I do believe he relieved himself on the first shot.

Just some ideas. Think about what you would want, need or do if you were in that situation. And of course the most difficult is HOW MUCH? You do not want to over do it, but then again a single item looks out of place (unless that is your intent in the story – i.e. Two soldiers peering behind rocks/wall/ trees at a canteen just out of reach as it leeks water into the soil… you get the idea))

Good luck and keep up the good work. I look forward to seeing more of your work.

Neill
www.johnneill.com

Looks just like the nest in the beginning of "Saving Private Ryan". Good job.

I like it very much.

I think that a crew being stuck there for a long time would have a lot of trash lying abouts from everyday items. I mean they eat everyday so one would expect food wrappers, cans or even leftovers. As someone else already pointed out they might smoke everyday so cigarette butts and wrappers would be tossed around. Maybe you want to consider a camo net over the sandbags??

The other thing is the barbed wire. It looks more like a steel coil wire rather than barbed. It is also lying flat on the ground. I would expect if to have more tangle by hanging it on the steel girders

howdy people

looking verry good indeed

maybe you could add some empty/full ammo boxes some handgrenades waiting to be thrown at the enemy just some idea's (don't know if they are usefull)

and for the barbed wire, grap a tick pencil and wrap (if possible) the wire around it, it looks realy great just like it looks in the real thing, and then place them

I hope I said something usefull and goodluck

But again : It looks great

Thanx guys! You've provided me w/ lotsa ideas to add to my dio, but as John mentioned, I shd not "overdo" it. I'll think I'll add a few more "personal" belongings in the nest.

try putting a few stick grenades on top of the sandbags. the crew will have them close, in case of an enemy infantry assault on their nest.

That's what I thought when I saw the dio pics.

It's very nice. It captures a great action.

What I suggest is tone down the gloss on the figs. They're too shiny. Also, place some streaks of dirt on those sandbags.

Aside from those, everything is great. How did you make the shell casings? they look so real.

Angela

Hi Angela,

Thanx for your inputs! the shell casings is actually copper wire (of about the same scale thickness of a shell casing) and sprayed gold. Then, it's just a matter of cutting them into small lengths and sprinkling them on the dio.

Psy -nice piece -yep don't forget ration packs and ammo boxes because a mg42 uses huge amounts of ammo
ian

Great dio, I agree with the comments about the usual items soldiers have in the field and also if they have been there for a long time there may be 1 or 2 items in the wire to the front that would have accidently fallen off the sand bags. Maybe a tin can and a ciggarette packet.

I think the hole scene looks great. You can add some more accesories and trash, but optional, just an idea.

Hey Psy
That looks to have developed well!
One suggestion I'll make would be that the piled mud and sandbags look too congealed(?) Think that the mud/dirt needs just a light sprinkling of lighter tones, and mebbe the sandbags to have some bullet impact in them, being that they would be a target and all! The lighter sand/dirt spilling out of a select sandbag would contrast nicely with the mud down the front of the emplacement... All the best with weeding out what it needs from all the good responses here!!
Brad

Nicely done... it looks damp and muddy. I agree that a few "creature comforts" (bottles, food, maps, stool) would probably be evident, as this is a fixed position (not just a gun in a shell hole)....

Maybe some vegitation as well... weeds made of horse hair, with a little woodland scenics static grass here and there?

KFMagee

I have to agree with the hand grenade Idea, those would definately be close by....everyone else has covered most things one could think of........Your Mg42 nest is very convincing though, I like it...., I also like your Leningrad diorama, and the way you situated the mg in that one, these is all very likely battle situations...great work!!!!!

Hi There,

Great work and a grand looking little scene. Lots of good thoughts from folks, my only additional one would be the height of the MG barrell above the sand bags. If it were me I'd want as little of the weapon plus my head showing as possible. As the MG is firing on a fixed lne I'd either lower the ground below or add some additional sand bags. There looks to be a good bit of the gunners body exposed, easy pickings for a half decent shot.

The scene look good though, everything else looks really well done.

Al

Four year . The OP hasn't visited in six months.

NIce MG nest their buddy!

Martyn