Hi all,

Yes it's true.....I've started on a new diorama! You don't see much of my diorama works so far here at armorama because I finished none of them but this time I really want to do this!

Of course all your help is appreciated....so take a look at the pics, remember it's still in-progress and share your ideas and opinion.

The story behind the diorama is simple....Sdkfz 251/22 crewmembers are preparing their vehicle for an ambush. They parked the 22 in a Biergarten to avoid being seen by the enemy troops.

The building is made of plastic card with wood.....gonna use cork and plaster for the rest of the building, haven't figured out yet how to do the roof (frame with wood but what to use on top of this frame?) I want to add a balcony (that's what the high door is for), and things like beer cans/glasses, chairs etc inside the building and in the garden...a sign next to the gate with "Biergarten"....well, everything to make it look like a real biergarten :-)

More figures will be added to the base as well as ammo etc

Any ideas are welcome!















Oh and I know the windows have different sized....I still need a lot of practice hehe

Thanks,
Martin

Wow, very involved dio you have going here! This is gonna be kewl! Keep us posted!

Looking good, Martin. By the quality of your work, you will probably fix the windows. It will be fun watching your progress.

Erik

Bravo - I love seeing folks tackle scratch-built dioramas, and you look like you are off to a fine start. Keep us posted on progress!

I love it, it's nicely compact, great story, you're using a subject you don't see a lot of. The cork method is great. Be patient with it, you'll cut a LOT of bricks. One thing - use a sharp blade to cut the bricks, as it dulls, it tends to shred and tear vs cutting the cork. Another cork tip - cut slowly. I used the cork technique and I placed a metal ruler on top of a sheet of cork to guide my blade. If I cut to quickly the cork had a tendency to curl out from under the ruler, skewing the shape.

One question about the building - how are the arch and balcony going to connect?

Very nice, the layout looks really good, even if your windows aren't the same size, you can still cut the smaller of the two to match the size the other one.

Martin, you have an excellent idea here and I must say so far you are executing it marvelously. I love the whole idea behind this dio. As Scott said be careful and always keep a sharp blade when working with cork. By the way the 251 looks great too!! Cheers Kevin

Looking very good so far Martin. It will be very interesting, to see, how the building shapes up, as you begin to ad the cork.

Martinnnn

That is truly a very well thought out and executed composition you've got going there. The 251/22 is looking outstanding and the diorama will only enhance that great build. A great addition to TD Campaign. I'm afraid I'll only have the JagdPanther done and the diorama about 1/2 way done by close out of Tank Destroyer, so will finish it up later. Thanks for sharing and keep us up to date.

Blade48mrd

Hello Martin,
good luck with the cork :-) pay attention to Sloder conseils :-) they are rigth. Use you the cork with the finest chunks. for the roof you can use coffee sticks as you can see here:


or bits of cardboard or plastic as you can see here



best whises
Carlos

Thanks for all the replies!

I've already been working with the cork this evening and almost everything is done..

The lower part of the building has the big type nature stones, the gate has both nature stones as well as smaller bricks, and the upper part of the building will be the typical combination of wood and covered wall (not sure how to say this...plastered or something like that?). Kind like the last pic posted by Carlos above, but then smaller :-)

Anyway I think it already looks pretty cool and I really like the methode of making buildings like this! I'll take new pics tommorow and show them here!

The idea of coffee sticks for the roof is as simple as effective.....but I can't ever come up with these kind of great and creative ideas myself lol. I'll probably use this methode for the roof on my building as well!

Scott, I'm not sure if I understand your question right and if I understand it right I don't know how to awnser it in good English lol...but you mean how the balcony will be supported right? In that case I'll try to build the balcony tommorow so you can see it for yourself

Some questions:

- Any ideas on how to make the type of windows used in this building?


(great building Carlos...did you made it?)

- What would be a suitable "road"/ground for the biergarten? Cobblestones or something like that?

If so, what can I use for this, next to split peas? Maybe also cork?

Ok, time for bed now, see you all tommorow again (can't wait to continue....guess you all know the feeling: you've started building something and in your mind you already see how it could look once finished....)

Martin

Hi Martin,
Your dio looks really cool, I have the same problem with doing the roof. Not really knowing what to use.
I am looking forward to seeing this completed.

This is going to be a fantastic dio.

Are you planning to add an interior?

I'm planning on it but I can't promise I can actually build what I have in mind....

We shall see

New pics (looks a lot more like it not? )















Let me know what you think!

Martin

I really like what i see here. I love your storyline, and i think that the execution of it is going to be great. Everything looks really good so far. The cork is going to work great. Can't wait to see more updates...keep us posted..
Mary (++)

Me like, me like alot :-)

Looks great Martin.

A nit-pick about something you mention in the first post... you mention beer cans... As far as I know, beverages were only canned from about the early 1960's... I can't get an exact date, but it seems to be about 1962... for safety sake I would suggest that you avoid putting cans around the beer garden... stick to the bottles or the draft kegs... besides, as you know... beer always tastes better on-tap!

can't wait to see more.

Rudi

Beer can isn't the right word....I mean these kind of things and as far as I know beer, wine and other drinks were kept in these things for a long time already:



Maybe a can is actually this lol:



Sorry for the confusion...

Martin

Ahhh, that's the ticket! Yes, the top one is a Keg... or a barrel... the 2nd one is a can, or a tin.... beer always tastes better from the 1st one... :-)

You're making quick work out this. The building is really taking shape nicely.

One thing I see with the cork, there are a few stones that have quite a large gap between stones. Between the door and 1st window there are a couple of large gaps. Large amounts of mortar wouldn't support the weight of the stones very well. If you could pry off one of the stones and cut new ones that are a little bigger that would make it look a bit better.

I am waiting to see how the balcony sticks out and how far it sticks out. I am a bit concerned how the arch and balcony with 'fit' together. If it's like the "Carlos balcony" it will be Ok.

Looks good keep up the good work.

Something build by blockhaus?

Martin

Great work, Martin!!! :-)

With regard to the windows, you might want to try first making the mullions (with metal thread?), and then experimenting with the crystal clear Humbrol ClearFix. This could result in some very nice windows.

Good luck!

Hey

Never heard of Humbrol Clearfix...but I understand it's some sort of glue which is very usefull for windows and stuff because you can look through it?

Thanks for your reply!

Martin

Martin
The balcony in this building


A short balcony with short wooden support similar to this would work. I think anything bigger would be in the way of the arch.
I realize the balcony probably won't be enclosed with walls, this size and support style are what I am looking at.

(Thanks for your patience with the language barrier )

Very impressive scratch building sofar Martin, I enjoy watching this taking shape. On the subject of beer containers, apart from the fact that they would probably be empty ( being a soldier is thirsty work..) It might be an idea to put a keg in the back of the 251? like a carry out... :-) ( that's what they call it in England when you buy a few bottles of beer at closing time to 'take home' with you).
Off course you are just spacing things out at the moment, but I would not place the Panzerfausts standing on their tips like that..


Ziet er goed uit Martin,

Groeten
Henk