Hi all
I have taken an over head pic of how i would like to set up the dio and place the bridge and the two fighting armies.It will be 25x14inchs
The Union troops will becoming across the bridge towards part of the CSA defensive line the CSA line will consist of a ditch rail fence some piled up stones there will be a num ber of dead Union Soldiers in front of the CSA positions to indicate the previous failed charges.
There will be the river tress bushes damaged stone wall an abandoned gun limber and perhaps the gun not to sure about the gun as i feel thay would have taked that with them at all costs, perhaps some figures fatally wounded on the river bank having crossed although i think the river was to deep at that point to attempt any sort of crossing ,the nearest ford being 4 miles down river I have decided to use the figures from Sanandoh Mins (Colorado Mins) the Charging Union Figs with the flag they have lots of movement and are very dramatic and the CSA troops behind the rail fence
Any feed back would be great.
Cheers Chris

The Layout looks good so far. This is a very large dio, I think the hardest thing you are going to have to deal with is keeping focus. I really think it's going to be the figures, and their placement thats going to make this work.

Keep us posted.

Hi Chris, It seems to me that you have the foundation here for a awesome project!!! I love it! It has a lot of great elements in it and i am a fan of the large diorama so I look forward to seeing this progress. When I first saw you building the bridge I had to stop and wonder if this was going to be used on a big dio with that barn you received from Cheyenne. That would have been a huge project lol. If I can help in anyway feel free to ask. I would be glad too. Cheers Kevin

Hi John
Thanks for the post and the feed back yea it is a big one iam thinking of donating it to the New Military Museum that is being created near Wilmington Delaware, or i might keep it.
Thats why i have to be very carefull about the figures that i place in they will really have to tell the story and keep ones attention.
Cheers Chris

Very nice layout and composed plan so far. Big dios are really difficult to plan but it appears to be a well thought out dio Chris.

The only tricky bit I can see so far is the frontal area before the bridge where you've written the word 'Farm Track'. Its a bit away from the main scene but it also happens to be what I assume to be the front of your dio from a viewing perspective. Of course its still early and given that the figures have not been positioned but it is a bit of space to fill. The 2 trees should cover the front right next to the river bank though but I'm assuming that they will be short trees given that tall ones may block the bridge scene.

Hi Kevin &CK
Thanks for the post and the feed back yea Kev i would have had to build a bloody addition to the house to get the barn in but and that would have been wonderfull, could you imagine what you couls crate with a monster like that. Thanks for the offer of help no doubt at some stage i will be pulling my hair out
In a sense with the surrgestion of the farm track it was there but not quite in the same place in away i want the viewers eye ti be led towards where the action is,it a bit like painting a picture if you paint a house and put it slap bang in the middle of the picture its going to look awful however if you offset the main focus and lead the viewer towards it either with a path of river it has more effect.
The most important thing is to blend the composition together so that neither of the main componants over powers the other the two armys and the bridge they must in effect gel for one effect
Cheers Chris

Good concept Chris, If I remember, in the real deal, doesn't the ground graduate upwards on the C.S.A. side and if so are you going to use that in the dio ?
A slight graduating in elevation would balance the height of the bridge on the one side with the raised C.S.A. positions on the other.
Just my 20 dollars worth [ inflation ].
Cheyenne

There is a sharp rise on the CSA side of the bridge. The picture above was taken from the Union side of the bridge looking toward the CSA position on the hill. Trying to force that hill by going across that bridge was insane. They could have waded through the creek anywhere.

Anyway, I don't know if you want to try and add the incline or not but I thought I would toss that out. I am really looking forward to seeing it finished.

Thanks for the in progress pictures,

Shaun

G'day Mate
the Layout looks real nice, bridge is a beaut as well.
Wondering, is this 1/72 scale?
Cheers

Hi guys
Thanks for all the posts and the grerat feed back. yea i will put the slope on the CSA side that will give a real sense of how insane this was ,and again will bring focuss to the dio which in effect is the insane assault across Burnsides Bridge.
Its 1/35 scale,any advice on the idea of the gun just have it left there with out the gun have on of the wheels damaged..what do you think.
Again cheers cuys Chris

Chris, how about Verlindens dead horses, a broken down caisson, limber and cannon ? [ on the farm road ]
This is an artists conception of the battle from JOHN MACDONALD's GREAT BATTLES of the CIVIL WAR.


Cheyenne

OOOPS, sorry Verlinden's horses are 1/35th anybody know of 1/32 dead horses ?
Cheyenne

Hi All

Thanks for the advice and ref pics,i agree Shaun the raised ground infont of the Union Troops is vital to give the dio its purpose the insanity of attempting to get large amounts of men across a small bridge.
Thanks for the painting pic Cheyenne really gives a great perspective of how the battle flowed.
Cheers Guys i have taken your advice up lat last night...lol lol see new post.
Chris