Hi everyone, I wanted to get your opinions on Mary and my first entry for the Medics Campaign. Last week I showed you the ground work ( we followed everyones advice and didnt snow on it) This week I would like to show you a painting we based the dio on. And its about 95% done. Any thoughts or things we missed we would surely like to know. Well here are the pics





All thoughts and comments welcome. Mary and I would like to say thanks for having a look as well!! Cheers Kevin

Well what should I say??
Looks very nice!! Nice composition.

The only thing I would add is some more leaves.

Nice!!!!

Hilbert

Nicely done, great job. It flows very well and tells a number of different stories.
If you want to add anything, how about more gear, GI's backpacks, belts, lost bandolers (sp?), medics torn and discarded field dressing packaging, IV packs?, dirty bandages...

Looks great! I like Slodders Idea - How about adding the front right part of a sherman near the lone medic - and have it cut off where it meets the edge of the base?

Ola Kevin and Mary

Well I actually think you did a good step with not adding the snow.. The addition of the figures is also very interesting. Here I second Scotts idea again for adding more stuff from both the soldiers as the Medics.
I also would add more leaves to the scene. It doesn`t happen that often that leaves do not float on the wind to another place in the surrounding area in Autumn you will find leaves everywhere.
I also would tone down the green of the grass to a darker tone... this for 2 reasons. The trees clearly indicate that the time of the season is Autumn and Grass always gets a tad darker in Autumn... (may not happen everywhere but here in Europe it definately does.) And the other point is when grass has seen it`s part of walking traffic as in Wartime then it would almost be black on some places.. This is because it is completely smashed by people constantly walking on it. Often it is also pressed in the ground.
Stickys idea of adding a Part of a sherman tank on the corner near the lone medic is quite good altough I think It doesn`t necessarily needs to be a Sherman.. I think a Jeep with which the medics came to the battel field would do the trick very well. (Adds to the dramatic too)

Again a great job on fantastic Groundwork

Oh my.....it's wonderfull!!!!

Wish I had your diorama skills

Looks good from here. Congratulations.

Love the painting as well. Very dramatic - as is your dio.

Man oh man... the scenery is so darn good and the figures really blend in to it.

Magnificient !!

Thanks everyone for the kind words. Ever since I came across that painting "A Time to Heal" we have wanted to base a dio on it. I am glad it is having positive responses
As for adding things i agree we will add some packs and other discarded items one would find on a battlefield, even throw in some medical boxes and used bandages but does anyone possibly know how one would go about making IV bags or other medics type equipment? I even like the part of a Sherman idea presented by john and the jeep idea Robert came up with. We will have to see what Mary and I decide to do. But any items or ideas how to make items that medics may have discarded are fully welcome. Thanks Kevin and Mary

Kevin & Mary excellent job, have to agree with the others on the additives.

One question for everyone though were ivs in plasma bottles or plastic bags - don't think they had plastic iv bags - then again I don't really know .
Kevin, Mary is that artwork about the Hurtegen Forest ?
Cheyenne

I agree with the comment to have extra gear lying around, things like, packs,webbing,helmets and medical gear. I guess you have Pauls medical boxes?

Thanks for the comments Andy and Cheyenne. To answer your questions. Andy I will be using some of Pauls boxes and Cheyenne the painting is indeed based on the battle of the Hurtgen forest. here is a link to the artwork and where you can purchase a print.
http://www.militaryartshop.com/prints/stivers/atimetoheal.htm
I'm sorry I should have included that at the beginning of this thread. Cheers Kevin

That is fantastic!! It really looks like something nasty happened there and the medics are there to clean up the wounded. I woud like to see a better shot of what's happening in the trees. Looks like some men down but I can't really see it

Kevin
For medic stuff you would really only need to add some bits of paper, or OD canvas wraps. Just the impression or idea that something was opened and taken out of a wrapper is what you're looking for.
Old or ill fitting wraps would just be a bit of folded over paper or tea bag with a bit of fine wire for tie strings.

IV's were glass then and would have been in boxes I would imagine - not 100% sure on this. I'll do a bit of 'surfing' and repost what I find.....

Here is one cool link I found
http://www.atthefront.com/us_gear_medic.htm

here's another
http://users.skynet.be/jeeper/page119.html

Shibby! That thing is sick. Very inspirational. Cant wait to see your next one!

This is beautiful! I am amazed by the fact that there are NO vehicles. Yet it still retains a central theme.

The groundwork is Groundbreaking! Absolutely fantastic.

The first photo of the dio shows a blank space on hte lower side. Maybe you can put something there, maybe a wounded soldier. That would explain the single medic running to him.

Angela

Hello , nice work and i have to admit that i prefer not adding snow since the ground work is pretty fine for hiding it . The scene looks just right and the spreading of the figures is nice . I think will end as a very very nice scene from every angle u see it . Fine job !!!!!

Fantastic work both of you (Mary and Kevin). Excellent groundwork and the figures are perfect. This diorama really tells a story, and thats very important. The layout, and the positioning of the figures are just right

Looks like panic and it captures a real "sense of urgency"

Well done

Cheers !!

Alpen

Hi Kevin and Mary:

I like the diorama. A very impressive work as it stands now. Just a couple of minor points. I have to say I am in the minority as I would prefer to see a bit of snow on the ground as it appears there is snow in the painting you are basing the diorama on and that would increase the sense of the wet cold weather that was endured during that battle. Also, I am not certain that US medics used the red cross smocks? I don't see any on the GIs in the painting, just the Germans.

Keith

Thats a great dio! I would certainly add the damaged sherman in there to give the dio a bit more depth. I get a sense of peace when i look at the dio but would prefer a sense of action which a damaged sherman would portray. Thats just me though.

Hi everyone, thanks for the feedback on the project!! We really appreciate it. Scott-thanks for the effort and the links i am sure we will be able to add some debris. Alan- will have some better pics up soon. Angela- that lone medic is being waved over by one of the figures working on the guy on the stretcher at the front edge of the dio. When we post close ups it will be clear. Keith- Those two Allied figs in the red cross smock are Verlinden figs. I have to agree I had never seen allies in smocks like these but heck cant be picky when there isn't a lot to choose from :-) I also didnt relish the thoughts of grinding the smocks off. As for the snow I experimented a little and will look into it further. I have some new products I want to try out and had hoped this would be the testing grounds. Cheers Kevin

Excellent! Just excellent!

Very insprinng. The painting of collaboration between the GIs an Germans give a glimpse of hope in humanity.

Excellent idea...damn... just overall excelent!!



WC

Hi Guys
What can i say but outstanding i can remember last year when i posted some pics and saying these would make wonderful dios and that pic was one of them. You have taken the essence of the pic and given it your own perticular style but still giving the story and a job very very well done and i feel the artist would feel proud that another work of art has been done in such a different medium.
Great work
Cheers Chris

what did you use for the grass?