Hi there!

I'm working on a dio called "A road in Normandy". The scene depicts US troops moving in land, short after the D-Day landings. Still, the dio needs some marching GI's, some of them investigating tihe abandoned Hanomag, some of them standing next to the small barn, telegraph poles, road signs and perhaps even a smashed Kübelwagen. Who knows.

Well, here it is. Again, first draft, so tell me what you think.








Are the vehicles too close to one another?

Thanks in advance

I like the general feel of the scene, Its got some real promise.
I would say the vehicles are to close for sure. I would spread the out "randomly" to look more realistic, also I would not line them up in the same "tracks" maybe offset the truck to add interest. The 1/2 track "seems" wrong, try to show why it was abandoned.
Your trees and hedge row are great and I really like your road, (what material did you use for the road?).
Look forward to more pics

Bruce

Hi Simon
Its really coming together well nice use of vehicles and figs what i have noticed from my many visits to Normandy with my Dad was the distinctive Hedges they were quite high thus the very bitter fighting hedge row to hedge row that insued as they pushed out ,just a thought could not really see from the photos, really taking shape keep us posted.
Cheers Chris

Well that's some pretty impressive terrain Simon. Is this 1/72nd scale or 1/35th? I can see what the others are saying about vehicle spacing, they are a bit too close, also not quite sure about the mixture, but what the hell? If space is an issue, one vehicle could be pulled off to the side investigating the half track.

Simon

Great work. Ground work looks very good. I agree that a few troops looking at the hanomag would be great. Maybe one with a bazooka. Perhaps a few fallen troops (allied and/or germans) in the area.

Good stuff

This has the makings of a great dio. My suggestions would be, spread the vehicles out, maybe even "park" the jeep on the side of the road with some GI's checking out the halftrack. The little road coming down to the main road is a little to straight. Maybe widen the tracks near the intersection where vehicles make the turn. I would also add a few walking troops. How about a few german prisoners being escorted? Hope this helps, and keep us posted.

I really love the terrain you created. The extra touch of real sunlight does give it a very realistic look and feel about it. Please do share how you created your terrain as i would like to learn it.

I agree with the point made by Bruce, the convoy is too tight together. Spreading them out would give a nice sense of speed even.

Wow that is a great start. I think the vehicles are a little close together but other than that looks great. Can we get a pic of the whole thing?

Great job! This looks like a great dio in progress. I agree that you need to space out the jeep and the rest of the line. I think the halftrack looks a little out of place all alone, just sitting there. If I saw that on the side of the road, I'd want to check it out. otherwise nice build and the road is perfect.

I love they idea you've come up with, and the directiopn you are going. The other fellas seem to have some great ideas as well. The only thing I would suggest is the phrase I tell all of my soldiers:"gun up, gunner up". I don't know how they did things then, but today, if we mount a weapons system, we man the system.

I look foward to see where this goes!!

nice looking dio so far, just a thought instead of trying to space the vehicles out maybe have something in the road ahaead holding them up so they would be bumper to bumper maybe a jeep stopped to look at the halftrack or something along those lines anyway just a thought, looking good all the same.

ron.

Hi mate

All up this is going to be one hell of a dio the ground work looks awesome.
With the hanomag maybe one of the tracks could be blown off that's why it's been left.
As for the vehicles they are a tad to close maybe a MP wiily's has stop the convoy as there are mines on the road?

Ron

That ground work is very impressive this will be very nice when done. The AFV's are really nice also.

Looks very good to me, Simon. Only things I can add would be some damage to the half-track. If you are putting a Kubelwagen in, how about putting it on its side in the ditch?

Hi Simon,

Really nice work

One little thing seems strange to me.

The tank commander is wearing only a string T-shirt while all the rest of the figures are wearing what appears to be somewhat warm clothes. The guy next to the driver even has a blue scarf to keep warm.

Looking good Simon. I like the layout. The gorund work looks really good, as does the vehicles.
Perhaps you could spread some equipment, on the ground close to the halftrack, to make it look as if the germans had to flee in a hurry. It would emphasize the abandoned vehicle look.

Simon, very impressive work so far. Most of what I see has already been addressed, but I'll add my .02 cents worth... The road coming in from the side, maybe add a couple worn areas on the corners where it meets the main road as to show where other vehicles cut it close, rounded it if you will. As to the spacing, how about an MP vehicle on the side, with an MP trying to get a cow or other animal to move from the road. I know there has to be a 1/35 cow out there somehwere. Didn't Tamiya include one in their farm animal set? And lastly, as already stated, maybe a little damage to the 1/2 track. Other than that it looks good. As to the guy in the loaders hatch with just a T-shirt on...I'd leave him. Kinda like Oddball and his crew from Kelly's Hero's Lookng forward to the finished product. You're almost there. "Q"

Hi Simon
Matthew is right about the side-road.
A vehicle or Cart never enters a side road at right angles from
the main road, so cut the corners somewhat more or use a
hard surface connecting the two roads.
Then an other problem.
A few days ago at missing lynx there was a question about the use of the Italeri Sherman http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208
The Italeri Sherman is a late model, and not used in Normandy
Hope it helps.

Regards
Ron Perry
[email protected]

DRAT!!! I was so proud about noticing the track corners... But you beat me to it....

Been there, said that.

Looks good so far, but I seem to remember the bocage hedges being way higher than a man (7+feet) except where something had broken through it.

Simon, the scene looks real! Great job - go on with it!

Hey Simon! Looking good there...
Not sure if any have addressed exactly where the dio is to be set. ie. just inland after the landings was not necessarily bocage country. This was I think the south west below the Cotentin peninsula... Needs the colours blended between the various elements a little...
Normally I would think the dio was too symmetrical, save for the fact that it IS actually set in the hedgerows...
Cheers Brad
P.S. How's Mary doing? :-)

I agree with the congratulations! It is a beautiful dio plan. Okay about the suggestions, too. Is it my old eyes or are the vehicles sitting up too high with their loads? Not sure. If you need some rubberized horsehair for the bocage hedges, let me know.

Sealhead

P.s. Be sure to answer everyone's questions about the scale, the materials you used, etc.

Hi there
Wow. Thanks for your kind and many replies. Its appreciated.
As I mentioned, the dio is only a first draft, and there's still lots do be done.
I've tried to categorize your remarks, so here it goes:

The hedges: Trees, hedges and schrubbery in a larger amount will be added. As for the hedgegrows, not all hedges in Normandy is 7ft high .

The road: The junction does look odd, and not realistic. I'm working on a curve to make the bend more soft.

The convoy: I'll use the jeep for another project. The GMC and the Sherman will be kept there, together with the marching GI's.
The Hanomag: I'm not sure wether to put the Hanomag or a anti-tank gun there. Gun or Hanomag - the place will be littered with various equipment. The Kübelwagen will be placed in the roadside.

The groundwork: The grass are from HEKI, mixed with different spices and the taller grass are also HEKI. The bushes are moss with dried parsley: The moss are quite soft, so in order to make it more firm I've put it in a white glue-water-dark brown mixture. I've left it there for an hour, took it up and left to dry on paper. Some 24 hours later the moss are quite firm and ready to use for the dio. Once placed there, you can either paint it again or/and sprinkle it with the stuff you'd like. In this case - dried parsly and some leaves from the hobby-train shop.
The road and the field is made out of Poly-Filla. Its called that in Danish, and I'm not sure wether YOU have it, but it is a plasterlike material.
Beside water, I add some dark brown colour, a bit of white glue, sand and catlitter to the Poly Filla untill it has the right consistent. Then add it on the base with a brush or a spoon.

Where to go now: Beside the changes I've mentioned above, the little road will be guarded by either an smaller tank (Stuart or Greyhound) or a group of MP's.
A little shed or shelter will be made for the field next to the abandoned german equipment.

As for the Sherman: I've read an article in MilitaryModelling by Zaloga, where he uses Italeri's old kit for a dio depicting a scene from Operation Cobra, which took place in Normandy in august. Also, I have a lot of pictures with this type in Normandy, so I believe its realstic enough to use this type.
As for the tanker in strings: I like him. Since you comment it Jan, I think he has been busy working inside the tank and just need a breath a fresh air. Køber du den?

Well - I hope this has answered your questions. But, you're ofcourse welcome to ask me or comment it more. Thanks again. It is always nice to get some replies on your work - and in this case, I'm glad you like it.

Simon