Hello fellow modellers:

I've never actually made a diorama before, but after staring at all of my 1:32 scale models I've made on the shelves, I've decided to give it a shot. I've got a Russian sniper already made and painted in woodland camo, looking through the scope in a kneeling position. The problem being is that I need some ideas, I've tryed looking at pictures, but I just can't seem to get the old bulb to light up. Any suggestions on what sort of scene I should make?

P.S. Sorry if I've been a little vague, but if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask me.

You could always have him hiding in some rubble. I see him behind a wall. Perhaps sniping through a hole in that wall.

Gday Chris
Well is he 1:35th scale? Or 120mm? At 1:35 and with no other subject matter. ie. tanks guns soldiers etc. You would only need what is called a vignette, which essentially is a small diorama detailed with only a couple of figures (or in your case, 1) or a small vehicle.
Bsack to your dilemma though, maybe a wall as Marty suggested wolud have to be quite selective for the fact your fig. has woodland camo.
How about sending "Faust" aka (Robert Blokker) a private message. I know he made a little dio/vignette featuring a sniper a while back. Pick his brains Cheers
Brad

Ah, yes, sorry, I put 1:32nd, I mean't 1:35th. Yes, I was thinking along the lines of "her" in some rubble. I was just watching through Enemy At The Gates to see if I could get some inspiration there as well. Thanks for the welcome!

*Edit

I just found Faust's diorama Distraction. That was what I was sort of thinking about, but maybe putting her in a building. I've been thinking of stripping the sniper down and re-painting it to urban camo as well.

Welcome Aboard Chris. Its generally advisable to start small and simple if its your first dio/vignette. Marty 's suggestion is good and Faust vignette as mentioned by Honeycut is a classic as far as keeping it simple but very effective.

I found a good reference is Osprey's Sniper (Since 1914). Enough pics and ideas to kick start your vignette. You may not have to redo your camo as you can still put your sniper in a urban scene. Given the logistics and lack of supplies on the Russian front it wouldn't be a stretch to place your woodland camo sniper in an urban environment. Rubble is always good and you would't even have to make a whole wall or building, just part of it.

Another place to get ideas would be to watch "Enemy At the Gates", at least that's how I remembered the title. It features Jude Law as the famous Russian sniper battling it out in an urban environment.

I'm thinking the 'Enemy at the Gate" has been done a million times... how about something more fresh? Instead of sniping in Russia, how about something in Berlin? The street fighting was quite stupendous, with much house to house fighting in the final two days... A sniper hiding in a German house window might be a bit more unusual...

When I model or build dioramas Ialways go back to one basic concept - since you are talking about snipers herre is that concept:

Think like a sniper

DUH - Simple sounding I know but it works for every type of dio you build.

What wpuld a real sniper do? how would he hid himself? What would he use for cover? where would he be able to escape easy and catch the enemy off guard?

1. Window, 1st story, 2nd Story, Church Window ...
2. Rubble, Factory, house , offfice, store front...
3. Field - haystack, fence (wood, Rock, metal), tree, foxhole, gutter, drainage ditch, destory pillbox or emplacement
4. Destory Vehicles

All of these and more offer concealment and opportutnity.

Example: In Rhodesia there was a Terr sniper that would hid in or near dead rotting cattle -- stank to high heaven and it stank from long distance away too, so people tended to move away from the stink and never looked to close... 10 kills before we figured him out.

Hope that concept and ideas help.

Neill

Thanks guys, I've thought about the whole idea about a Russian sniper in Berlin, and that sounds about right. What I'm thinking is maybe the sniper sitting on the second floor of a German house. Nevertheless, I'll post some pictures of what I get done.

I like the "enemy at the gates idea", maybe from under a knocked out plane, or the fountain with the statues of people dancing around it.

Its looking for somthing unique, the sniper in rubble, window or building has also been done to death.

How about turning the idea around with the sniper in side the department store among all the shop dummies again from EATG

just some ideas

keith forsyth

up a tree - telephone pole - burned out bldg? you could consider buiding a spotter for her as well !

I was just thinking about the "Under the Plane" idea, and that seems great. I've just got her details painted up, sorry no pictures, my camera's batteries are dead.