Per an earlier post, here is an update on the "stages" diorama. showing Panther Ausf. A #145 in the Summer of '43, Winter of '44, and it's final demise in the Spring'45. I actually built, painted and decaled all three units in two days... The Tamiya kit is quite simple to build, and while not the most detailed, is easy to update. More photos coming as I layout the three tanks in the diorama.

The hardest part was replicating the full camo pattern on all three tanks, and then overpainting the second with a snow camo, and the third with a washed off snow camo, covered by rust....

There are 36 photos in "MY GALLERY" under the "Life and Death" album, including many close-ups.
All three shown together"


Summer of 1943


Winter of 1944


Spring of 1945


Comments welcome!

Those look good. Now comes the real interesting part, the 3 phase story....

Can't wait to see each one of those mini-dioramas

Neat idea, why Panther 145? Is there an actual historical significance?

It looks great Keith, I have one little nit-pick though....don't worry, it's little........ Some of the damage on the mantlet of the winter '44 is not carried on to the spring of '45 one. Not too big..just detracts from the flow a little bit...

I need to know which photos are you looking at so i can compare - I really want this to come across accurately... I really tried to remain true - as I made an impact on one piece, I made it at the same time on the other before painting... at least to the best of my ability...

Good eye... now help me figure it out.

It's on the left hand side of the gun mantlet. In the winter scheme, you have a shell impact spot. As far as I can tell, it's not on the "spring" version.

Jesse

I wish I could tell you yes... but it simply happens to be the decal set that came with the Tamiya model. I actually got the idea for the three phases from the story of one of the original two M-26 US tanks deployed at Ramagen Bridge.... the first M26 to be destroyed in WWII.

I think hes talking about the chip on the side of the gun of the white tank. It would be nice to see the tank burned out more especially in the rear engine parts. As well as see more rust and weathering on the cupolas. Also, as far as the chips on the lower hull of the tank. Think just for a second. That is 6 inch thick metal. It isnt going to chip like that. If you dont beleive me, go find a panther, walk around it for a while, pound on it a bit and you will realise what im talking about.

AH... good. Actually it is there on both tanks, one just doesn't afford the same viewing angle. if you go to the "my photo" section, you will find other pictures that do show the same shell impact.

As for the point about adding more to the "burnt out staining.".. the tank isn't actually a brew up... simply disabled by a mine then stripped and abandoned by the crew. What you see here is the tank several months later after sitting out in the weather. The two shell holes in the side turrent was the result of a common practice of the allies to "see if anyone is home".... Think of it as target practice with a double purpose.... The germans would often park a live tank in the midst of other ruins just to set a trap.

I also plan to have a "Beware-Booby Trap!" sign painted on the hull.. another common practice of the germans (rigging a trip wire to a grenade placed inside the coupula)..

I think it's gonna look great!

Looking forward to the completed Dio..

Next question to survey the readers.... i could put these three tanks in a "linear" display, divided by buildings, or I could put them on a rotational base, so that you only see one tank at a time... which do you think is better?

The linear idea carries a stronger "timeline" concept, but the buildings used to seperate each time period will be less visable - ie, the "thin" side of the buildings will face the viewer.

If I go with the rotational perspective, then there diorama periods will appear stronger, but you will have to rotate the unit to see the other periods....

What do you think...?

Hi Keith. Ingenious idea and really looking the part so far. To answer your question .... Id have all 3 in the linear display, so the season changes and effects on the tank can be seen as a progression at one glance. If only one scene at a time is seen, the effect could be lost on those who take a quick glance. Im all about first impressions and believe this would be the stronger option.
An idea just came to my mind .....
It would be cool if something else in the scene evolved as the seasons changed ... like a small tree, growing, losing leaves and then budding again. Also maybe abandoned tyres .. fresh, rotting , rotten. These are just 2 ideas of my the top of me head. Good luck with the rest of the scene.

This is a really cool project. I like the idea of the linear layout with buildings, or trees, deviding each scene.

btw-I looked in your gallery, I can't see the damage on the spring version mantlet anywhere. I see it on the other two versions, but not on the spring one.

the rotating idea is cool in concept. In implementation you would need to have a motor do the rotating. I wouldn't want just anyone spinning it - they may have had to much coffee.

I don't see the way to separate with a building as easy to do. If you talk building (even by showing the thin side) , you will need to detail both sides of the building. What will it show? The front wall, the stair behind, floors, part of the roof ? How wide will this need to be? You can't only show the building (ruin), but at least do some surroundings. This will lead to a very big dio.


So all in all, i would do the rotational idea, separated with fences , borded with the things proposed by Franck, trees and so on in different season colours.
(we had a Triorama -project from Jeffrey Winckel on Armorama, see the Supertree feature)


How about incorporating one fix, not changing item.
I don't have any in mind now, but that could be an idea to make a contrast.

Cheers
Claude