Howdy,

I am beginning to form an idea for a winter project diorama and I could use some input and ideas.

The idea is simple, a battered Pz IV crew has pulled off the line during the early stages of the battle of Caen (I am thinking that they are refitting, but that is still up in the air) when they see a Tiger from Wittmans group rolling towards Caen. The Pz crew looks in awe as the montrous Tiger, still undamaged and relatively clean, rolls past.

I am looking to make this as historically accurate as possible so any knowledge of the routes taken to get to Caen would be appreciated. I am going to camo the Pz IV and probably have it under a tree.

I am also thinking of including an Opel Blitz in the dio bringing fuel and ammo, but I don't know if this is the appropriate vehicle for the role.

Finally, I need suggestions for figgies for the Pz IV crew. I was hoping to show them in the middle of preparing breakfast and stopping in mid-sentence to stare and point at the Tiger. I will be putting the Tiger on a road embankment so that it will be above the Pz IV so the Pz IV crew will need to be looking up (I have never worked with figures so I don't know if this is something that can easily be done with any figure or if I have to look for figures molded to look up).

I am looking for advice on the details so please feel free to give me your input.

Thanks and Cheers

Branden

Cool idea! Several suggestions- for figures, look at Jaguar. They have a few sets of panzer crewmen cooking and eating and such. Might work for what you have in mind. Check out Hornet heads as well, they are really outstanding! I believe they have sets of heads that are turned or looking up. Gray has photos of all the heads at coloradominiatures.com. For the dio, I think I would leave the Blitz out. A Tiger and a Panzer IV are going to take up a bit of space, adding the truck would only make the dio larger and more complicated. One of the keys to building good dios is not to add so much that it takes away from the main idea. In your case, the Panzer IV crew looking at the passing Tiger in awe is your story, and this idea could easily be lost on the viewer if you were to add the Blitz and more figures. Another pointer- be sure to pay attention to the placement of figures and vehicles. Try to avoid placing things parallel to the base. Good luck with your project!

Hey Branden
Not offering much in the way of what is relevant armour, but want to say that the Battle for Caen was in summer after the Normandy landings... From essentially June 7th onwards the Allies attempted to lay siege, but the Germans reinforced the perimeter with 21st Panzer Div. and then the 12th SS Hitlerjugend. Canadians didn't enter Caen until the 9th of July... Hope this helps with how your minds' eye is viewing the dio ie. Summer now!
Cheers
Brad
EDIT: Having just re read your post, maybe you meant your ' winter dio project ' as in you are currently experiencing winter, being in the N. Hemisphere and all, and as such I have been banging on about something you already knew?! hehe I'm a muppet...;p