I'm doing a 1:35th scale diorama featuring a group of WWII Russian soldiers, women and men, having a picnic in the rear areas, with a picnic table, located near a stream. I've made a cheese block w/ some cheese slices, sausages, a loaf of bread from Apoxy Sculpt putty. I wanted to add some Apoxy Sculpt oranges in the Bayardi wooden bucket I have just painted.

However, my Armor guru friend sez there would be no Oranges in Russia during WWII. Is there someone familiar w/ the Eastern Front theatre who could give me an opinion on this point?

I can save the 'orange filled bucket' for another project but would like to use them since they came out well and would add some color to the diorama.

I beleive your friend was right, cause there was a food shortage in Russia at that time. It wasn't only in Russia through, it was also in Germany and some other countries as well.

I am betting no on the citrus fruit. Would have had to travel awfully far and 60 years ago fruit didn't travel well. I remember reading how thrilled an English kid was to get a piece of fresh fruit, don't remember but I think it was a lemon or banana, during the war for Christmas.
The whole family shared it.
Anyway, the English had it better than the Russians.

Sorry for the long post.

Shaun

I dont think the ruskiis had any citrus. IIRC they had fish.

Maybe just Stalin and his close comrades could eat that kind of food at that period..

Some bread, cheese and a bottle of something can resolve your picnic diorama problem..
Cheers

Gentlemen:

Thanks for the response, Lietuenant Loughlin.

Shaun, no problem with lengthy replies here in
Jayhawk land. . . as I'm retired you see!

Brian, I hadn't thought of fish, good idea

Wampum, I forgot to say there would be several
of the 1:35th scale "Caliber 35" brand bottles.

I appreciate the insight and will make the little
diorama sans one bucket of oranges.

You could paint the red or green to make them look like apples. It is feasible for Russians to have access to apples. They could have been given by a local farmer.

Hey Marty:

It is interesting you have suggested apples. I didn't
take the time to completely explain the story
line of my little dio previously, but apples are
the main part of the story line.

I made them from Apoxy Sculpt, pushed an
indentation in the top where i put a copper wire stem
painted brown and attached a few green leaves on
some of the apples made from lead foil.

You see the title of the picnic dio is called "Bobbin'
for Apples" and the wording will be positioned on
the front of the base. There is a flat rock path
across the stream and Natasha is carrying
a wooden box of apples across the rock
path thru the stream. Of course, she slips and
ends up with her bottom sitting on the
creek bed, soaking wet from head to toe.
Apples are all over the place, floating
down the creek; thus the title. Her 'mates' are skaking with laughter and pointing at her.

So indeed, Apples will be a big part of my presentation.

Sorry this is such a long explanation.

i love the sound of this diorama, every once and a while poeple like yourself create these types of dioramas that reflect a sort of peacefull message and by that i mean that whether your an american rifleman, a french spy, a british infantryman, or a russian soldier, accidents do happen and we are all only human.

i really cant wait to see it, it sounds detailed and precise.

matt

Thanks Matt:

I appreciate the words of encouragement. Actually,
I am going to do the 'project' a total of two times.
The first one is the experimental version to see if I
can pull it off — I figured converting a male standing
fig to a down on her bottom female in a moving stream
would be difficult to pull off. Anatomical surgery in 1:35
hasn't gone too well in the past. But from reading posts
here on the Big A, I realize a lot of experience will
produce improvement, so I need to try with the idea that
I will improve. The final version will be bigger,
something like 300mm square, and have
two Russian vehicles, a Ba-20 Armored car and a
horse cart or a GAZ 67B field car, and more people to
be looking or turning their heads toward an "all wet
Natasha". My style is to do peaceful or humorous
settings, plus I live in a small place and have little
room for large dios like the masterpieces
that Jackhammer 81 displays here. I've seen
his work first hand, and it is very good. His attention
to detail on EACH aspect of his presentation is
something to see. Thanks again,