Here's my first real dio, its based on a pic I saw a few years ago.
Frecnh / Belgium boarder mid 1944 and it depicts a 88 hiding out in a shed with a German unit strolling by towards the front line.













Thanks again for all yere help with the groundwork tips etc, I learned a few good tips whilst making the dio and Ill branch out with other materials for my next one. All comments for improving my technique are extremely welcome.

All the best,
Ian

Great first Dio, i really need to try and get one of these going.

Ian,

I love it!

That's great for a first dio. The well and the outhouse door have especially nice details, as does everything else. Can we get some more shots of the 88? For painting figures faces, I reccomend these articles:
http://www.missing-lynx.com/articles/figures/mbface/mbface.htm
http://www.missing-lynx.com/articles/figures/mbpart2/mbpart2.htm
http://www.missing-lynx.com/articles/figures/mbdetails.htm

What did you use for the grass?

Daniel

Thanks guys, ya ill post photos of the 88 when I get the camera back from my father, he's robbed it again! It'll probally be tomorrow tho.
I used Heki wildgrass, didnt really like it tho, gave a very high effect would of liked it to seem shorter, and it just seemed hard to work with, just me tho!


Ian

Lovely looking dio,very busy and well thought out.

my only comment would be to repaint the skin tones on the figures they look a bit greyish.other than that i like it

karl

Nice setup, one question about the motorcycle though, how is the panzerfaust attached to that?

I hope to improve my the skin tones alright on my next dio, I kinda find it hard, those fella's been so small an all!

See I knew I forgot something, the panzerfaust is suspose to be held on with wire but looks like Im after forgetting it, spending so long looking at it you tend to miss things, it just proves two pairs of eyes are better than one pair!

Here are more 88 pics Wheezy.








As you can see I didnt bother with groundwork around the back of the shed, the floor is scratchbuilt, with scaled down planks.

Ian

Hey

Looks good. The layout of the diorama is ok!

I do wonder about two things:

- One of the Germans has a AT rifle, but you said the diorama shows a scene in 1944. AT rifles weren't used then anymore as far as I know, at least not by the infantry (maybe mounted on a vehicle)

- Could the 88 be used with one of the eh......"legs" folded?

Martin

Dont really know because the pic I saw you couldnt see inside, but it wouldnt fit otherwise so I had to fold it, still its only me first go so have petty on the lame!

As for the AT gun, it appeared to be similar to the one it the photo but Im no expert and your probally right about it.

Ian

Hi Ian, great work on your dio, excellent use of the road wheel for the well. Keep at it.
Cheyenne

I like the composition, and it looks a lot better than my first dio.

Great first dio,Ian! As above comments about skin tones and historical accuracy.You can already see your self what shows up in the camera as to what you like or don't like.Have fun always,right?
cheers!

Gday Ian
For a first dio, this is great! Shows thought has gone into this with the fact there is research regarding the pic you based it on...
Good composition, but about the figures, I think your biggest initial problem is that your photography is sooo clear!! Highlights any shortcomings too easily :-) :-)
With things like the change of paint colour between the hand and sleeve for example, figure kits like The Gen 2 Dragon ones have hollowed sleeves and separate hands to the best of my knowlege, which can help this to a degree, giving anice clean paint job...
Enough said, time for your next!
Cheers
Brad

Nice one Ian. I like the scene and how natural it is. What kit is the barn, outhouses and well? They look great. The "things to be improved" have already been pointed out, so no need to go there again. Theres a lot of positives as well, so your next will only get better.

As you build the next dio, show your figures, base and vehicles in-progress and you´ll get the specific help you´ll need. You´ve got good clear images and it´ll be easy to do. As can be seen, there are plenty willing to add their imput and give any help needed.

Thats a great first dio. I really like it. I'd like to know where you got the barn from? Verlinden, perhaps???

One thing you could do next time you paint buildings, is to give it a wash. I also paint my buildings in light tones (white, sand etc) and to give it a more "weahtered" appereance I give it a wash using darker tones:

white, wash with grey;
sand, wash with brown etc.

Just thin the paint with water and wash the house. It gives a good effect.

Still: Well done. Love to see your next work.

Simon

Ya the building & well are Verlinden, and thats not a road wheel thats the one that came with it, unless they cheated me!! :-)

By the way what colours do ye use for skin/flesh and tones? I use Humbrol enammals, never used arcylic's but willing to try em, any tips weclome.


Ian