I posted pictures of my dad's gate in the critics forum, and it triggered a conversation, to the point where I have a question to ask, and I thought I'd do it in a separate post in the diorama forum.
You know how we are so strict about following the rules in Switzerland...

Have a look at the post, and the question is right after
criticpost

When I am done moving houses and when I have unpacked my camera, I will post some pictures of a couple of figures who have applied to play in this diorama. There will be a crowd composed of 2 GIs freaking out at the collapsing gate, and some others who haven't realised yet and who will be having a drink with some local normandy folks.

But I thought I'd ask a question in advance, because I cannot sleep until I know what you think :
There will be a lot of rubble around the building, since it is a ruined building (would have so much prefered for the building to be intact, but there are so much more ruined building available on the market...)
I was planning to include a couple of engineers with shovels cleaning out the rubble.
Is this acceptable to you experts? Is it plausible that engineers would be cleaning the rubble around a house, or is it completly silly since the whole of Europe is a mess, who would bother cleaning?
Maybe I could add a detail that would be a motivation for cleaning, like a truck to rescue, or some wine cave to excavate... but I cannot think of anything.

Second part of the question is : I have 3 engineers. 1 US and 2 germans. I was planning to then add a 4th guy with a gun who would be watching the germans.
Do you think it makes sense? Do you think a US engineer would bother cleaning the rubble with 2 germans while the others are having a drink?

Just want to know your opinion. Have to go pack some boxes or SWIMBO will kill me...

Hi Ropi,

This is just my take on your question, but it would seem a bit more plausible if civilians were trying to clean up the mess, since they live there and would want to get things squared away at least to the point of being functional again.

I've seen photos of armored columns rumbling through blasted towns, and the civilians are already cleaning away the rubble.

Regards,
Barry

I agree with Barry

Unless the rubble was blocking the road and therefore hindering the troops advance I dont think the troops would be involved in clearing up , ive seen pics where whole towns are in rubble and the troops simply drove a bulldozer down the road to clear a path but then again there is the old addage "never say never "

Ian

Thanks for the input.

The thing is I don't have figures of civilian cleaning : my civilians are giving drinks to the GIs, and the cleaners are german or US engineers. :-)

I think I will leave it to the spectator to imagine why the guys are cleaning : it could be to clear a path through the property for example.

How about having the germans cleaning as well as a US engineer, under the supervision of another armed engineer... do you think that works?

Hey Nicolas
Would it be so bad to NOT include the 'cleaning' figures? I mean, after seeing the progress pics, I reckon the 2 GIs, the driver, and maybe a couple of civilians set at the moment of collision would convey enough of a story!
Just a thought...
Cheers
Brad

If Im not mistaken, Preiser have a set of civilians clearing bricks/rubble in 1/35. The qulaity is so-so, but they could fill the roll!