Hi Guys,

Thought I'd share with you an old dio before transforming it into a more detailed and thought off dio with less plaster. It is a rather large dio measuring 2'x2.5' and because it was big that I rushed and missed all the details and probably over did the snow like there was one heck of a snow blizzard.
As you can see it's missing two tank destroyers laden with crew and extra GI's and on the track lay some broken branches from the pine trees, also half of an unpainted German figure.
I intend to convert this to late Autumn with some hint of snow and to change the subject to Germans amassing for the big push before the Ardennes offensive.

For now take a last look at it before it's changed. Comments are welcome.





Next I'll show you the figures and vehicles that I have built so far for this conversion.

Richard.

Okay these are the guys that'll go into the dio and there'll be more.



















They haven't recieved their equipment from me as yet so they're quite bare. All firearms are still being painted. The figure painting is not up to the standard of some of you sifus partly because there're damn heck of a lot of em.

Comments welcome.

Richard.

a verry dramatic dcene, nice work.

super nice one dis dio.. splendid..

Hi Richard,

I always impressed by your diorama work, especially this one when I recalled the beautiful Sherman with it... Now it looks even better with this new dramatic scene. Keep us posted. excellent work

Allan

Rich,

The 1st 2 photos wouldn't look out of place in those old Verlinden / Letterman modelling books. Good idea to re-pose the driver of the truck so that he now 'communicates' with the fellas at the back. Can't wait to see more.

Thanks Bomber Vince and Shahrs for the kind words.

Allan - As for you, I'm the one that's admiring your recent works. Well done at
the Euro Militarie.

Alpha7 - Thanks, Would like to post more pix for you but realised that for an
Autumn scene the vehicles shouldn't be weathered pre-painted white
wash cos it didn't really snow till much later at the siege of Bastogne. The
weathered paint chips should make the scene of a retreat at the end of
the battle and should include anti-aircraft vehicles too searching the skies
when the weather cleared. That would be interesting.

Look out for more on this post.

Richard

I remember seeing the chaps pushing the truck at one of the workshops. Excellent motion piece and I remembered you mentioning that you would eventually put them in a dio Richard. They'd fit in perfectily this well composed dio. I especially like how the road winds around the dio and how you've anchored the corners well with the house ruins, telephone pole and stonewall.

Looking forward to see more of this.

Thanks Ck,

Ya it started out as one curve and it went on to the next. Now it has become my largest dio and will be great if I spend time at each point when improving it during the overhall.
Actually when I completed the dio in 1995, I didn't do any more dios till Pegasus and that was 4 years later. Mighty long time to work up inspiration. Now with the figs and Opel trucks I hope to kickstart again. I'm having the same trouble as some of you guys, except I fall asleep building...damn. Not good for the hobby.
I don't rush as I used to and will try to enjoy the hobby and hope to complete this 'cos you're not the only one that enjoys looking at my dios...I do too. :lol:

Richard.

Hi fellas,

I've decided to retain the same configuration of the last dio and just upgrade the tanks a bit for the end year show. Sorry guys for making you wait in anticipation but no worries 'cos I'm planning a new dio for the guys pushing the truck.

I thought they deserved a brand new setting rather than encrouch onto the Hurtgen Forrest dio.

Existing Dio:
The tanks will recieve some weathering and tie ropes to the baggage and supplies on the engine deck. For now I'll just paint the tools stowed on the rear glacis (they're molded on). The tracks unfortunately will still be the old Tamiya mistake ones until I change them later for the AFV replacements.

The road will recieve treatment of being churned up by the tracks. The crew travelling in the tanks will have added minimum winter apparel ( the 3rd armoured division was hastily ordered to rush to aid Bastogne and so didn't have time to winterise or camoflage their amour or themselves. They did all this on the go with what ever materials that they could muster).

I'll try to get some pix on the progress later.

Richard.

Thanks Richard for sharing with us your superb dio.

I wish to build a dio too for my upcoming 2008 project, may I know what brand of kit for your German truck?

Hi Kirin,

The Opel Blitz is the Italeri brand. Heller also has the same mold. There is another Opel Blitz with tracks. Can add on a flack gun on it to make it more interesting.

Looking forward to seeing your diorama. Any peliminary ideas yet on the theme and composition?

Richard.

Richard,

I think two of my dio will be the 'whole-year-long' project for my 2008.

Well, my first diorama its about german army having their rest in a ruined city. Will a panzer, two truck, one kubelwagon, a 3 ton truck and lots of soldier. Estimated diorama size will be 60cm x 48cm.

Basically, its still in the planning stage, most of the matarial already bought, except the trucks. Since this will involced a lot of scatchbuild on those german army, my current stage will be collecting material while doing lots of sketch of various post for my army. :lol:


Chris

Take your time and don't rush into it.

Here are some tips:

1. Center your diorama on a main theme.

2. If you're planning to have many figures and a large dio, within the main theme create mini theme-lets. Basically your figs should have eye contact in groups of 3 to 5.

3. Make sure all items have the same ground or dirt colors as the base.

4. All clothing are matt unless it's rubber coating and wet.

5. Make sure the items used relate to the campaign histories of the subject.

6. Refer to lots of references. Especially the environment of that particular campaign e.g. was it heavily forested, were the buildings plastered with stone or bricked, what was the weather like.

7. If you've chosen Germans, great, all their divisons had their own percularities in equipment and clothing. Get them right.

There are many more tips but as you progress in your diorama building and reading up your references, you'll find find interesting stuff that become tips of your own that you'll eventually share with others.

Post in your WIP's as you go along.

Richard.

WOW Thats impressive nice work

Thanks Carl,

Coming from you that's a great humbling compliment. Don't know if you've seen the others. ;)

Richard.