i placed a order for the palm tree and the palm tree elements, and now i need to know how to make the diorama. what kind of sand should i use, and how should i apply it? also, i would like to maybe put downa little crab grass, what would be the appropriate material to do so. also, if there is anything else that u would think would look nice on a american occupied pacific beach let me know. thanks.
Pick an island and see what type of sand and beach formations they had. Some of the volcanic islands had black sand, some pink, white, “sand color” etc, some had gentle slopes others coral or coquina outcroppings. That will determine what type of ground work you’ll do. Sponge torn up and painted white looks like exposed coral heads. Static grass in spots will look pretty good. Tall grasses can be found near tree lines, dune areas and in some cases on outcroppings of rock.
Good luck
Mike
Do you have a specific (Iwo Jima, Okinawa, etc.) beach in mind? Some of the things on a beach would be - Ammo crates, MG belts, ration crates, empty shipping tube for mortar and tank/artillery rounds, and the various thing a soldier might drop when he is in a real big hurry.
Hey, juniormodeler, I’m going to Saipan next week, so is there anything in particular you’d like me to check out?
I’ve been thinking about doing some dioramas from some of the amazing scenes I saw there last year, like the half-submerged Sherman a hundred yards offshore, and the Chi-has and Ha-gos scattered here and there around the island.
Anyway, I’ll be taking lots of pix, so maybe I’ll have something that can help ya out!
Quick question: Are the tanks part of a memorial? I find it interesting that they are still there. I know that ships sunk in combat are considered a military cemetary and a memorial and , therefore, canot be disturbed.
There are several vehicles (all Japanese) and other military equipment collected together and displayed at the American Memorial Park in an area called “Tank Plaza” (there are two Type 97 Chi-has, an engine from a Zero, an anti-tank gun, an anti-aircraftgun, and a torpedo on display). No plaques or anything else to describe them.
Along the roads here and there you can see Japanese tanks (mostly Type 97s and 95s), which are usually up on concrete with small plaques identifying the vehicle.
Throughout the island are the remnants of the Japanese occupation, like tunnels, bunkers, ammunition magazines, and military buildings. Some are marked, others are neglected crumbling ruins.
The most poignant scene is the Sherman I mentioned. It’s sunk up to the turret, about a hundred yards offshore. I would like to know more about what happened to that particular vehicle. The tourguide said it simply broke down in the water after having disembarked from a landing craft, and was not lost in combat. Can’t imagine why they just left it there. Quite a few rusted remains of LVTs, too.
Just offshore from our hotel was the half-sunken hulk of a Japanese destoyer.
The reminders of the war are everywhere on Saipan. It really makes you think, lying on those beautiful beaches, what a hell it was all those years ago.
Juniormodeler, I recently did a base with sand and even though someone might have a better way of doing it here’s how I applied the sand. I used some sand that came with some shells my wife got at the dollar store. I just spread out white glue where I wanted it and applied the sand. After the glue dried I dumped off the excess and repeated until it looked right. around the rocks and trees and such I put a raised bit of glue and sand that looks like sand caught blowing around. Like I said there might be a better way but for me not haveing the money and a hobby store near by it worked pretty good. Good luck.
thanks for all the info guys! J-Hulk that is very nice off u to offer, but i pretty bought this kit at the last second so i could enter it at my local hobytown usa show so i dont know if ill have time to hear back from you. Im not sure what island i will do but im leaning tword a wake island dio. im pretty sure the usmc was involved there, and the GPAs would be used alot there for island hopping. anyone know of any links where i could buy spent ammo cartiges or used tank rounds?- i just found a magazine from under my bead about all the cool stuff you can still find in the beaches of the pacific. not to long ago some guys found live grenades and bullet rounds! anyway, ill put all of your tips to work. thanks
Chris’ suggestion for the sand should look good. As for Wake Is. the Japanese took it in Dec. '41 and we didn’t get it back till the end of the war.
juniormodeler- here is apic of the method i told you about to give you a idea of what it looks like when done. hope it helps you out some.
looks great, i think that that will work just fine on my Amphibious jeep.
Glad I could help look forward to seeing how it turns out.