Diorama “The Winter War” using Dragon’s Panther D + Tri Star’s German Panzergrenadiers Vol.2 - by “Art Instructor” :
For more pics and falling snow please try my latest page:
http://www.falconbbs.com/model39a.htm
Have fun!
[:)]Looks good to me personally, It really, in my opinion, captures the feel of a silent frozen forest. The snow on the tank looks absoultely perfect to me as well. Now I’ll back off and take cover as the critique starts to come rolling in.
Very nice, tell AI that he has done well. I like this one a lot. The figures are excellent.
…overall, nice work…only nitpick is that the Panther is a D model and the infantry on the tank are late war (MP44, etc.)…
My only comment would have AI research his titles a little better. “The Winter War” is usually used in reference to the fighting between Finland and The Soviet Union in the Winter of 1939-40. “The War in Winter” might be a better tittle. Otherwise its a nice build.
Mike T.
I actually like this one a lot. Accuracy issues aside, since I’m no expert myself, I find this one executed fairly well.
Looks real good from here. AI did a nice job on this one.
Regards, Rick
It does look very good, AI did a very good job with the modeling.
Personally I don’t have a problem with the title, I think that anyone who knows enough to know that the Winter War was between Finland and Russia, they should also know that a dio with a Panther isn’t referring to that. (no offense telsono)
It is annoying to see a glaring historical conflict, like MR mentioned. 80% of the people on this forum will know that a Panther D does not belong in a wintery forest with late war infantry.
Just a question: do you (MM) buy the kits for AI to build and choose which figure sets go with each vehicle? If so, I’m sure you’d be welcome to ask around this forum before buying kits, for example, “Would a Panther D be in the Ardennes in 1944, and would these figures would go with it?” I think if you did that your models would end up being far more accurate and you’d recieve much less criticism.
Again, I echo the opinions that, accuracy issues aside, this looks pretty darn good. My only nitpick (and it is a nitpick) is that snow buildup on the tracks. Looking at it I am left with the impression that the tank must be standing still - and it must have been there awhile… Again, it is a nitpick, and only reflects my immediate gut reaction when I saw it…
this is some of the best snow I’ve ever seen! The whole scene gives me chills.
gary
Great dio, the atmosphere is great,and the paint job and build of the overall scenery is fantastic,very good snow.For me great score on this one.
Pedro
Guess, I’m not the only one who liked the snow! Mind asking AI what he used?
I agree, a very well-executed scene, but entirely incongruous with the mating of a Panther D and late war figures.
Excellent trees, and very good snow as well. A good job on the Panther from what I can see as well.
one question about the Panther D in the dio; why would there not have been a Panther D at the time and location? I mean was it a possability that one could have lasted that long? If not why? Not trying to second guess anybody, but my interest is now pegged.
gary
AI crushes my feeble modeling skills.Great dio.I’m also curious as to why a Panther D couldn’t be found in this setting.
The Panther D’s debut was at Kursk, and it didn’t do so well. Almost all D’s were withdrawn from service by January 1944, being replaced by the improved Ausf. A. While a winter Panther D is a possibility, the clincher is that the infantry are wearing uniforms and carrying weapons not issued until late 1944.
Ok, now I’m gtonna nitpick again. If the “D’s” were withdrawn from service then they were likely rebuilt into something else right? But anyway thanks for the answers, and I’ll store that in my feeble brain.
gary
Actually, it was the first batch of original D’s that were withdrawn due to engine and other malfunctions. These were the 250 used in the Kursk offensive, in which around 40 were still operational by the end of summer 1943. Another 600 were produced in that year, with the larger and more powerful engine and these were dubbed the D2’s. These tanks equipped the 1st and 2nd SS panzer divisions and the 23rd and 26th independent panzer divisions. The 2nd SS panzer division, “das Reich,” fought in Arnhem during Operation “Market Garden,” and the Ardennes forest, during the Battle of the Bulge. Due to supply and refit problems during the latter stages of the war, it would seem probable that the later D’s saw action during the Bulge conflict.
I believe there is a picture of a late war Panther D in “Panzer Wrecks 4”. It seems to have undergone a factory rebuild that included full zimmerit.
It is possible for that scene to have occured, but not probable. The withdrawn vehicles would have had factory service to send them back out to the line. Like the one mentioned above, the use of zimmerit may have been done after the servicing at the factory. Anyway, a photo of the occurence would be the best to atest to the reality of the situation. Right now its a fantasy, but the terrain is certainly beautifully done. More research would have improved the project, especially considering the great lost of armor in France 1944 especially at the Falaise Gap.
Mike T.
Well, apart from the minor discrepency of the time periods of tank and uniforms/weapons, which i would never pick up on myself, i think this dio is pretty darn good Model Maniac. I also love the groundwork. One can feel the mood of this dio too. It looks cold and bleek. This one would look good with that thing you do on your home page, you know, that ‘falling snow’ effect.
Boomer…