I want to make a diorama of a Hotchkiss 25mm AT gun, with a dead gunner and various items strewn around the gun as others left. In front of the gun will be an area of bare earth with a bunch of tank tracks. Sparsely around the gun area will be some scrubby grass. I have not done anything like this before.
What would you use for the scrubby grass in the earth, and what would you use to make the bare earth area with the tank tracks in it??
TIA
Scale?
Duh! Actually 1:35 scale. Sorry I did not mention this.
A short & sweet video on diorama grass: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kpMBL76_VE
Insofar as tracks are concerned, rule one is: find a photo! (I’m currently working on the Pegasus War of the Worlds diorama, and being a fussbutt, I need to “ease” the pre-cast tread marks because if you check the actual footage, while there were clouds of dust, the hardpan didn’t take track marks for crap! On the other hand, I’ve got this GREAT photo of a tank CLAWING up a steep slope, and I’ve already stashed the IS-3 for when I get around to it.)
I’ve used two techniques for making tread prints. I’ve pressed greased caterpillar treads into “mud”, let set, and pulled them out. I didn’t care for this as (1) I messed up keeping the tracks parallel and (2) it looked too stiff, more like railroad tracks than tank tracks.
Second technique (full disclosure: I haven’t used this with a tank… yet) is to make an axle and mount an appropriately spaced pair of wheels with some kind of a handle. I trimmed down an old rubber stamp, used it as both axle and handle, and rolled it around a bit. It made decent jeep tracks. When I get to that IS-3, the plan is to turn wooden wheels that approximate tread width and spacing, and then to roughen them on my bandsaw to match the tank tracks.
Although not as elaberate as your project is going to be, I used stones from my yard, Verlinden’s static grass and some Hudson and Allen tall grass for my 25mm gun. Bare ground would just be the groundwork minus the grass but do add other ‘debris’. (I use Sculptamold for my base groundwork.)
!(http://www.mortarsinminiature.com/images/The Author/mle. 1934.JPG)
As for tank tracks, I make up a quick jig set at the tank’s width. Set the model in the still wet groundwork (I use cellophane wrap to keep the model tracks from sticking to the wet groundwork) and then work the broken ground with a straight screwdriver. The jig keeps everything parallel.
!(http://www.mortarsinminiature.com/images/Other Models/Soviet KV-II-2.jpg)
HTH
Nice work Kevin. PM sent to you re my original photo I am working from. Can’t figure how to get it on this forum.
Got some Celluclay today, and tried a spot of it with tank tracks on it. My tank tracks will be from a bunch of tanks going through the area after the 25mm AT gun was knocked out. Kind of like the cork was pulled, and they all flowed through. If you have seen a bunch of tanks go through an area, you can be sure there is no need to use a jig or worry about the train track effect. Think I got a decent first impression. I will be experimenting with colors when it dries to try and get a natural look.