Trying to press on with this one and get it done soonish.
It is Tamiya’s 1/48 Stug III Ausf. G. (awaiting weathering) with four figures from Tamiya’s early German infantry set. All are not quite finished and have stock instruction poses but some have been tweaked a little. Base is styrofoam with smaller pieces glued on top and shaped with a lighter and coarse sandpaper. Fallen tree trunk is from my fire wood pile. I think it looks pretty good.
Although nothing is concrete at the moment, the finished piece will look pretty much as in the photos. It will be my first completed diorama (provided all goes well) and I’m not too fussed about everything being perfect.
StuG looks very nice, and i like the Dio. The only thing i would suggest to have have the troops in front of the StuG. IMHO theres nothing wrong with having guys behind a vehicle if you have guys in front of it. But nseeing as you only have troops on one side, i would have them at the front of the Dio. Not sure what others think.
But very good work, looking forward to seeing this done.
Nice set up so far. Watch the MG mount on the top of the Stug - there is no way to open the loaders hatch with the shield back over the top of it. The front hatch is what was used to hold the shield up, when not in use it would be forward, not back over the hatch.
Quick update. Plywood base with MDF skirting built. Skirting was shaped with a jig-saw. It’s not perfect. I will need to do some filling around the edges. Holes were drilled in plywood and brass rods glued in for stability.
Haven’t really got much further with the tank or figs (I am one lazy [cnsod]). Need to finish detail painting (tools etc) before I can gloss coat and commence weathering.
Will try to bring it along faster. [:$]
Quick question. In response to Bish’s input I have decided to add a section of a wooden fence to suggest why all the figs are to the right of the tank (keeping in mind that it is possible that it is in a convoy of some size). I’m just not sure what size of stripwood to use. Here is a pic of the wood I’ll probably use. Northeastern Scale Lumber Co.'s HO scale 4x12 and 8x12. Holding them upto one of the figs both seem feasible to be appropriately/proportionately sized for a country farm fence somewhere in Europe. What do you reckon?
Seems like the scale might be alright, although I don’t really see a problem with the figures being to one side of the StuG. What if they are using it for some cover? Plenty of ref pics to support that…
Great job! I would leave the figures as-is, but a fence would add interest and an explanation, as you already said.
I may be late in mentioning this, but have you considered having the effect of rain on this scene? If you spray a coat of future polish on the tank and add some future mixed with pigment powders to make wet mud, you can have a really cool looking scene. I mention this only because the figures look like they could be seen diorama really pop out. Obviously, this is only a suggestion, not a critique, so definately do what you feel is right, I just thought I’d add my [2cnts].
Went with the 8x12. Although it obscures the focal point (StuG) a bit, therefore, going against an important rule in diorama making, I think it looks pretty good. Hey, it’ll be my first completed diorama. And it will improve my skills. Never worked with real wood in modelling before. Might try the hairspray technique on it as well, and not a live model.
Steve, i wasn’t meaning that the troops should be at the side of the vehicle. I just think that for this Dio, they would look better at the front of the dio and not at the back hidden by the StuG.
Just on a personal note - I ALWAYS made it a point to run on the side of tanks. The thought of getting run over was none too appealing…
By the way, your comment about the tank might be in a convoy - judging by the way the troops are moving in a ‘tactical’ fashion, I’d suggest that a ‘convoy’ would not be a really appropriate setting.
How about turning the dio around so the fence is the back of the dio, the figs are at the ‘front’ and the Stug is in the middle. That way the ‘action’ part of the dio will be front and center, not broken up by the fence?
I agree with that. In fact, I have taken to attaching a “lazy susan” turntable to the bottom of my base. The base can be spun around (slowly, of course [;)] ), giving the viewer every option for a focal point.
Love a good Stug. I think the diorama looks okay as is. Once you have the groundwork finished you may find the fence looks a bit out of place. I’d finish the groundwork before committing to the fence.
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