Hi everyone,
Not to new to dioramas, but I just don’t build many of them. Anyways I would like assistance with this one. If I could get some opinions on composition and layout, that would be great. Here is the general concept, the 705th Tank destroyers are entering Worms with a rifle squad in support.
I’m thinking of adding a wall on the sidewalk so here are some pics with and without the wall.
I sure do appreciate any comments or help.
-Stephen [C):-)]
keep the wall. As you said, they are entering the town… The wall makes it look like as if it was on the outskirts 
And everything else looks very well!
-Huxy
Looks good, Stephen. If I were to make a suggestion for composition (not that I’m King of Comp, by any means), it would be:
I’d lose the wall, and border the intended side with some rubble, with a large pile at the corner (forward the tank). Then, have the tank mounting the sidewalk to take that turn… might bring focus to the turn he’s about to make with the angle, and draw the eye around the corner, from left to right.
Does this make sense? Anyways, it was my first instinct when looking over the pics. Looks like it’s gonna be a great dio when you’re done. Can’t wait for the finished product.
Steve
Huxy and Steve,
Thanks for the help. I agree that there needs to be something along that side walk. Maybe a little of both. I’m now thinking of a broken down wall. I guess it would seem strange to me to have a blown up building on one side with a intact wall on the other side.
Steve, I don’t know if I would be able to have the tank mounting the side walk as the road wheels are fixed and it would not be able to show the change in suspension. Perhaps turned more to the side walk as if it was preparing to go over it? I’ll get some more pics up as it progresses.
-Stephen [C):-)]
Yeah, well- that makes sense regarding the suspension.
Steve
Good start…the figs in the TD need to be hunkered down a bit more IMO…they look way to casual in comparison to the foot soldiers…the resin-colored guy throwing the grenade looks out of place as he is well behind the point man…I might angle the TD parallel with the street as it just doesn’t look right angled in the center. I know you are probably depicting a turn, but it just seems too crowded in the street in that configuration…you could rotate the turret towards that area that it seems to be turning into and get a field of fire that way…looking forward to seeing more…
PS: I like the wall…maybe put some shrapnel and bullet damage on it but keep it…
Manstein- Thanks I appreciate your eye. The resin soldier is actually signaling a halt to the troops behind him. He doesn’t have a grenade. The street is kind of crowded and will be even more once I get the rubble put on, still tying to figure out the lay out for the tank.
-Stephen[C):-)]
With all due respect to Manny’s keen eye and superb skill as a dioramist, I would recommend against laying the tank parallel to the street. One of the "rules’ of composition is to never put primary elements parallel with the edges of a base; it looks too “square”. The position of the tank as you have it here is perfectly reasonable and artistically viale, IMO, because when a tank truns, it can do so in fits and starts, especiallly if the driver is inexperienced, It could be preparing to turn the corner here–which is the way it strikes me.
I would say that the German guy on the corner there would have to be suicidal to be so exposed-- sometimes you can infer or suggest the action in a dio without actually presenting an enemy. This might be a good option–leaving out a German figure, and just portraying the full fury of action against an entrenched, elusive enemy?
Doog- Thanks for looking. All troopers are american, the first soldier is the pointman holding up his hand to stop the formation because he saw something ahead. My pics are not the best, plus no one is painted yet so it makes it hard to make out which side they are on.
Manstein- the tank crew is difficult to get into a hunkered down look (most likely my inexperience with figures), any suggestions? The machine gunner is actually sitting on the turrent top because if I put him into a firing position in the ring the machine gun handles will go through his chest. I don’t know how to correct this either.
-Stephen[C):-)]
Doog is technically right about parallel elements in general, but I feel as though it can work in some cases, especially if other elements are off-set, such as your building. Sometimes I feel you can break some rules for the sake of the overall effect…And if you turn the turret down the street it will break up the parallelism issue somewhat…Sorry about the fig I thought had the grenade…I’ve seen a lot of pics and film of these types of units clearing German streets and you are doing a good job in replicating the look and feel of those actions…Doog is right about not feeling as though you have to include Germans into the scene…in fact, it is probably more effective w/o them…at most, I would put in an abandoned AT gun or something around the corner…as far as figs, you would need to due some surgery to get them to fit exactly as you want, but it isn’t as hard as you may think…use wire to replace legs and reposition the fig to your specs then re-sculpt the legs…there are a lot of good books and mags out there that can instruct you on doing this…
Manny, you mentioned that there are some good books out there, I have been searching the sites for guides on how to alter figures, and have not been very successful. Have found a lot of sites on how to paint them, but when it comes down to altering or modifying figures there is very little info I can find. Do you have any sites, or titles of books that may help us who are new to working with figures, on how to modify figures.
Thanks for any help!!
When I get home tonight I’ll post a couple of titles…Squadron just published a brand new one that centers around one large dio and how all the 35th scale figs were converted…
You may be able to get the T/C behind the turret, using the bulk of the turret for cover. There’s a couple of pics floating around like that, usually Shermans but the idea may work for you.
Also, I agree that the tank looks best in context at a slight angle to the two streets, as if in the process of turning.
Looks like it’s going to be a good one.
RBaer- Thanks for looking, unfortunately the M-18’s turrent is to long to have the T/C standing behind it to fire.
I think I’ll make this thread into a WIP so that I may glean others expertise as I go along.
-Stephen [C):-)]
Think about this, with the rifleman present, and every one apprehensive, maybe the TC should be on the radio? Definately move the tank crew lower.
Just my [2c] …move the point man a little closer to the building. In my experience he would be hugging the wall as he turned the corner. If it looked clear then he would move out a bit as he moved a little farther down to get a better view. He’d be thinking COVER the entire time out front.
I know I did. [;)]
This just came out—can get it thru Squadron Mail Order:
Well this is an update of what I have so far. I think the layout is pretty well set unless there is any glaring problems. Please any comments will be helpful.
I still need to add more rubble, finish the wall, weather the ground, and finish the figures. Still aways to go. Does anyone know where I can get unit insignia decals. Verlinden has rank patches but that is all I could find.
-Stephen[C):-)]
Outstanding… Looks very well done!
Just two questions… That sign at the roadblock, got that from the Tamiya 1/48 roadsignset? And what will it say?
Huxy, you are correct, it is the tamiya road sign set. I’m thinking of “No entry without proper papers.” In german of course. Thanks for looking
-Stephen[C):-)]
Here are some places you can get some unit insignias from Archer. Good stuff:
http://www.archertransfers.com/catalog.html
http://historyondisplay.com/zencart/
Hope this gets you somewhere.
Steve