I decided that my models would look much better in a proper setting. So I built a 48" x 36" diorama for the purpose of taking pictures. The basic construction was styrofoam built up over a plywood base. Then a heavy coating of brown latex spackling paint. Some real rocks, dirt and model RR scenery treatment. Stone walls and trees, with sand bag emplacements. The major background theme is a blown up building, with debris in the road and telephone poles (but I forget the wires are there and frequently snag them.....

Here is the first batch of pixs. My HL Pz III, super detailed and with camo paint scheme. I have posted it before, but take a look at it with scenery. I shall post some other model pics as I get them done. Will have to change out the soldiers for Allied models.

Regards, Panzerpaul

I'm speechless mate...VERY VERY nice!
Now I want to build one for my tank!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [:@]

Paul,,,

That is just crazy cool !!! Need your skills.... Those photos are inspirational!! FANTASTIC MODELING !!

-TOMAS
TX ARMOR

Outstanding, that is just great! May I ask a favor, can you show a photo of the whole diorama?

Very nice work....museum quality. Will add tremendously to any AFV photo.

It's amazing how much better the models look in this setting. Well done, beautiful work on the destroyed building and all of the details. Would like to see a pic of the whole thing in one shot if you have one.

Here is the full view. Sorry about the workshop background. The blue/white board on the right is moveable to either side for a back drop when shooting pictures in that direction. The one in the rear is attached.

I have 30 years background in model railroading and thus making scenery comes fairly easily to me. Its not all that hard and most anyone can do it. If you want further details, send me an email.

The trees are the same type we use on the FRAG battlefield.......made from plastic and available around Christmas time from most arts and craft stores...like Michaels and Hobby Lobby. I opted for these rather than the more expensive and exact replicas available commercially. But if I were going to enter this into a contest, I'd go with the expensive type trees. The purpose of the diorama was to provide a better background for tank model pictures, so I did not feel a need to spend tons of money on the details.

I built this over a 3 month period.........little here, little there. Total time may be about 40 hours. The bombed out building started out as a plastic structure from 21st Century (I think....????). It is removable so I can take it to FRAG battles. I got rid of the obvious plastic looking details and burned up a bunch of bass wood strips for a better effect. I made a rubber mold of some of the walls and cast up some additional ones in plaster so it would look like a more complete building. Then I cut and glued 1� scale doll house brick pieces into the edge of all the walls so they would appear to be made of brick with stucco plastered on both sides. Where stucco was needed up against the brick, I used paper mâché. I also broke up a couple wall sections so the plaster pieces could be used a debris. All of that was coated with dark chalks and sprayed with Testor's Dull Coat, and finished with a coating of fine brick dust and particles sprinkled here and there.

Making blown up buildings look real is a challenge because of all the debris and building/furniture parts tossed around…most not in their original condition. Anything you choose to do could be argued as realistic, but there is "so much" that is needed, it can be overwhelming.............oh well, that's just one of the challenges of our hobby.

You guys ought to give this picture diorama idea a try. It sure beats looking at models setting on a wood workbench with all those distractions. It gives an “eye pleasing� total viewing experience, which I feel enhances the realism of your model.

Panzerpaul

Paul,
Great pics, tank, figures and diorama. Fantastic modeling skills. I also like the overall pic of the diorama, it really shows what you did. Side skirts on the PZ III look very good as well. Did you scratch build those?

Jim

Jim: The side skirts were scratch built from .015 thick brass sheet. The trouble making side skirts is trying to find accurate pix of how they were mounted. Most are not published (or I can't find them), but in this case I did find enough to know what hardware to make. Glad you liked the pictures. Paul

Paul,
I agree totally on finding good pics of armor skirts. I have a PZ III and IV waiting for paint, but I want to add skirts first. I did find some good drawings in ' Panzers at War" by Michael and Gladys Green. What material did you use for the hangers or supports and what real life size was it?
I can only imagine if your tank and dirama look this good, your trains must be awesome. Thanks again.

Jim

The hangers are brass bar, .033 x .122, everything was soldered together and pins inserted (where bolt heads would normally be) which extended thru the plastic tank wall and were bent over underneath, then glued. This is so when the skirt gets bumped, that pressure is extended to the hangers and they do not come off the tank. The side skirts are usually dropped over a bracket of some type which is part of the hanger, and can be removed if need be. One other thing I do is to "blacken" the brass sheet and bar stock with an etching fluid, so that paint adheres better and scratches don't show a bright brass color underneath.

WOW!! Now that is some work! Great job. How about a bit of "How I did it"?

Don

Very Nice

Beautiful diorama! I would like to see some of your next photos in black and white. [sm=thumbs_up.gif]

Take a look at the comparisons in:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_91...tm.htm#9124727