NachtPanther dio concept - what do you guys think?

[wouter]

Hi guys

Since the NachtPanther is pretty much complete for a while I was thinking adding it in a dio.

A NachtPanther is hiding in the woods together with a sdkfz 251 'Uhu' as support (it carries a big Infra Red Light to support the IR gear of the JagdPanther). Since it's winter '46 there are no standardised Heer and Waffen SS units anymore. So, while the crew are spoken to by Joseph Diefenthal with their new instructions, the leader of the NachtGruppe - Joachim Peiper - is discussing with a NCO and a Heer tank crew member. He noticed some enemy action in the direction he is pointing. An SS Grenadier is watching all this. (I don't have the 251 yet, so it's a rectangular piece of paper with a Alpine Models box on top ;D)

I really want to know your opinion on placement and backstory since I haven't done a proper dio before. Here are some shots




The setting should be somewhere fall/winter 46 so moisty ground with some piece of tree in the background (maybe a piece of ruin?). I'll be adding some Volksgrenadier figs as well.

I placed this thread here and not in the 'What If' or 'dio' section because I have the feeling not too many people are watching those subfora

So, what do you guys think?


Cheers

[sollie]

Seems to me that you have the story set :-) I just wanted to comment on the JP , It's one of the coolest ones I have seen, It really looks the business, and those side skirts in primer red is right up my alley. I might just have to paint my 1/16 rc I'm building in somethin similar..

[bullardino]

I know very little about '46 whatif background, so I'll look it only from the "artistic" side.

I think it would be nice if you added the trees all aroud the base. I don't think they'd stop without being concealed under them. I like the idea and the positioning

I'd also try to variate the height of the terrain, to make it more dynamic

My 2c

[wing_nut]

The story is most certainly plausible and the group set apart pointing and looking of toward the area of suspected action looks good. I wonder about the other 2 guy. They are far enough apart that they would have to speak to each other in a loud voice and close enough to the other group that the senior officer would be turning around saying, "Shut the "F" up I am trying to hold a briefing here."

Maybe move the briefing a tiny bit closer the the tank..have the 1 guy 1st grow a head and arms and leaning in a bit to try and hear knowing he's too far a way. The guy standing facing the meeting with a hand on the hip kind of "I'm waiting" stance. When you add the rest of the figures, have then talking in hushed voices, maybe one guy leaning in and talking into the ear of another saying, "OK so now where are they sending us?"

Whatever the set up, everyone should be pointed more or less in the direction of the briefing to set that as the focal point.

Having said that... what the hell do I know. I'm not a big time movie director. But I did stay in a Holiday Inn last night ;D

[spud]

Drooling at the alpine figs in the dio, I like the idea now get that 251

[reserve]

Nice, figure interaction is excellent and the story is there for all to see. If it were me I'd be thinking about reducing the angle of the vehicles, perhaps quite a bit, this will help reduce the size of the base as well as give you more room for additional goodies that you may be contemplating.

I am very big on keeping bases as small as possible since it keeps focus on the subject being presented. It also makes for a whole lot less work regarding the "Now what am I going to put here?" idea...too big and they swiftly get unweildy.

Regards,
Mark

[tobias5555]

Will be a very good looking dio.

[dupes]

Niiiiice...is everyone in there from Alpine?

[Deleted]

looks to be a great dio, nice selection of figures too, you just can't beat alpine figures they are the dogs!

[modelfreak72]

Hey buddy! Great idea for a dio! I love the back story! There is so much you can with 46' what ifs! The vehicles are in a great position, the only thing I would suggest is to maybe move the figs closer to the 251 and put a map on the hood of 251. I'm excited to see this come together! Oh If you need a 251 in a hurry I'm just about finished with mine, I could ship it to ya! LOL!! ;D

[bbd468]

Hey Wouts,

I love the idea!!! The "UHU" would be a great addition to what ya got already, and those Apline figs....sweet!!! I built the AFV Club "UHU" 2 years ago for my nephew and added the Blast models Resin Generator and accessories kit to it, didnt go detail wild on it though....fun build Wouts! Heres a link to it if ya want to have a look see.
drmmtx.blogspot.com/

Later Brotha!
Gary

[deafpanzer]

Sorry but I have to ask you... how many figures from Alpine do you have? LOL

I like your story very much! My only concern is the size of the base... it will be huge! It just scares me that it will take me forever and I don't think my wife will allow me display it anywhere except in my dungeon. LOL Dig the 251 concept too...

[Deleted]

I'm with every one else here wouts , great idea for a dio. I watched the history channel and they had the story about Peiper and the attempt to reach Antwerp (they had a look at that K.T. at La Gleize ). If the Germans would have succeded in defeating the Americans in the west then they would have captured the American fuel supplies . I think it might be interesting to incorporate a stash of U.S. Army fuel cans somewhere in the dio .

[406 Silverado]

Love the idea. The figs all look good and a realistic placement too.

[wouter]

wow, nice to have great and constructive reactions, thanks fellas

Sollie, thanks for the great compliment, by all means if you like the colors, use them, looking forward to that!

Luigi, I think no one can call themselves experts on 'what if '46' because it never happened ;D. A guy at the 'what if '46 group at FB - Called 'Zeke' or so - thinks he is and said my JP isn't a what if since it's basically just a JP with IR gear ;D

I was thinking off hight variation, glad you think that's the way to go...love your tree idea...will be an ever bigger dio then ;D

wing_nut, thanks for your insights mate, I really like that...can't promise it'll be 100% as you suggested, but I sure like those ideas!

Mark thanks mate, it is quite big indeed. You got a point on the angles, on the other hand, I thought it would be more interesting if both vehicles were at a different angle than a similar one

Tobias, thanks dude!

Dupes, pretty much, except for the 1946 tank crew (without heads ;D) on the JP, these are from Blast Models

Brian, thanks mate...well about the command half track...mmm...dunno yet, I found on the net that these UHU's were to be operated with Nightfighting Panthers to support them. They also were supposed to carry a crew with MP44 with night gear...these battle groups were to be called 'Vampire' so I might stick with the UHU. I like the idea of the knocked out Sherman...only thing I'm afraid of is the shear size of the base with a Sherman on board ;D but who knows...I might be crazy enough to do so ;D

smudge, thanks dude!

Freakstah! Good point, like the map idea!!!! Hey, send it over bro

jackwagon, many thanks for the vote of confidence mate

Gary, while searching for reference on the UHU I noticed yours, it's saweet and a good example! Love that Blast addition, indeed there was an issue with the kits roof being not right for the generator. I love how you did the glass on the searchlight btw, how did you get that result?

Andy, I got some more Alpine figures, some tank commanders and an NCO. ;D. I must say I gathered them over the years though. When I started in 2010 I bought the Peiper figure for my KT...but it ended up otherwise

Carl: I watch the History Channel often and totally missed it . Thanks for the idea on the fuel supply, love that!!!!

Rob thanks mate!

That's what so great about this community, great help and valuable suggestions

I'm trying to find out if there is a company which released the MP44 SturmGewehr with IR gear, but so far I couldn't find it...scratching those tiny parts would be hard for me I think...

Cheers

[modelfreak72]

Let me check my stash and I'll see what I got. I think I have one that came with Tami Otto Tiger.