Get into the Grove - Italy Late 1943

[stuartv]

I am building Diorama with the Tamiya Flak 36/37 88mm Gun in the Flak 37 configuration. This will be set in an Olive Grove in Italy in late 1943, with the crew in the process of deploying the 88 for action.

See the thread on the gun Flak 37 build here modelerssocialclub.proboards.com/thread/15209/tamiya-1-35th-flak-37

See the thread on the conversion/painting of the figure here modelerssocialclub.proboards.com/thread/15373/german-flak-37-crew

I would like your input on the layout/composition of the Diorama. What changes would you make to the layout?

Do you think the crewman with the sledge hammer should be in the background as per the photos below or should he be in the foreground instead of the crewman placing the ground spike?

[cheyenne]

First off , nice work man !!!
I would put sledge hammer guy up front , make him more visible , that's just me tho .
I think he tells the story of staking down the 88 in ones minds eye instantly , no questions need to be mentally asked as to what's going on here .

[tcoat]

I would leave him in the back. He is higher and with the raised hammer his action is visible above the gun. The crouched guy would all but disappear back there and you would have no clue what he was up to.
I would move him to the rear of the gun and face him forward though. That way he is even more visible,  all three are not facing the same direction and it breaks the straight line created by him and the guy placing the spike. 

[creading]

It appears that you haven't started your diorama base so I suggest that you abandon the retangle and go with a round base.
Since it appears you have no structures involved, a round base would be perfect for showing your flak gun with the crew setting it up.
With a round base you don't have to worry about front or back, as it can be viewed and displayed at any angle. I feel the placement of the pieces is much easier on a round base as you don't have the corners (which to me, always end up as'dead'areas) to contend with.
Based on the looks of the gun and your figures, I'm sure whatever you do, the dio will look good.
Cheers,
C.

[tcoat]

Apr 20, 2024 7:58:42 GMT -5 creading said:

It appears that you haven't started your diorama base so I suggest that you abandon the retangle and go with a round base.
Since it appears you have no structures involved, a round base would be perfect for showing your flak gun with the crew setting it up.
With a round base you don't have to worry about front or back, as it can be viewed and displayed at any angle. I feel the placement of the pieces is much easier on a round base as you don't have the corners (which to me, always end up as'dead'areas) to contend with.
Based on the looks of the gun and your figures, I'm sure whatever you do, the dio will look good.
Cheers,
C.

Or an oval to account for how linier it is. This is where I would hit the home décor shops and find a nice serving tray.


Something like tis with the handles removed.

[lyle]

neat project.

[406 Silverado]

This is definitely gonna be fun to watch!!!

Bookmarked!!

[stuartv]

I have ordered a base which is rectangular as it has a perspex cover to keep the dust off, but no reason why the diorama can't be oval on the rectangular base. What are your thoughts on that idea?
Or I could just go with an oval base instead as I don't have to use the ordered base?

[tcoat]

Apr 20, 2024 11:52:17 GMT -5 stuartv said:

I have ordered a base which is rectangular as it has a perspex cover to keep the dust off, but no reason why the diorama can't be oval on the rectangular base. What are your thoughts on that idea?
Or I could just go with an oval base instead as I don't have to use the ordered base?

Rectangular could work when covered. The angle you have the gun and caisson at  fill the front corners nicely and looks like you have a wall and tree planned to fill in the rear corners so the balance is good.

[stuartv]

I could round the corners off the recangle, then it would not look so linear, thoughts?

Here is a plan view without the figures. I think it adds more interest?

[stuartv]

May be I should make each end completely rounded, what do you think?

Adjusted the mockup.

[Tojo72]

This should be a great looking scene

[tcoat]

With the angle of the gun, crew and caisson a non symmetrical kidney shape could really break up the geometric straight lines.

[stuartv]

I have setup a mockup on a kidney shape with equal left/right proportions. I think I want to use the rectangular wooden base with a shaped Diorama scenic base.

Do you think this would work?

[tcoat]

Apr 20, 2024 15:21:44 GMT -5 stuartv said:

I have setup a mockup on a kidney shape with equal left/right proportions. I think I want to use the rectangular wooden base with a shaped Diorama scenic base.

Do you think this would work?

That looks more like you took a slice of reality to me.

[vw8243]

stuartv

   Great job on this dio ,looking forward to some color now and Italian sun shine  and a drop a vino!

[Steve Zuleski]

Excellent scenario, Stuart, looks great from here.

[stuartv]

Please have a look and let me know your thoughts on the scenic base progress. Any suggestions for changes as at this stage they can be easily incorporated?

[tcoat]

Nice balance, no lined up figures, not a pile of empty space to fill but not crowed either, the curves of the base draw your eye to the action instead of off to the sides. 

[BattleScale Collectica Show]

I like where your going with this!

[handiabled]

Bookmarking this!

[stuartv]

Added a foam tumbled down wall, next stage will be a light coat of watered down filler paste. Then start on the ground work.

[buddho]

This is coming together nicely!

[stuartv]

Thin skim of plaster with PVA glue to hide all the joints in the foam. The wall had a very thinned coat of the plaster/PVA glue to make the foam more stone textured.

[stuartv]

I have made a start on the first of many olive branches for the Olive tree, what do you think?

[stuartv]

Added some small stones to the base, as most olive groves I have seen (in Spain and Greece) are stoney. Then applied a coat of back primer ready to start adding colour.

EDIT - Jump the gun here as I have to add some tyre tracks. As the gun is very heavy and even though the ground would be hard baked it would still leave a small impression in the hard ground.

[406 Silverado]

I've missed these last few updates but am tuned in now FOR SURE Stuart.

[cheyenne]

Nice progress Stuart , the olive tree looks great and I like the non conforming shaped base !!

[tcoat]

Stuart and maybe one or two others may get it but the title of this thread sounds like the name of a Time Team episode! I keep reading it as if Tony Robinson is narrating.

[stuartv]

Title is a play on words "get into the groove". Open to suggestions for a new title though?