lawman56 Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 At the time this new thread had been established, I was about 2/3rds finished with my Priest and had started on the base, so I figured once I got most of the dio completed, I'd start posting here. The title of the diorama is "Raining Fire and Brimstone". Once completed, it will depict an M7 and crew as they lay down suppressive fire some where in Europe in the mid to late spring of 1944. Here's the basic base. An oval plaque that I had laying around. You'll see I've built a dam to keep my plaster from running everywhere. Here I've covered my base, added some slight contours and rolled my tracks into it. After which I noticed they were askew, so I leveled the right side out and re-did it after I took the picture. They next step, after removing the dam, was to paint the plaster in a basic chocolate brown. After the base paint dried, I brushed white glue on the surface and sprinkled a mix of Fine Dark Turf and Fine Medium Turf from Woodland Scenics onto the wet glue. I made sure to stay out of the track marks. I wanted to show ground that was wet from the rain, but not saturated. After the terrain dried, I applied Tamiya Mud from a stick, next to the track marks to simulate mud churned up by the vehicle. Here you can see some of that churned mud. At this point I've attached the vehicle to the base. Here's where I stand right now. I've applied more Tamiya mud pressed between the tracks and ground, and temporarily placed the radio. Next is more mud, grass and mud stuck on the tracks and hull, and spent brass. So far I've got 2 crewmen done. Still need to build 3-4 more and place them. Thanks for looking! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulster Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Looking forward to seeing this finished. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawman56 Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share Posted January 2, 2014 Looking forward to seeing this finished. You and me both! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawman56 Posted January 12, 2014 Author Share Posted January 12, 2014 Since he's part of the overall diorama, I figured I'd post him here. This is my radio operator, who has dismounted in order to keep clear of the crew while relaying the fire mission orders to the gun chief. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mikester Posted January 25, 2014 Members Share Posted January 25, 2014 Looking good! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawman56 Posted May 22, 2014 Author Share Posted May 22, 2014 Ok, so I finally managed to get more limbs and torsos for my, (as my wife calls it), "Frankenstein" box. That means I now have 2 completed, 1 almost completed, 1 started and 2 future crewmembers. Since I have no idea what anyone on a gun crew is called, except the radio operator and gun chief, I gave them my own names as I saw fit.. This one is almost done. The base coats are finished. Now it's on to the highlights, shadows, washes and weathering. I shal call him "Big bullet holding guy".... This one is done. He's the gun chief, but I shall call him "gun pointy guy".... This one is done as well. Radio operator, henceforth known as "phone talky guy"... The next one, currently under construction, is "Gun wheely turny to aim at bad guys, guy".... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawman56 Posted July 9, 2014 Author Share Posted July 9, 2014 Thought I'd update my progress. Finished another crewmember the other day. He's technically considered a loader, or ammo handler, but I like to call him, "big bullet that gives him a hernia" guy.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulster Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Looks good. Gives me a hernia just looking at it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 Good Lord you guys do such incredible creations!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawman56 Posted July 11, 2014 Author Share Posted July 11, 2014 Good Lord you guys do such incredible creations!!! Thanks Ralph I'll admit, though, this will be my last armor diorama for a little bit. Getting kinda burnt out on the "tanky thingies". It's why I switched to aircraft recently. Hopefully I'll be starting my Fiat G50 in a week or so! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Scanlon Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 Like this a lot, good balance to it overall and not swamped with too much going on everywhere. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawman56 Posted July 16, 2014 Author Share Posted July 16, 2014 I appreciate that, Steve. The reason I've gotten slightly burnt out with armor, is just that. Trying to keep it all balanced. This is my 4th armor diorama in a row. What few marbles I had are now rolling around...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawman56 Posted August 13, 2014 Author Share Posted August 13, 2014 Alright, crewmember #4 done! Crewman #5 is almost done. Then on to #6 and I'll finally have the whole diorama finished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawman56 Posted August 17, 2014 Author Share Posted August 17, 2014 Getting much closer to done. Finished the 5th crewman and glued his torso in the vehicle. Tomorrow, (hopefully), I'll glue on his arms. I had to assemble him this way, since I've built him so his hands appear to be working the traverse and elevation wheels. Once he's in place, I can affix the other two crewmen on the left side. Then I can temporarily place the right side crewman in until I build #6, who will be just to the rear of the .50 Cal mount. Here's an idea of what it will look like once completed. Thanks for looking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawman56 Posted August 31, 2014 Author Share Posted August 31, 2014 Prior to driving my eyes crossed gluing sesame seeds to my G.50s cowl, (see Freccia G.50 post), I got the right arm of my gun aimer in the position I want it. I might need to tweak it a little, but I think it might work as is. The holes you see in the floor, are for mounting the rest of the crew. Thanks for looking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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