German 88mm Flak Gun - desert scheme

[Gman99]

Morning
Just like to share one of my dioramas that I have just completed of Tamiya's 35017 88mm flak gun.
I went for a desert theme with the gun behind an embankment.
The scene is built on foam base and modelling clay and plaster of Paris used to build up the trench. Balsa wood is used for the wood stays. I also added in some other figures from another Tamiya set that I had around along with some sand bags.
Robert

 

[David Spencer]

Wow..! A busy diorama, to be sure.
Loads going on here and it gives a grand impression.
Very nice; how long did it take to build?

 

[Merryweather]

ooh very nostalgic- brings back great memories of saving my pocket money!

 

[Warren SMITH]

Nice work, the photos make it look a bit glossy.. Maybe a Matt cote would help..

 

[Gman99]

Wow..! A busy diorama, to be sure.
Loads going on here and it gives a grand impression.
Very nice; how long did it take to build?

Thank you David.

I like my dioramas to tell a story as much as possible. I use items from other models that are not used in their builds, for example the wire on the pole, the pole being a sprue, and other figures.
It took me about 5 weekends to complete from scratch. I like to take my time but do tend to rush a little at the end.
Some items that have been added were painted at times when I was completing a model set build but not used in entirety, or sometimes I just like painting figures in readiness when I do not feel like a project.

 

[Gman99]

ooh very nostalgic- brings back great memories of saving my pocket money!

Thank you Merryweather.

I am still saving my pocket money

 

[Gman99]

Nice work, the photos make it look a bit glossy.. Maybe a Matt cote would help..

You are totally correct Warren and was a school boy error as I used a satin sealant. Doh!

 

[Henk]

A good effort, and the basics are all there. A little attention to smaller details will make your future dioramas really pop.

A common mistake, that I made when I first got this kit, is to use the soldier with the downward pointing shell, as if he's taking the shell out of a case. He's not, he's actually inserting the tip of the shell into the "fuse setter" (sorry, not sure what the exact name is), which set the fuse for the correct altitude to explode, when the gun was used as an AA gun. The fuse setter is the two round bits on top of the little square box, in front of the large square box that the soldier is seated at to the left in your second picture. This was not used when the gun was used as a Artillery/Anti-Tank gun.
Your ground work is nice (is that aquarium sand?), it shows good use of different height levels to add interest and pull the viewers eye around the scene. Finishing the edges with a clean balsa or plasticard finish would really bring the base together.
Adding little details to busy the scene is always good, such as the tools that would have been used to make the emplacement walls, but putting items in a non-sensical place, will draw attention away from the good stuff. For example, the fuel drum, complete with pump, makes no sense in that position. There would not be a 45gallon drum of (highly combustable) petrol put up next to an artillery piece.
You make good use of vegetation. the shrub and small tufts of grass are well choosen for the North African setting, and a good size and proportion to the scene. I like the telegraph pole, it adds a height that creates another triangle to draw the viewers eye.
Please show us your next diorama.

 

[Gman99]

Thank you Henk.

 

[Nap]

Hi Robert

Thanks for sharing this Diorama , lots going on , and a good result

Do have a look at supporting the competitions in the class of your choice

Look forward to next

Have fun at the bench

Nap

I moved this to Completed Forum ( FYI WIP goes in V Bench forum )

 

[MoboSchreuder]

Wonderful work

Mobo

 

[Gman99]

Thank you Mobo

 

[Briggsy]

Very nice diorama, the more you do the better you get and it's great fun learning. The only thing from a purely historical point of view is that the SS never served in North Africa, but I really like what you have done.

Cheers Simon

 

[Gman99]

Thank you Simon and noted re the Waffen SS in North Africa…..this lot didn’t get the memo!

 

[Briggsy]

Thank you Simon and noted re the Waffen SS in North Africa…..this lot didn’t get the memo!

Artistic license, we can really get bogged down with historical detail sometimes, I rather take the option of just going with the flow and enjoying the process.

Cheers Simon

 

[Steve Ski]

Sorry for my delay, Gman, this is excellent. This is an "oldy but goody" kit, love it!

 

[Redcap]

Great work on an ancient kit of the 88 and very good groundwork. Perhaps just tone down the decals however with some pigment powders or similar as they contrast with the well worn paint of the rest of the 88 unit and gun.

Well done!

Gary

 

[marco14]

that is a very beautiful diorama ,very nice done,I like it

Mario

 

[Gman99]

Thank you Steve, Gary, and Mario. All comments gratefully received.

 

[Gman99]

Sorry Henk, I noted that I did not respond to your comments.

Thank you for the pointers re the soldier and the shell, I did think it odd at the time and should have researched.
The sand came from a store here in the UK called Hobbycraft, it is decorative sand for flower arranging. It was easier to spread and adhere than play sand.
I like the rough edges on my dioramas (bit like me) as I am not going for museum quality and personally think it adds to the piece.
Noted re the oil drum, but the guys confirmed that it is full of beer!
Thank you for the comments on the tufts and lichen bushes, and different levels.
The diorama felt a little empty so added the two chaps near the radio from another set where I did not use them for a particular diorama. I felt it needed a pole so used tubing left over from another set as the wire, metal fuse wire to attach to the pole, and the pole is an old sprue.

I will post some of my other dioramas, some old, some newer than this one soon.