DioramaArt
A Fixture
New 1/35 diorama project inspired by the photograph of a Belgian Farmer plowing his field, previously the front line in the third battle of Ypres near Frezenberg in 1917.
The photo for me captures the futility of war but same time is a symbol of hope, when bad times like good times never last forever, and Life Goes On.
So far I’ve modelled the British MkIV destroyed tank C-31 “Crocodile” the backdrop to the farmer and his horse.
The Tanks at 3rd Ypres. 22nd August 1917
8 Company, C Battalion, with 15th Division, XIX Corps, 5th Army
8 Company had 10 fighting tanks and two supply tanks in action on 22nd August 1917
7 Section - Lt H.W. Johnston
C31, 2045, "Crocodile", 2Lt Franklin CWF
C32, 2728, "Crab", 2Lt Whyte WR
C33, 2046, "Crustacean", 2Lt Robinow W.
C34, 2729, "Caterpillar", 2Lt Raw RJ
Orders
Deployment positions near old British front line between Wietje and Mill Cott. The tanks were to spearhead the attack
5 Section - Northern
Section to start at zero -5 mins and advance past Pommern redoubt. in support of 44th Brigade.
7 Section - Southern
Section to advance along Ypres – Zonnebeke Road in support of 45th Brigade.
Objectives: via North of Pommern Redoubt to hill 35, Gallipoli, Gallipoli Copse, Deep Drive and thence to D.20 central.
Zero hour: 4:45am
7 Section
The road in the vicinity of Frezenberg had been entirely obliterated by artillery fire and the tanks were thus unable to follow it, none of the tanks crossed the British front line, all having to be abandoned and left in the field.
C32 Bellied twice just after leaving the starting point, it was abandoned as the unditching gear was broken.
C31Proceeded a few hundred yards before it was hit 3 times and had its left track broken.
C34 almost made it to Frezenberg before it became ditched 200 yds south of C22 at 5:25amand then lost a track to a direct hit. C33made it the furthest before becoming bellied and flooded in a shell crater just beyond Frezenberg.
C-31 modelled from the Takom 1/35 MkIV kit
The Destroyed tank
I’m currently researching the Plow “ charrue fouilleuse“ used by the farmer in the scene.
The horse is starting from a 1/35 Masterbox kit I’ve used before, remaking the neck into a lowered position, the farmer is started from a Miniart kit that will be modified into pushing the plow.
The photo for me captures the futility of war but same time is a symbol of hope, when bad times like good times never last forever, and Life Goes On.
So far I’ve modelled the British MkIV destroyed tank C-31 “Crocodile” the backdrop to the farmer and his horse.
The Tanks at 3rd Ypres. 22nd August 1917
8 Company, C Battalion, with 15th Division, XIX Corps, 5th Army
8 Company had 10 fighting tanks and two supply tanks in action on 22nd August 1917
7 Section - Lt H.W. Johnston
C31, 2045, "Crocodile", 2Lt Franklin CWF
C32, 2728, "Crab", 2Lt Whyte WR
C33, 2046, "Crustacean", 2Lt Robinow W.
C34, 2729, "Caterpillar", 2Lt Raw RJ
Orders
Deployment positions near old British front line between Wietje and Mill Cott. The tanks were to spearhead the attack
5 Section - Northern
Section to start at zero -5 mins and advance past Pommern redoubt. in support of 44th Brigade.
7 Section - Southern
Section to advance along Ypres – Zonnebeke Road in support of 45th Brigade.
Objectives: via North of Pommern Redoubt to hill 35, Gallipoli, Gallipoli Copse, Deep Drive and thence to D.20 central.
Zero hour: 4:45am
7 Section
The road in the vicinity of Frezenberg had been entirely obliterated by artillery fire and the tanks were thus unable to follow it, none of the tanks crossed the British front line, all having to be abandoned and left in the field.
C32 Bellied twice just after leaving the starting point, it was abandoned as the unditching gear was broken.
C31Proceeded a few hundred yards before it was hit 3 times and had its left track broken.
C34 almost made it to Frezenberg before it became ditched 200 yds south of C22 at 5:25amand then lost a track to a direct hit. C33made it the furthest before becoming bellied and flooded in a shell crater just beyond Frezenberg.
C-31 modelled from the Takom 1/35 MkIV kit
The Destroyed tank
I’m currently researching the Plow “ charrue fouilleuse“ used by the farmer in the scene.
The horse is starting from a 1/35 Masterbox kit I’ve used before, remaking the neck into a lowered position, the farmer is started from a Miniart kit that will be modified into pushing the plow.
