WIP Stalingrad Winter 1943, Street By Street

[tonydawe]

For what it's worth, I tend to agree with jburch.

 

[Dr Force]

I like the composition. However, I was wondering. If his buddy just got zapped by a sniper, would he be kneeling next to him in the open pointing to where the shot came from? He would soon be lying right next to his friend, I would think. Just an observation.

Lol

This is why I have said to imagine the corner of the wall as the pointing figure would be out of veiw and a small part of downed soldier would be sticking out in the open as can be seen with the following angles:-

 

[JasonB]

Ah, very good.
I think I would have the dead guy with his feet pointing the other way, as if he was walking around the wall, got hit, then fell backwards. I think it would give a better indication of where he was walking when he was hit, and extend the scene out a little so that its not tucked behind that line of the wall
Cheers
Jason

 

[Dr Force]

Ah, very good.
I think I would have the dead guy with his feet pointing the other way, as if he was walking around the wall, got hit, then fell backwards. I think it would give a better indication of where he was walking when he was hit, and extend the scene out a little so that its not tucked behind that line of the wall
Cheers
Jason

Spot on Jason, I'll have another look at the positioning with the feet out and the position as though he has fallen backwards.

Cheers
Dave

 

[1969]

Nice layout Dave and I agree with Jason's comment about the position of the dead figure, will add a good flow to the scene. That Stormtroopers figure works really well with the wall setting, as if he was made for the job.

All the best mate

Steve

 

[housecarl]

You're putting a lot of thought into the composition Dave.
Carl.

 

[Dr Force]

Nice layout Dave and I agree with Jason's comment about the position of the dead figure, will add a good flow to the scene. That Stormtroopers figure works really well with the wall setting, as if he was made for the job.

All the best mate

Steve

Hi Steve

You are right, the dead figure needs turning round and pointing in the direction from where he has fallen. The 3 figures also seems to work better as suggested earlier by Jason. Given the size of the model it would seem as a distraction from the "event" by having a fourth figure so the news that this has been pulled has turned out to be a blessing.

The figures all seem to work well together now and I am pleased the basis of the story is now in place. Lots of ground work, bricks and walls to do now so will keep you updated.

@ Carl

The composition and balance of the vignette/Dioram is key to attracting attention in the right places, so it is a critical stage before pinning figures in place.

Thanks
Dave

 

[Dr Force]

Lack of updates = busy making the walls!!

This is sculpted using super sculpy and baked in the oven for 15 minutes per 5cm thickness. It is great stuff to work with as it does not lose it's shape no matter how fine the cut or finish.

I have re-done the stormtroopoer wall as the bricks were out of scale, so Having built the wall block by block and then added detail into the brick (bullet holes, mortar finish/plaster etc) I am now starting on the other retaining wall which will create the "L" shape finish I am after.

Anyway its primed and needs a bit of filling here and there but you get the picture:-

 

[pmfs]

This work promises.
Following.

 

[JasonB]

I think I would make the walls a little taller and wider to give the impression that they are part of a larger building. To me, as it is now, its kind of like he is crouching down to hide behind this one little piece of cover, like theres nothing else around to hide behind. Maybe include a building element like a broken window, door or steps to reinforce that its part of a larger structure.

 

[Dr Force]

I think I would make the walls a little taller and wider to give the impression that they are part of a larger building. To me, as it is now, its kind of like he is crouching down to hide behind this one little piece of cover, like theres nothing else around to hide behind. Maybe include a building element like a broken window, door or steps to reinforce that its part of a larger structure.

Hi Jason

The wall appears shorter because its not on the right level, ie for the purpose of showing you the progress the wall will actually sit above the right foot, it's just there to show the brickwork.

The other wall is done and there are lots of peices of wood (large & small which will be propped on top of the two to give the impression of lots of damage from above including half a window) you will get a better impression once it's all together.

Cheers
Dave

 

[JasonB]

That's cool. Have you ever worked with balsa foam for buildings? Great stuff, easy to carve details, and it comes in nice sized squares about the size of a sheet of paper, in various thickness and densities. Soft is somewhat crumbly and easily damaged, medium and hard are good for carving and having sharp detail. Hard is best if you are going to use it as a master for a mold.

 

[Dr Force]

That's cool. Have you ever worked with balsa foam for buildings? Great stuff, easy to carve details, and it comes in nice sized squares about the size of a sheet of paper, in various thickness and densities. Soft is somewhat crumbly and easily damaged, medium and hard are good for carving and having sharp detail. Hard is best if you are going to use it as a master for a mold.

Hi Jason

I have never worked with that stuff before?

I like the way you can mould polymer clay and epoxy so always stuck with that but open to suggestions for future builds.

I should have a rough idea tonight available for composition as bits of wood, bricks and other wall are done.

I will add other things like twisted electrical wire etc at a later date, but hopefully will post tonight a typical composition.

Thanks
Dave

 

[Dr Force]

Hi

Very basic layout below. I have raised the walls up with a bit of blutac and there will be loads of rubble up against these walls, I have just put some of the bricks etc in, awaiting to be primed to give you a better idea, with a few more bits and pieces to add interest.

I have hung an old curtain caught on a nail in the corner and there is another part of a sheet propped up against the wall, but it is on to the ground work next so I can firmly place the walls on the display:-

 

[housecarl]

Very impressive Dave.
Carl.

 

[Ferris]

Coming together nicely Dave!

As a suggestion to contemplate (or reject of course): descreasing the base dimensions a bit and bringing the figures closer together may increase the overall impact of the set up. I am thinking 'vignette', more than 'diorama'.

Anyway, very nice work so far, and I love the loose brick on the wooden beam and the curtain! Nice details.

Cheers,
Adrian

 

[Dr Force]

Coming together nicely Dave!

As a suggestion to contemplate (or reject of course): descreasing the base dimensions a bit and bringing the figures closer together may increase the overall impact of the set up. I am thinking 'vignette', more than 'diorama'.

Anyway, very nice work so far, and I love the loose brick on the wooden beam and the curtain! Nice details.

Cheers,
Adrian

Hi Adrian

Thank you for your valued input.

I have considered bringing it closer in to "tighten" it up a bit, so Ill give this another go on a slightly smaller base and see how it looks.

I suppose the other way is to bring the walls in leaving a gap around the perimeter to fill with rubble/snow etc??

I'll add a few nicer touches to the scene once I have the basis of the groundwork done, pictures I have collected on the Stalingrad streets are a total mess where buildings have been destroyed so the ground work is an important part of bringing it all together.

@ Carl, thank you for your comments and look forward to further feedback as we progress.

Thanks
Dave

 

[JasonB]

I actually like the size that it is now, there is still some room to add extra stuff if you want. One thing I was thinking about is one of those cable reels that the German signal troops used to run landlines through the rubble. If you saw "Enemy at the Gates", I believe they were shooting these guys down. Here's a picture from a 1/35 figure set of one of the guys with the spool on his back.

http://en.diorama.ru/workshop/reviews/157/photo10/

Maybe the story could be one of these teams was running line when one of their guys got picked off. Have the spool in the corner with some other gear, like they were taking a breather. Or just have some more beams and rubble in there, maybe a Russian helmet or something. I think you could move the kneeling guy up closer to the fallen beam and be OK on spacing too. That would move him out of the line of fire a little more as well. Its looking good. Do you plan on putting some cold weather stuff on the guy behind the wall, like gloves and a toque?

 

[Dr Force]

I actually like the size that it is now, there is still some room to add extra stuff if you want. One thing I was thinking about is one of those cable reels that the German signal troops used to run landlines through the rubble. If you saw "Enemy at the Gates", I believe they were shooting these guys down. Here's a picture from a 1/35 figure set of one of the guys with the spool on his back.

http://en.diorama.ru/workshop/reviews/157/photo10/

Maybe the story could be one of these teams was running line when one of their guys got picked off. Have the spool in the corner with some other gear, like they were taking a breather. Or just have some more beams and rubble in there, maybe a Russian helmet or something. I think you could move the kneeling guy up closer to the fallen beam and be OK on spacing too. That would move him out of the line of fire a little more as well. Its looking good. Do you plan on putting some cold weather stuff on the guy behind the wall, like gloves and a toque?

Hi Jason

I was actually thinking late last night to add a Russian helmet in somewhere, but it's a great shout on the cable reel in the corner, I'll do a bit of research on this to get the scale and look right.

I have also made some more wooden bits to be primed and added, but I was also thinking about the odd broken cup/pan/plate/conduit, sticking out of the ground to help reinforce the impression of residential housing.

I am leaving the trooper behind the wall, but I have a superb back pack that would be out of sight on the display if he wore it so I may put that down near him as though he had taken it off to get out some more clothing or I could make another greatcoat and lie that near him.

The detail is so good on the trooper behind the wall I do not really want to hide anything. I'll once again play around with the figures and bring the guy kneeling closer to the beam to see how that looks.

Phew.............lots to do and so little time to do it in ( and to think how long it will take to paint lol)

Thanks
Dave

 

[1969]

wow Dave this is really moving along now mate and I can really get a good feel for the setting with all three figures added.

As for the cable reel I have detailed photos of it from an original I managed to photograph if you need any let me know mate.

heres a sample image

Steve