"Unter Palmen" - DAK Diorama with Sd. Kfz. 222 + Mercedes L1500A
A pile of stuff for my biggest diorama so far...
The base is dryfitted and I buil a balswood frame to go underneath it. I used some foamcore board as the base for the extension which will be tied in with the cast baseplate. The whole assembly will be given some what "cleaned up" sides and then be placed on top of a bigger piece of wood for more ridgidity
I started experimenting with the layout of the base by putting on the two (not yet assembled) vehicles in their guesstimated positions and made a bunch of markings to determine the positions of the different figures (also shown in this picture)
On it goes! After some glueing, sanding and filling the base is extended, framed and the building assembled and modified a bit.
Three of the figures are assembled and posed around the well as per my previous planing
Checking the layout again, this time with the palm dryfitted in place... I had been contemplating adding a second one, but I think it might "clutter" the scene too much. The palm itself will obviously be reshaped, modified a bit and painted. For plastic the leaves ain´t to bad, though 🙂
All the figures are assembled and positioned around the base representing the planned layout
The scout car‘s turret is finished with a metal barrel by Schatton. I also seperated the mesh to represent an open cover
So.Kfz. 222 - an evening‘s work. I have 3D printed weighted tires for it and will also add a bit of stowage as well as a chain for good measure
Some bits of stowage for the 222... there will be jerrycans on the front plate, but they are left off for painting.
I have to admit to not being comfortable with Panzer grey... after some mixing I came up with this postshaded basecoat for both vehicles. This however is only a base for the chipped off yellow desert camo. Thus I might have to hit both with a bit of flat varnish in preparation for the chipping fluid
Something of an update with the desert camo applied to the vehicles: The first layer was chipped down very heavily, then the next one was sprayed over not covering everything a 100%. This should/could/might give the appearance of paint that was abrased, chipped off and repainted at least one time. The base also got it´s basic tone. For the ground, I will however try pigments for once after seeing that explained on a livestream recently 👍
Starting work on the figures and vehicle stowage... a lot of small details to be painted 🙂
The L1500A with it´s stowage and some pinwash/chipping
Front-view of the "glorious pile of stuff" at the rear of the vehicle
THe Sd.Kfz. 222 with the sculpted stowage all painted up
I got carried away and made a little post.. although I´ve reached my limit on how small I can do wirting with a paintbrudh on that one :/
Getting closer to the finish line! I added some vegetation, which will be blended in a bit using the airbrush. Also, the vehicles and the barrel will recieve some minor rust effects.
Some good pictures of the finished dio
Comments
63 29 January 2023, 19:01
Simon NagorsnikGREAT IDEA!
I really like DAK and WWII desert themes, so i hope to see some nice stuff here 😉
The setting already looks promising.... follow your progress!
30 January 2023, 05:13
Simon NagorsnikHa, a lot of minis needs to be painted...
But the setting is great 👍
14 February 2023, 19:07
Tom B.@Simon, it´s not only the figures, but the L1500A has alot of delicate exposed stowage elements, too! However, I have to finish some more assembling before starting to paint.
16 February 2023, 10:16
Neil PatrickFollowing for sure. Looking great already. Those White Stork figs look to be excellent too!
17 February 2023, 07:38
Tom B.Welcome in, then 👍 White Stork are indeed rather prolific with a lot of great 1/72 resin figures. They actually seem to be releasing them faster than I can build dioramas to feature them in 🙂
17 February 2023, 12:22
Neil PatrickThanks Tom. 🙂 I had never heard of White Stork till I saw your build. Now I can't wait to get my hands on some!
17 February 2023, 20:19
Tom B.Appreciate the interest 👍 Currently working on the L1500A. When this is finished, I can do some last refinements in preparation fot painting! Hopefully I can bring a somewhat finished result to Euro Model Expo towards the end of March...
18 February 2023, 13:21
Tom B.Welcome in guys 👍
The project is continuing into the more final-ish stages with me having to touch up the base and vehicles a bit and put on the figures
15 March 2023, 19:37
Tom B.Thanks for the positive feedback 👍 Maybe I can take some pictures of the finished result over the course of the next week.
19 March 2023, 20:38
Rui Sthe stuff in the L1500 is awsome 👍 Looking forward to see the complete Dio.
20 March 2023, 00:02
Simon NagorsnikOhhh, La grande finale! 😁
A damn good performance has succeeded with this, you can literally taste the desert dust 👍
3 April 2023, 17:11
Christian BruerVery nicely done 👍 I had the pleaseure to see it in real and to meet Tom B. the week before at Euro Model Expo in Lingen. It was nice to have a chat with you.
Keep on the good work and Happy Modelling, Christian
3 April 2023, 17:37
Tom B.Thank you for your kind comments! This project was an interesting exercise showing that desert terrains can also be rather interesting. It will definetly not be my last desert-themed built this year (hopefully 🙂 )
3 April 2023, 17:38
Neil PatrickGreat to see the end result Tom. Looks absolutely marvellous! Deserves to win at competitions I think! 🙂
4 April 2023, 07:51
NeulingTop dio! Many fascinating details to see. And I especally like the look of the terrain.
4 April 2023, 08:42
Andy MWow. Seriously impressed with the planning, prep and delivery on this project. Absolutely brilliant!
4 April 2023, 09:04
Mr JamesLovely work on this dio. Brilliant figures, weathering and dio scene.
20 November 2023, 16:58
Tom B.Happy you guys all like it 👍 Certainly won´t be my only desert scene, I have a few others in an "advanced stage of planning" 🙂
21 November 2023, 18:52
Album info
Progress on the overall diorama with this Album focussing on the base, buildings, figures and vegetation especially.
This diorama "Unter Palmen" is set somewhere in North Africa around 1942 and will depict a DAK Sd.Kfz. 222 armoured scout car and a Mercedes L1500A staff car meeting up at a building in/around an oasis or wadi. Several of the vehicles crews and/or other soldiers are standing around the vehicle talking, getting directions for further travel through the desert or are just refreshing themselfes with a bit of desperately needed water from a well.
Kits used in this diorama:
- a garage-kit-like diorama base+building; it will be extended as in my StuG E-100 vignette
- ICM´s Sd. Kfz. 222 with a Schatton turned 2cm barrel
-Attack´s L1500A with resin accessories
-DAK figures from White Stork, Scale 75 and D-Day Miniature
-Some palm trees from Fredericus Rex, which I likely have to updetail and modify a bit
- Various other bits and details
