Hi everyone,
Starting to work on my next Afrika Korps diorama which is based on these kits -
I am reusing the base from my previous project as below with a very rough idea of the layout of the main kits shown. Bit of greenery, too, this time.
There will be 9 or 10 figures in the scene plus various accessories. These photos are a few of those I am using for inspiration…
BTW I just started a WIP for the Sd.Kfz 254 build.
Sd.Kfz. 254 interior build - Armor/AFV / WWII Axis - KitMaker Network
Any help appreciated.
Here are the leFH18 and SdKfz11 with the dunkelgrau and some basic modulation done prior to the DAK colour which will be worn away a fair bit. Not much insightful to say as both are fairly standard builds and just augmented with photoetch.
The engine bay is open on both sides so I added an engine from SKP which you can see here.
SKP Model SKP 056 Maybach HL42 Engine set for AFV Club Sd.Kfz.11
The SdKfz11 will have a canopy, well half a canopy, which was a saga in itself. The one from PanzerArt does not fit this version of the SdKfz11 from AFV and only probably fits their Nebelkraftwagen version. There is no information related to which version it is for that I could find. It is too wide for the standard version.
So, I cut it in half along its length and crossways, cut out the middle section to fit and rebuilt it as a shorter version. The door cab coverage also needed to be modified.
Anyway, primed…
The SdKfz254 full build is going along steadily…
Needed a change from building vehicles and have roughly finished the DAK artillery crew. Puttying gaps is next. Most are figures from a Trumpeter set and a couple cobbled together from spares.
Also, reworked an old base and going for more greenery. Right corner will be trees and vegetation and extras.
Seems strange to see guys who are actively working wearing the pith helmet rather than the Feldmutze.
Not so strange just less common, I think. Reference images from period film such as these are why I chose a mix of headwear for the crew. No problem. Makes for interesting figures, too.
point taken, though the film was made for publicity purposes, and the virtual universal disdain for the pith helmets in memoirs and diaries as well more candid pictures show them worn infrequently.
I don’t really agree they were being worn merely because they were being filmed for propaganda reasons. They may have gone out of use because of being unpopular but there are a fair few images of them in normal use early on across various units.
Latest progress on greenery in right corner. Based on a reference photo, I created a small, sandy rise with an old ground well system, just for fun and variety. I will add dust pigments and also trees as per the reference.
That is starting to look great.
Thanks. Three densely-foliaged palm trees will be jammed in later.
Finished the figures for the 254 crew part of the diorama… Apart from the radio operator, they are recycled figures, two of which I modified. The radio operator was built using spares and the head and modified arms of a Dragon Wehrmacht Signal Corps figure.
I’m happy I could integrate the figures and vehicle to reflect an aspect of its likely role.
Jeremy that vehicle looks great but the figures are the icing n the cake! They look excellent!
The seen looks great.
Cheers for that!
Thanks very much.
The artillery is done… difficult to do actually. I tried worn effects over the dunkelgrau base then the RAL8000 gelbbraun. Used water to remove the topcoat and sealed it, then a highlight RAL7027 which I weathered with Tamiya A20 thinner. Then dark wash and a couple of sand pigments streaked using thinner plus some dust… still find DAK a challenge but looks ok.
Looking terrific Jeremy. May I suggest a bit of graphite on the breech carriage rails and the handwheels???
Ah, thanks for that tip…
