What do you think? I need some Tunisia terrain experts!
Materials used:
Ammo/Mig dry grassland turf
AK interactive Sandy Desert terrain for the road
DSL cactus from a Cyber hobby PZ Mk III L kit. I plan to add more.
Various dry pigments.
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Looks nice. But something I remember about that battle was that German tank commanders ground US troops into the rocky ground because it was too hard to dig actual foxholes.
Thanks. Based on some research I was thinking about beyond the pass where Rommel ordered the DAK KG reinforced with two companies of panzers from 8th PZ Reg 15th PZ Div. to proceed beyond the pass where it seems there is more vegetation.
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mhh
I think is… a traffic jam
probably veicles moves with a larger gap to prevent bombing
Germans had air superiority and weather was a factor but thanks for the feedback.
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…. and I don’t need a diorama that’s 3 foot long. Perhaps the armored car can be repositioned.
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i’m not a diorama master.
Clearly you cannot build a diorama long as an highway.
A good trick is to suppose one tank trained to the other
There is easily 2-3 vehicle lengths between vehicles in this photo. The depth of field and angle is a bit deceiving.
If nothing else, drivers and TCs don’t like to choke on too much dust of the vehicle ahead of them.
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Omg let’s get in the time machine and go there. Don’t forget the tape measure. I could give a rat’s ass about the vehicle spacing. I left the purist school a long time ago. I started this thread about the terrain. I’m making this diorama for my 7 year old grandson for Christmas because he is showing an interest in the hobby and history. I’m sure he will love it.
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I had the same thought as Carlos, although I didn’t bother to mention it. But if you don’t give a rat’s ass about the spacing, it’s doubtful a seven year old will care about the terrain in Tunisia.
Until your last post he had no way of knowing that. Most of on here try to help everyone as best we can, especially those with military experience. Whether it’s infantrymen in a jungle,
aircraft on a tarmac, or vehicles in a column, spacing is pretty important to us.
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A simple image search of Kasserine Pass Today could easily get you the reference info needed for terrain there. Aside from the road now being paved, it still looks quite similar to 1943.
I’m wasn’t trying to sharpshoot you about your vehicle spacing, or any other obvious aspect of your work, just was pointing out that your photo interpretation was a bit off. I hope your grandson enjoys his diorama.
A Time Machine would be awesome to go back and witness history. I don’t think I’d want to be taking measurements though… that was a damned dangerous place.
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I would try to “blend” the colour of the road to resemble more to the rest of the ground. It is basically the same earth/sand, but without vegetation. This way it is too yellow. My advice would be to darken it a bit (gentle overspray with tamiya flat earth), and also a gentle overspray of “edging” terrain close to the road with buff - as to portray the accumulation of the dust from the road.
Best regards,
Marko
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That’s exactly what I’m looking for Marko, thanks. Thanks to everyone. At least I got some feedback on this one. Happy modeling!
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I think you nailed it. What is nice is that this could be any dirt road in any “dry” landscape from Southern California to Central Asia. I really like the cactus plants.
As for the road vs “ground” colors - If you look at pictures from Camp Pendleton in California, the training grounds off the beach area are exactly this kind of terrain. There is always a subtle difference in color between the “dirt” roads and the ground. I think it is because the roads get churned up. The ground is very hard and difficult to dig into. In places, it was like digging into concrete - or at least it was when I was a scout and camped out near the backcountry part of the base.
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Thank you Michael for your feedback, I have noticed the same thing in rural New Mexico’s many dirt roads.
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After looking at my vehicle setup I decided to give the panzers some space and listen to a military veteran. I will send a picture later and will see what you think. Thanks
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You live in New Mexico? Same here!
Ken
I think you guy’s “vehicle spacing” criticism is just a bit over the top here. (Did not say you were wrong.) But let’s just call it artistic license regarding not wanting to make the dio overly large. Or we could also say the front driver put on the brakes and the second driver wasn’t paying quick enough attention and the two tanks bunched up.
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