Last night when I posted Part 2, the tank was nearly built and the diorama base was almost complete. Today's first job was to finish the base, for which I decided to add some snow to create a wintry scene. Also, as I had spent minimal time on the grass and hedge, the snow would help cover up my rather basic approach to the foliage. The snow was easily created with a mixture of PVA glue, bicarbonate of soda and water. Only a tiny amount was needed, enough to fill a dessert spoon: the mixture was stirred to the consistency of yoghurt and dripped onto the base with a waste plastic strip.
With the 'snow' drying, it was time to get back to the tank and the soldiers. I put the wheels on the tank and painted it olive green, then gave the soldiers a coat each of a slightly lighter green, avoiding their faces and hands (I had already painted their faces and hands with flesh-colour last night). I then went out for a walk for about an hour and a half, and on my return I put the tracks on the tank, followed by the mudguards which partially cover them. The kit includes a 50-calibre machine gun to go on the turret roof, but I thought it looked to big and a bit over-scale, so I left it off. I also painted the soldiers' boots, weapons and various pouches and packs. With the tank complete, I put on the few markings (waterslide decals/transfers) and after a cup of tea to let them dry out, I applied some weathering. I started off using a thin oil paint wash, but it attacked the still-unhardened olive green paint so I left that and did the weathering with Tamiya weathering powders. A few dark and light streaks and smudges add a used look to the tank. I had also saved the remaining paint left over from painting the road yesterday, so I dry-brushed some onto the tank tracks and lower surfaces to represent road dirt and mud, and to help 'blend' the tank into the scene.
With the tank and soldiers ready for battle, it was time to fix them to the diorama base. In keeping with the quick and care-free approach to this project, I didn't do any research at all into realistic WW2 US patrol formations or tactics: instead, I just placed the tank and figures how I thought would look interesting. With that done, the project was finished, just 48 hours after I began!
My idea for this scene is that a US infantry unit is advancing into Germany in the first few weeks of 1945, with snow still thawing as they go. This unit, supported by an M-24 Chaffee light tank, has spotted an enemy post dug in half a mile ahead. While the rest of the unit, including the CO with his pistol, provide flanking cover on both sides of the road, a section of three men runs forward to take a look and identify the extent of the threat ahead. When they return with the information, the tank will attempt to destroy the enemy position with its main gun, and the patrol will move forward.
Enough words - here are the pictures. Don't forget, you can click on the images to see them enlarged. Thanks very much for coming to take a look.
nice, thanks!
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