Ardennes / Band of brothers dio update

[Guest]

Hi guys , quick update of the ground work , still quite a bit to do :- with the 5 small bomb crators will add some still water to look like ice then add a light dusting of snow , let the trees/twigs dry out then give a coat of paint so they all look alike , with the 3 big fox holes I`m not sure what to do either a build up of snow - sand bags - or off cuts of trees/twigs to build up the front , another light layer of snow all over then add the figures and bit and pieces ,

I`m open to offers of how to make this dio better, I`ve added a photo of a unfinnished figure to show the scale and area I`m working with. any ideas gents to me it seems the scenery has taken over ?

Richy

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[Guest]

I think it's looking very good so far Richy. I especially like how you've done the shell-holes. If it was me, I'd decide where the foreground was gonna be & then take away some of the trees from there. To me, it's about the suggestion of the scene being in a forest so the trees in the background would give that effect. Good stuff so far!

Patrick

[spanner570]

I like this Richy, it has the makings of a good'un.

See my P/M

Ron

[Guest]

Hi Patrick , I think your right mate , my idea was - to have the German winter troops sneeking in-between the trees to attack the dug in Americans but to make this look realistic the dio base would have to be the size of a dinner table , maybe I will focus just on the American side and lose a lot of the trees , cheers mate - I`ve got a plan ? in the real world the yanks would of had the trees removed/blown up to give sight and vision of the defensive areas, what about keeping the trees but cutting them down to stumps with a US medic legging it back in panick to the US defensive areas,

what do ya think

Cheers Richy

[Guest]

I'm guessing your GIs will be in & around the shell-holes with the Germans sneaking up from behind? If so, I'd take a few trees away from around the shell-holes coz the shellfire would have blasted them away or leave them as stumps maybe?

You could also google some images of forests and then add them as a background to give the look of a deeper forest area which would add to the overall effect.

While you're working on the layout, leave the holes there so then if you decide that it looks too bare with trees missing, you can easily pop them back. Keep it flexible until you're happy with how it looks. End of the day, it's your work Richy, so as long as you're happy with it, other people will be too. I think it's gonna be a good one.

Patrick

[Guest]

I wouldn't worry about that German soldier, he looks armless..... sorry, I'll get me coat.

Have to agree with everything Patrick has said. As you have realised, you have to compress the scene to make it manageable so you may have to tin and thicken to emphasises the perspective. Having said that, it does look great. The shattered trees look just like they did in Band of Brothers, Hollywood I know but it is the only thing I can compare it to.