discussion German PAK40 anti tank gun emplacement diorama 1:35 (Winter)

[pjgtech]

Just a small diorama/vignette for my current build, a Tamiya 1:35 German WWII Pak40 anti tank gun with figures.

So my idea for the dio is a simple small base, with the gun emplacement in some cover, partially hidden, either behind some shrubbery, bushes, maybe a fallen tree? at the edge of a field/paddock overlooking enemy territory or at some sort of checkpoint.

The base will be a fairly plain grass field, maybe some muddy areas.

The kit comes with three figures, a commander, a loader and an aimer, but I may add one or maybe two other figures. The kit also comes with one large ammo case and some shells (used and unused), so I may add just a few little extra details, accessories to the scene too.

I may well use this small diorama as a test for snow/ice, as I am thinking of doing a winter diorama for my upcoming Tamiya GB (German Half Track in 1:48 scale) and having never done a winter scene before, this one will be a good guinea pig for me.

Base so far and intended materials for snow, etc....

 

[pjgtech]

The base had a coat of pva to start..... then I cut some grooves, ridges, dips, etc into the base using a hot wire cutter.
Added some AK mud paste to give some texture.
I tend to build up the textures and colours in layers, so this is just the first of many.
I may tweak the topography a bit as I go, maybe add a bump here, level out a bit there, etc.


The figures are nearly finished, started adding some details and highlights, belts, final flesh tones, boots, etc.
Finer details, eg: shoulder epilettes, collar badges done using AK paint pens which are great for very small bits of painting.

 

[pjgtech]

Added some more mud paste, a lighter tone and after couple of hours, gave it all a mist coat of a darkish brown.


Heres where the gun will be placed, figures will be arranged around it. I am thinking a large fallen tree trunk, moss laden or similar, across the front of the gun, I have deliberately made a long depression there ready....
A couple of the larger holes/depressions will be frozen water, puddles, hence my current quest for thin sheet ice....


Final ground cover will be a mix of mud, grass, ground cover, remnants of a muddy field thats been trampled on, then given a suitable winter coat, snow, ice, frost, etc.....

 

[pjgtech]

Some progress made.... Snagged a couple of twigs from the garden, which will be the defensive position behind which the gun is placed.
The largest twig was bit plain, so have added a stump/branch to it, and filled it, it will need sanding down and then painting.
Couple of other smaller twigs as smaller trunks.
Heres the proposed layout.


Close up of the "logs/ trunks"....


Added some pva/water mix, then added the static grass a mix of light and dark green. I had not shaken off the excess at this point.


Then added some small rocks, etc, stuck down with pva, to add a bit of interest, these will be painted up later.


Used my Ammo water gel to add water to the three little puddles, which will later have the "ice" added on top. Its white now, but once set it should go clear. I should have probably added these before adding the static grass, as this made smoothing them out a bit more difficult....

Lastly I added some moss to the tree trunks, a mix of green and yellow. The trees will be touched up with paint too.