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a month or two ago i had an idea on creating a diaroma all about imperial units working together. its very much just a thought in my head and i probabely won't actually get to work on it for atleast a year or more.
What really influenced me was all the old ww2 pics of soldiers getting a ride on a tank, and this has got me an idea.
It also started when i had a elysian running leg which actually could look like it is sitting down, and could fit on the side of a leman russ, i saw something similar with an elysian pathfinder in a valkerie, the picture is somewhere on dakkadakka.


OK how i would like it to look:
setting
i was thinking of a rubble strewn street in a city, but where there were buildings its pretty much rubble. the tallest part is up to the first floor (thats second floor to americans ).
units
i was thinking a leman russ battle tank from the cadians moving down the street, maybe walking speed. on top of the tank is around half a dozen elysians+cadians sitting, lying down, or crouching, with an elysian commander talking to the tank commander. alongside the tank i was thinking of some cadians+ and elysians. preferably cadians with slung rifles or rifles at ease ( i know you can get a slung rifle off FW) plus i think i should add some SM scouts to spice things up a bit. the IG units would be a mix of troopers, HQ, Heavy weps, special weps, vets and maybe some converted spec ops style.

locations on diaroma
i havnt really thought on how big the diaroma would be. but i want to have the leman russ further back, where everybody is more at ease, while at the front of the diaroma we have either dudes in combat, or moving into combat. i have a picture on my user of a ely heavy bolter team running, which i think would look good on the diaroma.


what do you think guys?

Sounds kinda cool but it's still a lil' bit hard to imagine.., make a sketch from the situation or something and post it on dakka

Sounds good, but you seem to be over-doing it somewhat. A diorama doesn't need 20+ models. The tank should be the focal point, and then add perhaps 6-7 foot soldiers to compliment it. Less is more and all that, and adding too much detracts from the overall effect. Also keep it just with the Cadians.

For inspiration, FW did a really good diorama of a Malcador with a Commissar on horseback and other Krieg soldiers waiting around. It's features in the Imperial Armour Masterclass book, but unfortunately, the only two pictures I can find of it are very small:






Also, the following tutorial might be of use to you:

http://akaranseth.over-blog.com/pages/step-by-step-on-a-k-o-malcador-tank-in-the-ruins-of-vraks-1873528.html

How do you plan to convey that a tank is moving at "walking speed" in a still frame diaroma? I've seen some moderate success in these attempts by changing the amount of dust coming off of the back of the unit so I hope that helps.

I like the idea here, If you're going to keep all of the buildings shot this opens you up to 'highlight' a key feature somewhere in the scene simply by making it taller then everything else. Cool idea, looking forward to a concept sketch.

EDIT: I also want to vote up GCMandrakes idea, don't try to put all of those soldiers in one piece. It will look too busy and the elements will take attention away from eachother. I would say do the city scape and the tank but stick to one type of trooper.

LordCreed wrote:Sounds kinda cool but it's still a lil' bit hard to imagine.., make a sketch from the situation or something and post it on dakka

i'll begin immediately

GCMandrake wrote:Sounds good, but you seem to be over-doing it somewhat. A diorama doesn't need 20+ models. The tank should be the focal point, and then add perhaps 6-7 foot soldiers to compliment it. Less is more and all that, and adding too much detracts from the overall effect. Also keep it just with the Cadians.

For inspiration, FW did a really good diorama of a Malcador with a Commissar on horseback and other Krieg soldiers waiting around. It's features in the Imperial Armour Masterclass book, but unfortunately, the only two pictures I can find of it are very small:






Also, the following tutorial might be of use to you:

http://akaranseth.over-blog.com/pages/step-by-step-on-a-k-o-malcador-tank-in-the-ruins-of-vraks-1873528.html

i think i will only do the tank as the focal point like you said. i could do a seperate diaroma for the combat. i sort of want it with elysians mainly because their poses are more unique. plastic cadians don't seem to have that much variety, and i sort of want it to follow a "combined arms" feel to it to show cooperation between different units.

like this

or this

just like US airbone riding on shermans

i think i might try it,it's an awsome idea.i havea ton of ig that im not using that are not painted so.again it's an awsome idea.

Its really easy to go overboard on a diorama, especially one themed around warhammer 40k. I dont think this will look all too pleasing with the amount of things going on.

A. If you want an "at ease" diorama do that. If you want a conflict diorama do that. Dont mix the two, this will bring less attention to any of the detailing you may do in the painting and modeling stages. People will try to figure out whats going on, more than look at the quality of the piece.

B. If you are going to mix two different guardsmen types, try to differ their paint severely as possible. Considering that they do have different uniformed colors this seems it would be easy. If you want the mix and the differential you must contrast them in almost warm and cool colors to get the right effect.

c. A Leman Russ may be too small to adequately fit that many models on the top. Consider possibly incorporating a converted on with an extended hull. This way the viewer will see how the "tank riders" have a more modified tank at their disposal.

D. Space marine scouts may just draw most if not ALL attention away from the original format and concept, I would opt to just leave them out.

Diorama building is a task, one that deserves a lot of concepts and planning before you just hop into it. If the diorama doesnt work you may have just ruined or modified too many models that are too pricey to risk.

Look up some WW2 diorama building articles that will help immensely

instead of drawing a picture i was able to make a simple diagram on open office draw. only problem is the 'squares' where you put stuff are so big that things arnt as small or big as they are supposed to be. anyway here we are. the big blob in the middle is ofcourse the leman russ, anything white- grey is an elysian, while anything light blue is a cadian. the dark blue is the vehicle commander and the red dot is an elysian who is talking to the vehicle commander

Maybe add some sneaky lictors or kommandos hiding in the ruins?

Honestly, a Leman Russ is too small to have more than one Guardsman riding on it.

If you used say--a Chimera with the Guardsmen on foot covering the angles? Yeah, that'd work.

Or a Baneblade with a spotter standing next to the commander's cupola would work too.

Your using way too many guys. In WW2, there were alot more guys in the war, and they were not as spread out. In the 41 millenium, Guys would probally be spread thinner, without the need for 20 guys to be sitting on the same tank. If you want a scene like your talking about, you should probally use like 7 or so guys. Also, I would suggest making the tank achimera or something, becuase the leman is too small. Even a Basilisk might look cool.

If you have the money, you may want to opt for one of the elysian scout vehicles to put in it for a little more viewing pleasure, and maybe put a few guys on that as well. This way it spreads the troops out in the scene, making a more dynamic feature. Two vehicles at a slow speed with men at rest from two different platoons. The two different vehicles would defiantly add more character to this idea. Also you may want to get the command squad for the cadians. With the sling and wounded arms of guardsman. This would defiantly give the effect of war-torn men at rest. They must have some sort of casualty of war, whether wounded or just full blown exhausted. Either way it would look much more visually pleasing.

I actually would also suggest the Stormblade, More room and one of the options is to have the full open back on it. This would accompany the troops much more, as well as extra cargo. You could also do much more detailed weathering and painting on this. Maybe add some camo rolls. Some backpacks. That kind of thing.

Oh, P.S. I too am going to be doing a DKOK tank riders diorama. Not as much going on but i want the World War 2 Theme. It is going to be a while before i will start it though.

Good Luck. Hope to see how well it goes this way it gives me an insight as to what i may be in for.