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Hey Dakka, here's a diorama for a 1/48 scale WW2 battle scene I've been working on.







I started this about a week or so ago. I'd say the terrain itself is about 90% finished. There's a lot of touching up to do - grass needs to be removed from inside the trenches, some spots need to be touched up with paint, etc. I also need to run some barbed wire along the post line I've got set up in front of the trenches.

Of course the models need to be placed within the scene still as well. There will be Germans defending the trench with an MG nest and a Flak Gun, and US soldiers charging up the hill taking cover as they advance.

Very cool. I look forward to seeing more.

Im a huge fan of seeing dioramas, especially historical ones.

Good to see some interesting twists and turns in the trench layout, lots of people seem to default to straight lines.

Thanks guys!

Unfortunately this diorama has no particular historical setting or inspiration, other than being obviously inspired by and set in WW2. All I had in mind for it was that it's set somewhere in France during 1944-1945, and is simply just one of many small skirmishes over a point of strategic importance.

That is some great work! I look forward to seeing it finished

Excellent stuff, nice attention to detail. The scene that instantly sprung to mind was the attack on the german MG position in Band of Brother episode 2, so you're right on the money with "France, 1944'"

I assume you're planning to add some models/minis to it?

Very nice! It's got interesting shapes and formations and the greenery makes a nice contrast to the mud.

Because it looks so good, I want to try & give some constructive criticism if I may:
To me there is a disparity between the deep, rich green of the foliage & the light, dusty soil. I reckon if the soil was darker & glossy (to make it look wet / damp) or if the foliage was yellower (to make it look a dried out / dehydrated) would improve it greatly.
But that's just my opinion looking at a few photos.
Can't wait to see your progress on the lads.

Looks realistic as it stands, good job.

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the kind words.

 Paradigm wrote:
Excellent stuff, nice attention to detail. The scene that instantly sprung to mind was the attack on the german MG position in Band of Brother episode 2, so you're right on the money with "France, 1944'"

I assume you're planning to add some models/minis to it?

I haven't seen Band of Brothers, but the diorama actually reminds me of a similar scene from Saving Private Ryan where they charge up a hill to try and take out an MG.

To answer your question, yep there will be minis added! I still have to paint them, but I've got about a dozen US Soldiers and will probably add a similar amount of Germans, including an MG and Flak gun.

 bubber wrote:
Because it looks so good, I want to try & give some constructive criticism if I may:
To me there is a disparity between the deep, rich green of the foliage & the light, dusty soil. I reckon if the soil was darker & glossy (to make it look wet / damp) or if the foliage was yellower (to make it look a dried out / dehydrated) would improve it greatly.
But that's just my opinion looking at a few photos.
Can't wait to see your progress on the lads.

Thanks for the critique! I agree, it could actually use a little color variety and I did consider some yellow foliage, so I may have to look into that. I was also thinking about attempting to make the mud in the trench appear wet, but I'm not entirely sure how to do that.

Some brush-on satin varnish might work over a slightly darker brown (gloss varnish might be too shiny) or maybe some brown ink without the matt medium that the GW stuff has.
A yellowing can be achieved with a drybrush of yellow-ochre or yellowy olive green.

If there is mud in the trench then everything else should be wet.
The colours you've used for the ground suggest a dry environment so there shouldn't be mud. If you wanted mud then all your tan colours would have to be darkened to browns to show wet earth.
You might want to dust some of the green stuff with "dirt" to show that leaves have been coated with dust from the mortar blasts or whatever those holes were caused by.