Pacific Diorama

[Leon]

I'm planning on putting together a WWII Pacific diorama for my father-in-law for Xmas (yeah I know, I've only got a week to get it done!).  I'll be using Mr Harwood's excellent painting diaries (http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,2738.0.html and http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,3434.0.html) but I'm looking for some other tips for it.

The basic premise is going to be a beach landing, on a 170x170mm base.  The Marines will be deploying from a Buffalo model, and attempting to make their way up the beach, with a load of Japanese defending from the top of the beach.  I'll be adding a few palm trees and a bit of foliage at the back to give the Japs some cover, but what about on the beach itself?  I can knock together some posts with barbed wire easy enough, and I've got some cocktail sticks which I can break up as logs/broken trees. 

The question is, what else would you expect to see on the beach (apart from casualties!)



Any suggestions appreciated!

[Rob]

For a Japanese defended area an earth and log bunker,

Possibly with John Wayne zig-zagging through the machine gun bullits with a satchel charge.

[Maenoferren]

craters?
crates, boxes, weapons, bodies

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Depends on date - but the odd tank, burnt out Am-Tracs, jeeps......

Shell/bomb craters - lots of these.

No Japanese - they in bunkers.

IanS

[Hertsblue]

Multiple wheel-tracks, patches of spilled oil, discarded weapons, helmets and equipment.

[Nosher]

"The question is, what else would you expect to see on the beach"

Sand

[Maenoferren]

"The question is, what else would you expect to see on the beach"

Sand

aha got you there sir. ..some of the beached didnt have sand... but one wonders if by definition they are then beaches 

[Leon]

I'll have a bash at some weapons laying around my dead chaps, maybe an odd helmet or two.  Some of the other stuff will depend on my (limited) ability's! 

Shell/bomb craters - lots of these.

No Japanese - they in bunkers.

I'll be throwing complete historical accuracy out of the window, so the Japs will be everywhere!  I might have a go at the craters, but if it all goes wrong, I'll revert to 'This was the first wave of attack, on a nice smooth perfect beach...' 

[nikharwood]

Good luck mate - the deadline should help focus the mind, eh?! 

Here's some pics that might be useful:

[Leon]

Aha, some of those will be very useful.  I've just cast off all the figures I'll need, so I'll work out the layout tomorrow and try and grab a pic.

[Hertsblue]

"The question is, what else would you expect to see on the beach"

Sand

You've obviously never seen the south coast of Devon beaches - mainly pebbles, except for Teignmouth which has red grit!

[OldenBUA]

The question is, what else would you expect to see on the beach (apart from casualties!)

Well, if I were on a beach, I'd expect to see the sea as well... A chance to use a waterline Buffalo model. Or a LCT.

By the ways, you haven't mentioned yet what scale and make of figures you'll be using. 28mm from Foundry maybe? 

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

 

Well, if I were on a beach, I'd expect to see the sea as well... A chance to use a waterline Buffalo model. Or a LCT.

We got several beaches on rivers.

[OldenBUA]

We got several beaches on rivers.

You're right ofcourse, but it's too late to edit. So para 2, line 1, word 12, strike 'the sea', and insert 'a large body of open water' instead.

Brings back some memories, but I must say not very pleasant ones.

[goat major]

my favourite Pacific beach landing picture. No use to you whatsoever but i couldnt let the moment pass...