I'm putting together a WWII Pacific diorama for the father-in-law as a present for Xmas. Last year Nik very kindly agreed to do a WWI one for me (which can be seen here: http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,1863.0.html (http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,1863.0.html)), but this year I decided it was about time I had a go myself!
Now this is actually the very first time I've painted anything, the most adventurous I'd previously managed was the show display for the trees! I've tried to follow a lot of the tips I've read on here, but any feedback will be very gratefully received. I've only got a couple of days left to finish it off, so I hope I make it on time!
Basic layout, Japs top tight, Marines bottom left. The bit of plastic is where the sea will be.
(http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l575/PendrakenMiniatures/Diorama/Diorama2.jpg)
And another view:
(http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l575/PendrakenMiniatures/Diorama/Diorama1.jpg)
First, the figures have been glued to painting strips and sprayed black. Then the Marines have been given a coat of Vallejo US Dark Green, followed by a highlight of the same green with a bit of Khaki mixed in:
(http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l575/PendrakenMiniatures/Diorama/Diorama4.jpg)
Japanese have been done in a variety of Khaki/Dark Yellow and Yellow Ochre I think, I just moved from one to the other for the basecoat. Then I've added a bit of Buff to those 3 colours for the highlights:
(http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l575/PendrakenMiniatures/Diorama/Diorama3.jpg)
I've also now done the flesh and guns, more pics to come.
Let me know what you think!
8)
Good stuff there Leon - shaping up nicely :)
Have you thought about how you will build up any incline on the beach or are you going to keep it shallow?
Looking good, I would shelve teh beach quite a bit on a wooden former, before applying textures.
Oh, don't forget to include my favourite marine MC4! Why, here's his photo:
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc94/madlemmey/blank1.jpg)
I'm going to cut the 170mm x 170mm base first, and then do a second one with a squiggly line through it, at around a 60/40 split. The smaller one will fit on top of the larger, and give me 3 tiers of beach altogether. The sandy paste will go on top of those to provide the beach-iness! I'm going to add a second layer of paste, putting the painted figures in as I move across the base, which will hopefully work OK. Then I'll PVA the paste base and add my sand on top. I'm sure it won't go as smoothly as that, but that's the general plan anyway!
Quote from: mad lemmey on 21 December 2011, 01:17:41 AM
Oh, don't forget to include my favourite marine MC4! Why, here's his photo:
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc94/madlemmey/blank1.jpg)
I've reset that code back to the generic image for you!
:D
Phew, thanks!
Quote from: mad lemmey on 21 December 2011, 01:17:41 AM
Looking good, I would shelve teh beach quite a bit on a wooden former, before applying textures.
Oh, don't forget to include my favourite marine MC4! Why, here's his photo:
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc94/madlemmey/blank1.jpg)
I thought perhaps he'd been hit by some sort of death-ray. :D
Just a thought, and only as an aside because you've got the marine range nicely displayed here Leon...
What does MC4 actually look like? :D
Quote from: mad lemmey on 21 December 2011, 06:56:20 PM
What does MC4 actually look like? :D
I did cast some off, but it appears they didn't make it into the final layout... :-[
Got some more done tonight!
Rifles, flesh, webbing/packs, and boots done:
(http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l575/PendrakenMiniatures/Diorama/Diorama5.jpg)
(http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l575/PendrakenMiniatures/Diorama/Diorama6.jpg)
(http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l575/PendrakenMiniatures/Diorama/Diorama7.jpg)
(http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l575/PendrakenMiniatures/Diorama/Diorama8.jpg)
And then bases painted to blend in with final sandy base, flag painted, and random bits tidied up:
(http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l575/PendrakenMiniatures/Diorama/Diorama9.jpg)
(http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l575/PendrakenMiniatures/Diorama/Diorama10.jpg)
(http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l575/PendrakenMiniatures/Diorama/Diorama11.jpg)
(http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l575/PendrakenMiniatures/Diorama/Diorama12.jpg)
And the Buffalo:
(http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l575/PendrakenMiniatures/Diorama/Diorama13.jpg)
(http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l575/PendrakenMiniatures/Diorama/Diorama14.jpg)
I'm not sure yet on what else to add to the Buffalo. I could open one of our decal packs, but it seems like a bit of a waste just for a couple of stars! I've seen some pics online with coloured stripe markings, so I might go down that route.
Brown wash to come, and then it's on to the base!
What date is this diorama - ramped LVT's dont appear till 44.
IanS
Quote from: ianrs54 on 22 December 2011, 09:21:53 AM
What date is this diorama - ramped LVT's dont appear till 44.
IanS
My money's on 1944 onwards then :d
More done tonight, only two days left to get it completed!
Here's the 3-tier base (the sea's the blue bit... :P)
(http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l575/PendrakenMiniatures/Diorama/Diorama15.jpg)
Sea highlighted and my bit of contoured plastic added (the white isn't my highlighting, it's the PVA which hasn't dried yet!):
(http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l575/PendrakenMiniatures/Diorama/Diorama16.jpg)
Now I was planning on taking pics as I moved across the base, but once I got started I didn't want to stop halfway through! It's gone together pretty smoothly to this stage, the only problems were the trees occasionally toppling over, along with the Jap standard bearer. I worked from shore to sea with the paste, which in hindsight would have been better the other way round.
(http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l575/PendrakenMiniatures/Diorama/Diorama17.jpg)
(http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l575/PendrakenMiniatures/Diorama/Diorama18.jpg)
It's sat on the side now drying out before the next stage, which will be PVA and sand. I'm not sure yet whether to highlight the sand, so I'll wait and see how it looks bare. Also I'll be adding some rocks scattered about, and the pegs through the middle are going to have barbed wire strung between them. More pics to come!
Looking good Leon 8).
Shaping up nicely, looking forward to see how it turns out!
Any reason you chose to do a (1944+) Pacific diorama, rather than NWE or Eastern front or whatever?
Know it's accurate but looks like palm trees in a snow scape.
IanS :D
Quote from: Leon on 23 December 2011, 12:15:41 AM
It's sat on the side now drying out before the next stage, which will be PVA and sand. I'm not sure yet whether to highlight the sand, so I'll wait and see how it looks bare.
Try to keep up Ian ;) :P :d
Leon: looking good - I think that a wash on the sand once you've added it (& let it dry) will give depth: and then a very light highlight will 'lift' the whole thing. This is shaping up very nicely indeed though - your father-in-law's going to love it 8)
Oh - and isn't it about time you painted some armies then? ;)
Quote from: OldenBUA on 23 December 2011, 09:19:43 AM
Any reason you chose to do a (1944+) Pacific diorama, rather than NWE or Eastern front or whatever?
My father-in-law liked the TV series, plus I liked the range we've got, and palm trees are cool... :D
Quote from: ianrs54 on 23 December 2011, 10:13:23 AM
Know it's accurate but looks like palm trees in a snow scape.
The flash on my camera is whiting it out a bit, it's a more sandy colour in the regular light.
Quote from: nikharwood on 23 December 2011, 11:24:30 AM
Leon: looking good - I think that a wash on the sand once you've added it (& let it dry) will give depth: and then a very light highlight will 'lift' the whole thing. This is shaping up very nicely indeed though - your father-in-law's going to love it 8)
I'm undecided now actually, as the sandy paste has got a really nice texture to it. So, now I've got two options:
- Stick to the original plan, PVA, sand, then shade/highlight as necessary.
- Paint the bases to match the paste, and then just put a brown wash over it as it is?
I'm not sure, so I might colour match the figure bases now, before deciding on what to do.
A couple of quick questions, which I'd love some feedback on:
Does it need a couple more smaller palm trees, for a bit of height variation?
Should I add some dark green clump style foliage dotted around the Japs?
Try a small test peice beforehand ?
IanS
Quote from: ianrs54 on 23 December 2011, 04:48:47 PM
Try a small test peice beforehand ?
Aha, great minds! Test piece is drying as we speak!
:D
QuoteDoes it need a couple more smaller palm trees, for a bit of height variation?
Should I add some dark green clump style foliage dotted around the Japs?
Yep...I'd go for both:
TV series:
Real thing:
Both show heavy vegetation...
looking good :D
I would go for more foliage too
I've added two more smaller palm trees, and a load of foliage around them. I've got some rocks which need to go on, plus I've got the wash to go over everything. Hopefully I've got enough time to finish and varnish it!
The wash went on and promptly highlighted the different textures between the paste base and the figure bases! >:( I've had a play and disguised the lines a bit with some more foliage.
Everything's done now except adding a few rocks dotted about the place, and maybe a slightly lighter shade of foliage to add a bit of depth. And I discovered the varnish we've got at Pendraken HQ has had the nozzle snapped off. Might have to varnish after it's been handed over!
(http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l575/PendrakenMiniatures/Diorama/Diorama19.jpg)
(http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l575/PendrakenMiniatures/Diorama/Diorama20.jpg)
(http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l575/PendrakenMiniatures/Diorama/Diorama21.jpg)
8)
That's awesome work Leon =D>
Even more so as it's your first ever attempt! :o :-bd
Looks great, especially for your first attempt :).
Let down by the painting ;) :D
Well you didn't expect a compliment did you ? :d
IanS =O
Blimey that's excellent ! I've heard Pendraken run some competitions - you should consider entering !
Looks really good, Leon.
looks fab :D :-bd :-bd =D> =D>
Top-notch Leon - really nicely done 8)
Thanks for the comments guys, I'm actually really chuffed with it now. There were a few panic moments, where I wasn't sure it would turn out right (not helped by the impending deadline!) but it's alright on the night! I've just got in, so I'm gonna get the final touches done now, and then it'll be into the display case and wrapped up!
8)
Nice one sir!
really looks good! 8) :D
If you haven't already done so, might I suggest an ink wash on the palm trees, just to damp them down?
Other than that - pretty damn good, Leon-san. :-bd :)
This is well cool!
I need to grab some more pics of this actually, in it's display case. It didn't get it's final coat of varnish as I didn't have time to get it done before Xmas day, so I'll have to bring it back and give it a spray when the father-in-law isn't looking!
:D