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Dioramas
Do you love dioramas & vignettes? We sure do.
Ukraine 1943
hj1985
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New South Wales, Australia
Joined: May 15, 2018
KitMaker: 67 posts
Armorama: 65 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 16, 2019 - 08:02 PM UTC
Hi Guys

Just received the photo of the diorama I ordered.



Overall very well made. However, I still have a couple of concerns and would like to hear your opinion.


Firstly does the building look like the Ukraine village house during 1940-50?

Secondly which month it would be, given the snowfall and leaves in the diorama?

Thirdly should we have more snowfall on the roof and the tree?

Also the not-too-heavy snowfall and leaves indicate early Winter. As we know the troops normally start applying winter camouflage when the snowfall starts. The weathering on the Sdkfz250 is pretty heavy, is it realistic to have the winter camouflage peel off after such short span of time?
DrChopp
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Victoria, Australia
Joined: August 16, 2016
KitMaker: 116 posts
Armorama: 107 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 16, 2019 - 09:56 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi Guys

Just received the photo of the diorama I ordered.





Overall very well made. However, I still have a couple of concerns and would like to hear your opinion.


Firstly does the building look like the Ukraine village house during 1940-50?

Secondly which month it would be, given the snowfall and leaves in the diorama?

Thirdly should we have more snowfall on the roof and the tree?

Also the not-too-heavy snowfall and leaves indicate early Winter. As we know the troops normally start applying winter camouflage when the snowfall starts. The weathering on the Sdkfz250 is pretty heavy, is it realistic to have the winter camouflage peel off after such short span of time?



Great looking dio! I've been researching Kharkov in '43, and can tell you the house and fence look spot on.

Less snow on the roof and tree indicates that its during the thaw, near the end of winter, so snoww application is fine, as is the heavily weathered winter camo. The witewash was designed to be water soluble so comes offas the snow melts.

Looks great!
hj1985
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New South Wales, Australia
Joined: May 15, 2018
KitMaker: 67 posts
Armorama: 65 posts
Posted: Thursday, January 17, 2019 - 01:32 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Hi Guys

Just received the photo of the diorama I ordered.



Overall very well made. However, I still have a couple of concerns and would like to hear your opinion.


Firstly does the building look like the Ukraine village house during 1940-50?

Secondly which month it would be, given the snowfall and leaves in the diorama?

Thirdly should we have more snowfall on the roof and the tree?

Also the not-too-heavy snowfall and leaves indicate early Winter. As we know the troops normally start applying winter camouflage when the snowfall starts. The weathering on the Sdkfz250 is pretty heavy, is it realistic to have the winter camouflage peel off after such short span of time?



Great looking dio! I've been researching Kharkov in '43, and can tell you the house and fence look spot on.

Less snow on the roof and tree indicates that its during the thaw, near the end of winter, so snoww application is fine, as is the heavily weathered winter camo. The witewash was designed to be water soluble so comes offas the snow melts.

Looks great!



Thanks mate!

If it is thaw, then it should be around Apr in Ukraine, correct? But the leaves look yellow late autumn leaves and when the snow melts away, are we going to see lots of leaves buried beneath? Sorry for asking this as I never stay at a place snowing during winter.

Also I notice there is a gap between the house and ground, is it an issue?
jrutman
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Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Thursday, January 17, 2019 - 02:21 AM UTC
Leaves usually blow away before it snows,unless you are in the forest.
The space between house and ground is a big issue for me. It is a distraction and doesn't measure up to the rest of the dio,which is good.
J
DrChopp
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Victoria, Australia
Joined: August 16, 2016
KitMaker: 116 posts
Armorama: 107 posts
Posted: Thursday, January 17, 2019 - 08:27 AM UTC
I second Jerry's comment about the leaves, they blow away in the windy start of winter.

The gap is an issue, but can be corrected with some more snow, or a pre-mixed mud past like Vallejo or AK make.

Here's a beautiful image of a lake near Kiev during the thaw - as you can see, theres plenty of yellows, brows and even green starting to come through. This image looks to be a later part of the thaw, but the colours in the dio are certainly not incorrect.



hj1985
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New South Wales, Australia
Joined: May 15, 2018
KitMaker: 67 posts
Armorama: 65 posts
Posted: Thursday, January 17, 2019 - 04:46 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I second Jerry's comment about the leaves, they blow away in the windy start of winter.

The gap is an issue, but can be corrected with some more snow, or a pre-mixed mud past like Vallejo or AK make.

Here's a beautiful image of a lake near Kiev during the thaw - as you can see, theres plenty of yellows, brows and even green starting to come through. This image looks to be a later part of the thaw, but the colours in the dio are certainly not incorrect.






checked with modeller, the house is not glued to the base, as they will be packed and shipped seperately. This is why there is a gap.

So if I would like to make amends, what you recommend with the dead leaves?
DrChopp
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Victoria, Australia
Joined: August 16, 2016
KitMaker: 116 posts
Armorama: 107 posts
Posted: Thursday, January 17, 2019 - 07:38 PM UTC
I like the leaves, personally. I think if there were more, or if they were brighter it may throw off a viewer as to the timeframe. Those leaves look old and rotten, like they've experienced a winter, which is perfect IMO
hj1985
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New South Wales, Australia
Joined: May 15, 2018
KitMaker: 67 posts
Armorama: 65 posts
Posted: Friday, January 18, 2019 - 02:11 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I like the leaves, personally. I think if there were more, or if they were brighter it may throw off a viewer as to the timeframe. Those leaves look old and rotten, like they've experienced a winter, which is perfect IMO



So you reckon I just leave those leaves?

I like the dio it’s very well made but I also want a realistic depiction of the thaw.

If it’s not supposed to have dead leaves when the snow melts away, then I would like the modeler to do something about it.
DrChopp
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Victoria, Australia
Joined: August 16, 2016
KitMaker: 116 posts
Armorama: 107 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 19, 2019 - 04:00 PM UTC

Quoted Text


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I like the leaves, personally. I think if there were more, or if they were brighter it may throw off a viewer as to the timeframe. Those leaves look old and rotten, like they've experienced a winter, which is perfect IMO



So you reckon I just leave those leaves?

I like the dio it’s very well made but I also want a realistic depiction of the thaw.

If it’s not supposed to have dead leaves when the snow melts away, then I would like the modeler to do something about it.



Yep, I'd keep the leaves as is, they look fine
alanmac
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United Kingdom
Joined: February 25, 2007
KitMaker: 3,033 posts
Armorama: 2,953 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 19, 2019 - 08:58 PM UTC
I think the diorama looks fine, with the elements contained within it giving a realistic appearance. Nothing stands out as incorrect and the issue of the gap between house and ground has been explained to you.

With respect I am somewhat concerned that you are posting this on Armorama to ask our opinion.

Sure as someone who has commissioned the piece then you have every right to ask the modeller to make changes you may wish.

My concern is that you use us to decide what is right or wrong. How do you quantify our opinion and "expertise" against or over that of the actual modeller who created the diorama for you?

My point is you could take an "opinion" of someone who posts here, including myself, who is possibly less "qualified" to comment than the diorama creator and use that against him/her. Also we have no knowledge of the brief given to the modeller when you commissioned the piece to evaluate if it has been done correctly.

On the face of it the diorama looks well done, the vehicles and surrounding look in keeping. I see no issues you should raise or request the modeller to change, unless they have left out anything you requested but again this goes back to us having no knowledge of what you briefed the modeller during the commissioning process.








M4A1Sherman
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New York, United States
Joined: May 02, 2013
KitMaker: 4,403 posts
Armorama: 4,078 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 19, 2019 - 09:09 PM UTC

Quoted Text


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Hi Guys

Just received the photo of the diorama I ordered.



Overall very well made. However, I still have a couple of concerns and would like to hear your opinion.


Firstly does the building look like the Ukraine village house during 1940-50?

Secondly which month it would be, given the snowfall and leaves in the diorama?

Thirdly should we have more snowfall on the roof and the tree?

Also the not-too-heavy snowfall and leaves indicate early Winter. As we know the troops normally start applying winter camouflage when the snowfall starts. The weathering on the Sdkfz250 is pretty heavy, is it realistic to have the winter camouflage peel off after such short span of time?



Great looking dio! I've been researching Kharkov in '43, and can tell you the house and fence look spot on.

Less snow on the roof and tree indicates that its during the thaw, near the end of winter, so snoww application is fine, as is the heavily weathered winter camo. The witewash was designed to be water soluble so comes offas the snow melts.

Looks great!



Thanks mate!

If it is thaw, then it should be around Apr in Ukraine, correct? But the leaves look yellow late autumn leaves and when the snow melts away, are we going to see lots of leaves buried beneath? Sorry for asking this as I never stay at a place snowing during winter.

Also I notice there is a gap between the house and ground, is it an issue?



I live in a very rural area of the Southern Tier section of New York State. Having said that, we USUALLY get more than our fair share of "big snows" during our Winters. You needn't take the presence of "yellow Autumn leaves" amiss in your dio. After our snows finally melt during April and early May, we have TONS of yellow, brown and red leaves left all over the place...

You're NOT going to see GREEN leaves strewn about on the ground in April. Green leaves will turn Brown, Yellow, Orange and Red in the Autumn and then they will fall to the ground, soon to be covered up with the snows of Winter...

I'd leave the "leaves" alone in your dio. (No pun intended)

Leave the vehicles alone as well; they look just fine as they are. I would only fix the house vis-a-vis the foundation "gap problem"...
Armorsmith
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Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: April 09, 2015
KitMaker: 1,063 posts
Armorama: 1,000 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 20, 2019 - 04:09 AM UTC
Have to agree with Alan. As the one who commissioned the build it is ultimately up to you to decide if all the elements are acceptable. As those who do commission builds will tell you it's not up to the builder to decide how the project is to be finished and what level of detail/authenticity is acceptable or not. The builder may have input and offer suggestions but the client makes the decisions and is the one who has to be satisfied. In the end, if you are happy with what has been produced and like the way the final product has turned out regardless of the degree of accuracy etc. that's all that really matters.
obg153
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Texas, United States
Joined: April 07, 2009
KitMaker: 1,063 posts
Armorama: 1,049 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 22, 2019 - 03:08 AM UTC
Alan does make some valid points. Based on the questions in your initial post, some folks might wonder if; 1)you did enough prior research on the subject to have a clear idea of what the finished scene should look like, or: 2)you clearly conveyed to the builder what you wanted him to achieve. Additionally, your follow-up post about asking the builder why the house/base gap existed, and then learning it was to facilitate separate shipping, further indicate some degree of clear communication is/was lacking. I also agree with the other comments that the overall scene will look fine once that gap issue is resolved.
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