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This is my first attempt at a diorama in almost 12 years. I wanted to do as many wheeled vehicles as I could. I also wanted to focus on a very realistic landscape as much as anything else and to try and focus on US equipment.
I was given a photo online of an M26 Towing a m59 155mm long tom. From this I developed the idea of one being recovered (Long Tom), and since m26s were quite valuable and sparse, I added the Tamiya m20 as an armoured escort. The M26 is the Tamiya version, and the M59 is the AFV club kit. all three of these vehicles were upgraded using Eduard PE sets. Could not have a US WW2 scene without a jeep! tamiya again. All vehicles are corrected as much as possible with reference available. stores packs etc are just a multitude of collected accesories from shows and sales over the years. 3 verlinden double figure sets were used, jeep riders, trophy hunters and US officers ETO WW2. All the figures in the m26 are from the spares box, included with the kit or cut and join jobs from the really old Tamiya US figure sets from the 70's! (scale problems like you wouldnt believe here)
The bridge was most interesting way to show off countryside road, as im not ready to tackle a realistic building yet. Each of the piers are individually cast in dental plaster from a single latex mould with a clay master. timbers are model ship refugees. The water is made from two part resin poured over a painted surface. the 2cm flak is there to show that its a captured bridge, as most photos show some sort of AA gun defending german held bridges.
Vegetation is collected from many natural sources, but the ballrushes and reeds are made from paper, each individually cut and glued in place ! I wanted the landscape to be a model on its own, and before any vehicle was placed on it, it could of been left as it was and still been an interesting model. Several fellow modellers tried relentlessly to have some German armour crossing it, and some pics exist somewhere of their efforts, but wasnt to be.
This diorama has taken over two years to build. It has won a total of 9 trophies at two shows, (IPMS melbourne expo and SAPMA adelaide expo) Including peoples choice and best in show prizes. Look forward to seeing it on front cover of "Modelart Australia" magazine next year with matching spread inside.
There is a whole bucket load of information to go with this model, figures, uniforms, tools, techniques, sourcing reference etc etc. message me and I will be happy to help !
Adam Lehmann [View discussion] [Discuss my model]
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