WW2 NW Europe diorama

[Npal21]

Here is a WIP shot of a diorama set in Normandy 1944. As the title suggests it will include a house, a small orchard or veggie garden and a tree as a basic description. A churchill or firefly tank will be included as well as many other details. 

 

Here is a picture of the almost completed house. 

 

Edited December 4, 2021 by Npal21

[Snafu35]

 

Hello,

 

The details made are very attractive, well done. 👍

Speaking of Normandy, I am terribly sorry, but there are no vineyard. The climate is favorable for green grass and apples, but not for grapes.

There are very few brick houses, too.

The houses are made with stones,

 

roofs are often made with corrugated sheets:

 

Walls look the same in towns and villages

 

Regards (from Normandy!)

Eric-Snafu35

[Npal21]

Hi @Snafu35, I hope you are well!  

 

Thank you very much for the information, I am happy to be corrected at any point. These are great pics by the way!!  Very jealous you are so close to all these great references!

 

Fortunately I can easily change the name of the build/ dio, im thinking "vin". 

 

Its amazing how much you research a topic online to find no answers, but I should always ask the locals 1st lol. Where is the closest wine region to Normandy? I work in a vineyard just south of Adelaide and would love to get over to France one day for "research " purposes haha 🍾🍷. 

Edited December 2, 2021 by Npal21

[Snafu35]

Hello Nick, 

 

I'm glad I can bring you something.

Here is a map of the wine regions of France:

I would say that the vines closest to Normandy are those of the Loire Valley; Muscadet, Saumur, Bourgueil, Chinon ...

The English troops did not descend so low, it was Patton's army that liberated this region.

But the most important thing is to have fun, and such a setting would be great for the magnificent Churchill you are building. What a job in the turret! 

 

Regards,

Eric-Snafu35

 

 

Edited December 3, 2021 by Snafu35
Adding precision

[Johnny Tip]

If it has to be Normandy, how about some apple trees? No vin but cidre? Normandy is all about the C products, Cidre, Calvados, Camembert, Caramel... maybe next time?

[Npal21]

Thanks for the great info @Snafu35. I may need to rethink the location and fruit trees. I have bought all the stuff for grapes unfortunately haha. 

 

@Johnny Tip you are making me hungry! I will have the revisit the 6th armoured guards history book and see where they were in France.

[Npal21]

Last weekend I made up a wire tree, my 1st ever. I used 2 different guages of wire for different sized branches/limbs. 

 

Today i have added a a base coat of Vallejo earth texture. It is slightly flexible compared to plaster. 1st coat is a light coat to fill in the gaps between winds. I will let dry for a few days before the next coat and shaping.

 

 

Edited December 5, 2021 by Npal21

[Matt Parvis]

On 12/2/2021 at 2:41 PM, Npal21 said:

These are great pics by the way!!  Very jealous you are so close to all these great references!

 

 

With Google maps and street view great references are only a click away. As an example, I am working on a project set in the Normandy area and needed references for a building. After a little bit of searching and going up and down various streets I found this building which works for what I need. Caution is needed to not use a modern building as a historic reference, but, with some consideration it isn't too difficult. 

 

Matt

[Npal21]

I have managed to prime and get the base layer down on the tree. I then dry brushed it with various browns and a dark grey. Once dry i applied a brown wash over the tree to blend it all. 

 

I have painted the freshly snapped branch a light wood colour. Still lots to do but looking more real every day. 

 

Edited December 12, 2021 by Npal21