The base is dryfitted and I buil a balswood frame to go underneath it. I used some foamcore board as the base for the extension which will be tied in with the cast baseplate. The whole assembly will be given some what "cleaned up" sides and then be placed on top of a bigger piece of wood for more ridgidity
I started experimenting with the layout of the base by putting on the two (not yet assembled) vehicles in their guesstimated positions and made a bunch of markings to determine the positions of the different figures (also shown in this picture)
Checking the layout again, this time with the palm dryfitted in place... I had been contemplating adding a second one, but I think it might "clutter" the scene too much. The palm itself will obviously be reshaped, modified a bit and painted. For plastic the leaves ain´t to bad, though 🙂
I have to admit to not being comfortable with Panzer grey... after some mixing I came up with this postshaded basecoat for both vehicles. This however is only a base for the chipped off yellow desert camo. Thus I might have to hit both with a bit of flat varnish in preparation for the chipping fluid
Something of an update with the desert camo applied to the vehicles: The first layer was chipped down very heavily, then the next one was sprayed over not covering everything a 100%. This should/could/might give the appearance of paint that was abrased, chipped off and repainted at least one time. The base also got it´s basic tone. For the ground, I will however try pigments for once after seeing that explained on a livestream recently 👍
Getting closer to the finish line! I added some vegetation, which will be blended in a bit using the airbrush. Also, the vehicles and the barrel will recieve some minor rust effects.
Progress on the overall diorama with this Album focussing on the base, buildings, figures and vegetation especially.
This diorama "Unter Palmen" is set somewhere in North Africa around 1942 and will depict a DAK Sd.Kfz. 222 armoured scout car and a Mercedes L1500A staff car meeting up at a building in/around an oasis or wadi. Several of the vehicles crews and/or other soldiers are standing around the vehicle talking, getting directions for further travel through the desert or are just refreshing themselfes with a bit of desperately needed water from a well.
Kits used in this diorama:
- a garage-kit-like diorama base+building; it will be extended as in my StuG E-100 vignette
- ICM´s Sd. Kfz. 222 with a Schatton turned 2cm barrel
-Attack´s L1500A with resin accessories
-DAK figures from White Stork, Scale 75 and D-Day Miniature
-Some palm trees from Fredericus Rex, which I likely have to updetail and modify a bit
