What I've been doing

[lawman56]

At the suggestions of others, I've decided to attempt posting a few pics of my previous AFV diorama work. Up until very recently, I never considered taking decent photos of my dioramas. Most were built for others, so I just snapped a few quick shots to document the finished work, plus I always offered to repair anything my customers manage to break. The photos helped me figure out what it looked like originally.

That being said, bear in mind that I have no backdrops and that this is the first time I've ever posted any of my work for public viewing, so this will also be an experiment in how well I follow directions in posting images. 

[lawman56]

Ok. So far, so good. I'll post a few more as the day goes on. I welcome any comments or suggestions. They only way I get better is to take it all in, use what I can and discard what I can't. Besides, I promise not to cry if you hurt my feelings. Much. At first.   

That previous post of the Panzer is titled "A Brief Respite" and depicts an Afrika Corps crew taking a break while re-arming after a battle somehwere in North Africa.

This next one is titled "Saved By Blind Faith" and depicts an M706 Commando Car nicknamed 'Blind Faith' coming to the aid of a 3 man MP patrol. A former First Segeant was assigned as a team leader of an M706 nicknamed 'Sarge' and had a picture of it displayed in the MP station at Ft. Bragg.

[lawman56]

Woo-Hoo!  I'm onna roll! This one is titled "Shortcut At Cassino" and depicts an M5 Stuart and and M4 Sherman of the 756th Tank Battalion in Cassino, Italy 1943. I built this for the 5/73 Cavalry Regiment display case. The unit can trace it's lineage to the 756th Tank Battalion in WWII, and since they were hosting a regimental history week, I was commissioned to create this.

[lawman56]

This one is titled "The Calm Before The Storm". It takes place somewhere on the Iraqi/Saudi Arabian border in late February, the day before we all moved North into Iraq during Desert Storm. Again, commissioned by the battalion Sergeant Major of 5/73 Cav. During Desert Storm they were known as 3/73 Airborne Armored Cavalry Regiment and utilized the M551 Sheridan, the only air droppable tank in the US Army. As a side note, the parent unit of the 73rd Cav is the 82nd Airborne Division, hence the 82nd patches on the sleeves.
]

[lawman56]

This is actually "Calm Before The Storm", how I managed to forget to post the picture previously, I have no idea. Guess I got too cocky in my success!

Oops.

[lawman56]

Hopefully I haven't bored anyone. I promise to include a generic backdrop of some sort on any future posts. Considering I'm also an HO scale model railroader, and use a backdrop as an integral part of my railroad, one would think I would have figured that out by now.

In my defense, I've just started to consider my diorama and model work as a sort of 3 dimensional art. Funny how once your mindset goes from OOB to research, after market, setting, poses, figures, action, season, etc... you actually start to consider how they get displayed.

Again, I welcome any and all comments. I'd also be more than happy to discuss any techniques I used, how I come up with ideas, titles, how model railroading and diorama/model building share skills, etc...

Thanks! 

[Chris Johnson]

Whoaaa! Nice work here. Very subtle weathering effects and your figures are very life-like in appearance. I'm looking forward to seeing you tackle a WWI aircraft with figures.

Cheers,

Chris

[Des]

Very nice work Joe, the weathering and figure painting is excellent and the diorama settings are very well done. Try re-loading the photo 'calm before the storm' as it only appears as a red cross.

Des.

[LindsayT]

I can wrap my head around someday making a model that a third party would vaguely recognize as "an airplane." What you do with your dioramas, though, I am certain is far beyond me. Just beautiful. Thanks for posting.

Lindsay

[lawman56]

Thanks! I'm my own worst critic, so I'm always grateful when I get to hear how others view my work.

With one exception, all of my dioramas have included figures and I generally shied away from aircraft because I couldn't find any decent 1/32 figures. Since then I have discovered Andrea Miniatures, and more recently Brian Fawcett's fantastic work, which has rekindled my desire to build something challenging! After taking a good look at the rigging on a DH2, (which will NOT be my first WWI kite!), I think I've found my challenge.

Besides, I like dirt. Nothing says dirt and grime like trenches and leaky airplanes!

I gave up trying to figure out what I did and how to reload that image, so I just added some identifying text to the correct picture, which was in the next post.

[coyotemagic]

Truly amazing work, Joe!  I especially like "Saved by Blind Faith".  Having been involved in that particular unpleasantness, I find that diorama so realistic, it becomes animated to me.  I'm also a huge fan of the band.  I predict that, like Chris and Gary and a few other AFV modelers,  you'll take to WWI aircraft like a duck to water.
Cheers,
Bud

[drdave]

I really like them. I dont do vehicles, but I might do some figures for my biplanes. You obviously have a talent for that. Next time you do some figures could you post some WIPs for us mere mortals?

[Mac]

Very impressive work Joe.





Pam

[michael]

some superb work there, what about a ww1 diorama for us to drool over?

michael

[GAJouette]

 Joe,
Awesome dioramas my friend. You guys who can paint your figures so very artfully deserve a special Tip of The Hat. Well Done.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette

PS: Noticed the yellow vehicle in the background of the first photo, Family Sedan maybe ?