Diorama Subject

[Guest Ron Smith]

Hi, This is my first post on this forum. I am primarily a Luger collector , but a life long modeler with a revived interest in the hobby. Here are some photos of the subject of a planned diorama depicting the discovery of a long forgotten knocked-out FT 17 by a WWII German tank crew in an old ruined French farm house.

Thought I would post some photos of it. I still have some detailing to do on the tracks etc. And am in the throws of constructing the farm house as time permits. Haven't decided on the type of Panzer to use yet, but that's half the fun. I may even use one of the variations of half-tracks.

Thanks! Ron

Edited March 18, 2006 by Ron Smith

[Guest Ron Smith]

This is in 1/35 scale. An additional photo.

Edited March 18, 2006 by Ron Smith

[byf]

Very good detail. Got to love the skelatized hand.

byf

[Kev in Deva]

This is in 1/35 scale. An additional photo.

Hallo Ron,

its a great model, and fantastic weathering to represent the rust just by chance I found this picture of a similar tank* at a collectors meeting in the town of Timisoara, Western Romania, yesterday, on the back in Romanian is written "Powerful Military Tank Bucharest, 15th May 1938." (the shot with the men).

The other two shots are taken from the:

WorldWar2.ro Romanian Armed Forces in the Second World War website.

* = The tank is still in Bucharest today at the Romanian Military Mueseam but apears to missing the gun!!

Kev in Deva.

[Guest Ron Smith]

Byf and Kev,

Thanks for your comments. Very interesting photos Kev. I would very much like to see the Renault tank in person someday.

Ron

[Guest jepari]

Very nice model (and pictures) - interesting "twist" with the decayed crew member ....

[stephen]

Nice model, can't wait to see the finished project.

[Michael Johnson]

Nice model, can't wait to see the finished project.

I agree. I've always like "relics" as a subject (someday I will do my Avro Anson trainer sitting in a Saskatchewan farmyard).

My only quibble is how likely would it be for a French tank to sit in a farmhouse for 25 years without someone finding it?

More likely would be a new growth forest, perhaps "out of bounds" because of unexploded ordnance. Maybe nose down in a shell hole for a lower profile. There is supposed to be a Canadian tank in Normandy which went into a stream up to the turret ring.

[stephen]

I agree I cannot see any French Farmer not selling it for scrap, in fact come to think of it I cannot see any farmer not selling it.

[Michael Johnson]

I think a better scenario is:

TTHUNK!!!

"Was ist los?

"Ein franzische panzer, Herr Leutnant!"

With maybe a German soldier peering through the tall grass, like Arte Johnson used to do on Laugh-in.

"Verrry interesting."

Maybe the title "Memento Mori".

[Jim Baker]

Ron,

Outstanding model!! The weathering is really excellent. Thanks for posting.

[Simon Orchard]

Excellent longterm rust effects, i like the way you've done the exhaust pot rusted through.