D-Day Diorama - Part 3

Finally I have finished cleaning and painting 70 tiny soldiers (40 British and 30 German). It has to be the least pleasurable part of the whole project.  As I mentioned in posts of my first diorama, painting and weathering the tiny figures was a challenge in itself. As previously, I elected to remove each figure from its small rectangular base, though I didn't do that until the painting was finished. Each man was glued at the soles of his feet, and that proved challenging given the sand they were standing on. 

A couple of poor chaps had their legs amputated below the knee and were glued to the water to give the impression of them being shin deep in waves.

The Willys Jeep part of the kit contained an optional Supply Trailer as well as the Howitzer gun. Since I elected to use the Howitzer, the Supply trailer was redundant. 

I'd already constructed and painted it so I partially disassembled it and positioned it near the shell crater to make it look as if it had been 'hit'. It nicely disguises the 'perfect circle' of the crater which had always bothered me and also serves as a shield for the advancing troops.

Looking over the finished model I can see plenty of opportunities for tweaking, refining and enhancing, so I may well find myself doing more to this in the future, but for now I'm calling it done. 

It was around the 80th anniversary of D-Day that I decided I wanted to make this diorama, both as a tribute to the men and women that took part and in remembrance of my own fathers involvement. To be completing it at this time, around the 80th anniversary of VE-Day, seems very fitting and appropriate. We shall never forget.

Please read my previous posts about this diorama...

D-Day Diorama - Part 1

D-Day Diorama - Part 2