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Dioramas
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British Paras dio
jrutman
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Posted: Monday, October 13, 2014 - 05:45 AM UTC
Hey guys,I am planning a Commonwealth Para dio(small one) as I am in the mood now considering it is the time period right now for the 70th anno of Market Garden.
I have the excellent books on the matter called"It Never Snows In September" and also "Kampfraum Arnheim".
I have not settled on the specifics as I want to see what is available. As it is almost impossible to keep up with all of the new releases I was wondering if the superior folks on this website could help with any plastic kits that I may have missed. Don't need any vehicles (maybe an airborne jeep or an anti-tank gun)but nothing larger?
This is what I have to start.



Also I don't need any resin figs as I usually prefer to struggle through with my own.
Specifically,any Piat equipped guys?
Thanks gents,and maybe ladies as well.
J
panzerconor
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Posted: Monday, October 13, 2014 - 06:09 AM UTC
I know Dragon makes a kit of British paras with the PIAT, the Red Devils at Arnhem set. Still easy to find that one.

I actually ran into some Red Devils at a WWII reenactment hit past weekend. No real good pics to help with construction/painting though, except maybe this one of the back of the suspenders.


I think the picture is a better reference for SS uniforms though haha. The fella between the smiling landser and the para was a bit round though. But for the most part the majority of the reenactors were convincing.

-Conor
callmehobbes
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Posted: Monday, October 13, 2014 - 09:12 AM UTC
There's the Dragon set and the two from masterbox. It would be great if bronco released the figures from the jeep kits separately.
callmehobbes
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Posted: Monday, October 13, 2014 - 09:19 AM UTC
And try reading The cauldron by Zeno. I'm working on 6 different arnhem dios and have built up a pretty good supply of reference materials. Let me know if I can help.
white4doc
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Posted: Tuesday, October 14, 2014 - 01:43 AM UTC
Jerry, the Bronco Airborne Equipment Set comes with a really nice PIAT and three ammunition containers as well as a bunch of other really useful bits.

@Connor, was that pic from the Collings Foundation event this past weekend?
jrutman
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Posted: Tuesday, October 14, 2014 - 02:08 AM UTC
Thanks guys,nice intel so far. I will have to check these things out,specially the Bronco stuff.
J
panzerconor
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Posted: Tuesday, October 14, 2014 - 03:10 AM UTC

Quoted Text


@Connor, was that pic from the Collings Foundation event this past weekend?



Yes sit, got a bunch more here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10204557333630493.1073741836.1148245581&type=1&l=cb9c965228

Great as always this year. @Jerry I can second everyone else for the Bronco kits, they're what you would call "superb.'

-Conor
easyco69
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Posted: Tuesday, October 14, 2014 - 03:28 AM UTC
Red Devil Kits
ESCI


Dragon


Masterbox


CMK


Tamiya

Tristar

Bronco

Theres proabably more. I didn't include Verlinden because they are usually out of scale.
jrutman
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Posted: Tuesday, October 14, 2014 - 04:03 AM UTC
WOW!!
Nice list. Very useful. Now that I see what options there are I can narrow down my choices for this small dio.
J
CMOT
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ARMORAMA
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Posted: Tuesday, October 14, 2014 - 04:24 AM UTC
Jerry there are a lot more gun and jeep kits from Bronco with British Airborne troops. I gave Kevin the British Airborne 75mm Pack Howitzer and ¼ ton Truck with Trailer from Bronco for review this week.

and the following model should be out in the next few months along with the Horsa around Christmas I expect.
noddy927
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Posted: Tuesday, October 14, 2014 - 10:11 AM UTC
Jerry
Why not join in the Market Garden campaign, you would be very welcome.

Pete
AlanL
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Posted: Tuesday, October 14, 2014 - 04:45 PM UTC
Hi Jerry,

Bronco have the British Airborne Weapon and Equipment set which will give you a nice range of additional equipment including a PIAT.

Cheers

Al
yeahwiggie
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Posted: Tuesday, October 14, 2014 - 04:52 PM UTC
I can already see this one growing...

The MB-sets are nice. Used them myself for my glider-dio.
easyco69
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Posted: Tuesday, October 14, 2014 - 05:29 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Jerry there are a lot more gun and jeep kits from Bronco with British Airborne troops. I gave Kevin the British Airborne 75mm Pack Howitzer and ¼ ton Truck with Trailer from Bronco for review this week.

and the following model should be out in the next few months along with the Horsa around Christmas I expect.



Darren, please "give" me the same kit to review ! I would like to get that kit woo hoo!
callmehobbes
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Posted: Tuesday, October 14, 2014 - 08:08 PM UTC
Is it possible to get the bronco para figures separately? Does anyone know if there is a plan to release them or if they can be bought as replacements/spare?
Looking forward to seeing Jerry's conversions. Always inspirational.
CMOT
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ARMORAMA
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Posted: Tuesday, October 14, 2014 - 11:28 PM UTC
I have suggested this to the owner and while I have no solid info, I do believe in the fullness of time we will see some great figure sets from Bronco.
erichvon
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Posted: Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - 12:26 AM UTC
If you see the Esci Paras skip them. I remember buying some about 30 years ago and they're apalling. They all look as if they've got a problem with gravity in that they're not very tall and very fat. Plus the weapons, kit etc is crap and only fit for the bin. The MB ones however are very good
jrutman
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Posted: Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - 02:22 AM UTC
Some good ideas and opinions going on here for sure. I can say out of the three kits I have procured so far I have to say the Miniart set has the crispest detail. Just sayin'.
So far,I am tempted by doing a piat armed trooper as they figured so prominently in the urban fight on the Utrechtseweg,etc.
But I am also inspired by the air services troops that made the gallant attempt at retrieving a supply pannier in a hotly defended area around the Oosterbeek drop zone driving an airborne mod. jeep.
There are so many possibilities for dios in this epic battle. That is why I want to see everything that is currently available.
Keep it coming guys.
J
panzerconor
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Posted: Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - 03:03 AM UTC
One scene that always grabbed my when watching A Bridge Too Far was when General Urquhart is stepping through the hall filled with the British wounded. Not really a scene for a diorama, but it just came to mind. That's also one movie I think could be great if it were remade today.

I like your idea of the PIAT team though. Then again, there really are tons of options out there...

-Conor
jrutman
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Posted: Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - 03:07 AM UTC

Quoted Text

One scene that always grabbed my when watching A Bridge Too Far was when General Urquhart is stepping through the hall filled with the British wounded. Not really a scene for a diorama, but it just came to mind. That's also one movie I think could be great if it were remade today.

I like your idea of the PIAT team though. Then again, there really are tons of options out there...

-Conor




A re-make would be cool I agree.
I know how you like delving into the History aspect. I would highly recommend getting the book
kampfraum Arnheim. Large format,outstanding pics and it is fairly cheap.
It gives a terrific insight into late war WSS uniforms. The reality,not the legends.
J
panzerconor
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Posted: Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - 05:02 AM UTC

Quoted Text



A re-make would be cool I agree.
I know how you like delving into the History aspect. I would highly recommend getting the book
kampfraum Arnheim. Large format,outstanding pics and it is fairly cheap.
It gives a terrific insight into late war WSS uniforms. The reality,not the legends.
J



I've actually been beating around the bush over getting that book. I've got the RZM books on Kursk, except for 2 that sell for outrageous prices that I don't understand. Will definitely look into that one now.

-Conor
callmehobbes
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Posted: Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - 07:37 PM UTC
"Men at Arnhem" is being turned into a film -not much info yet. There's also a small indie british film being developed.Some info over on kickstarter website.

I can never focus on a single dio so these are the Arnhem dios I've got started. Who knows, one day I might even finish one.

1) Border Reg in the woods.3 figure vignette in the woods. 99% completed.
2) 2 Para being overwhelmed in Arnhem. A GNR house with paras being lead outside by Germans.75% completed
3) Oosterbeek. Airborne troops leading German POW's into Oosterbeek. Miniart Village house is being commandeered by field ambulance. A jeep is heading back from Arnhem with the first causalities. 50% completed.
4) 75mm howitzer manned by wounded crew. 75% completed
5) The landing. Bronco jeep and crew. Finding the jeep a bit fiddly so it's back in the box for now.
6) Abandoned universal carrier in the woods. A tamiya carrier converted to the airborne version (an easy modification).The carrier is complete apart from needing some new tracks.
7) Hackett's hollow. MB desert rats and others converted to paras for the bayonet charge out of the woods. Just started.
Others that I've planned out but have yet to start.
Airborne following white tape and holding onto each others coat tails with bound feet heading to the river.
Airborne cutting down canisters caught up in trees and loading into waiting jeeps.
Pathfinders with Eureka beacon.
Ultimately my goal is to have a whole series of dios with each one focusing on each of the british units that fought there. Hope this gives some food for thought. The MB desert rats is down to Jerry really. Having seen his conversions I decided to give it another go.




callmehobbes
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Posted: Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - 07:56 PM UTC
Oh, and a boxed dio of wounded paras in a cellar with the silhouette of a German opening the door at the top of the stairs. This is one I attempted but couldn't get to work (the scene looked okay but the lighting/silhouette failed to give desired results.) The figures have been used elsewhere. I will be coming back to this one at some point.
jrutman
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Posted: Thursday, October 16, 2014 - 01:58 AM UTC

Quoted Text

"Men at Arnhem" is being turned into a film -not much info yet. There's also a small indie british film being developed.Some info over on kickstarter website.

I can never focus on a single dio so these are the Arnhem dios I've got started. Who knows, one day I might even finish one.

1) Border Reg in the woods.3 figure vignette in the woods. 99% completed.
2) 2 Para being overwhelmed in Arnhem. A GNR house with paras being lead outside by Germans.75% completed
3) Oosterbeek. Airborne troops leading German POW's into Oosterbeek. Miniart Village house is being commandeered by field ambulance. A jeep is heading back from Arnhem with the first causalities. 50% completed.
4) 75mm howitzer manned by wounded crew. 75% completed
5) The landing. Bronco jeep and crew. Finding the jeep a bit fiddly so it's back in the box for now.
6) Abandoned universal carrier in the woods. A tamiya carrier converted to the airborne version (an easy modification).The carrier is complete apart from needing some new tracks.
7) Hackett's hollow. MB desert rats and others converted to paras for the bayonet charge out of the woods. Just started.
Others that I've planned out but have yet to start.
Airborne following white tape and holding onto each others coat tails with bound feet heading to the river.
Airborne cutting down canisters caught up in trees and loading into waiting jeeps.
Pathfinders with Eureka beacon.
Ultimately my goal is to have a whole series of dios with each one focusing on each of the british units that fought there. Hope this gives some food for thought. The MB desert rats is down to Jerry really. Having seen his conversions I decided to give it another go.








These all sound like awesome scenerios! Specially the charge out of the hollow.
I would add a mortar pit in the hollow and/or a piat position on the Utrechtseweg.
The fighting around the museum is also interesting. Also a rubber raft with paras leaving the north bank or Polish Paras heading to reinforce the cauldron.
J
jrutman
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Posted: Thursday, October 16, 2014 - 02:02 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Oh, and a boxed dio of wounded paras in a cellar with the silhouette of a German opening the door at the top of the stairs. This is one I attempted but couldn't get to work (the scene looked okay but the lighting/silhouette failed to give desired results.) The figures have been used elsewhere. I will be coming back to this one at some point.



Nice idea and I think you can pull it off with a shadow box style dio. Very dim lighting in the cellar with the open door in the background lit by a stronger light from behind the German?
BTW,there was also a lot of drama on the road between Nijmegen and Arnhem.
J
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