Calm Before The Storm

Calm Before The Storm

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It’s another cold, dreary February day, Germany 1945. We’ve got a bit of a breather here before we’ve got to saddle up and move into another town with God knows what the krauts have waiting for us. We’re going in with the M4s again...they’re a blessing and a curse, drawing all that fire... You don’t want to be anywhere near ‘em, but they’ve saved our butts many a time and you don’t want to go anywhere without ‘em. I just want to get out of this hell hole in one piece...

Picture 1 The finished diorama with the figures in place and posed to appear as if looking 'at the camera' of a Signals Corps photographer. This was decided before making anything during the 'composition' stage of planning. Picture 3 There are five figures in the 'Jumbo' crew, all in winter dress and are all now available as separate half and full figures in the S&T Figures range - ideal for any Sherman with open hatches.

One could only imagine this type of a scene taking place countless times during the Second World War. It’s this type of internal personal quiet drama I hoped to portray in my diorama. Armed with an array of black and white photos from the European Theatre of War depicting ‘tankers and doughs’, I began to visualize the diorama ‘Calm before the Storm’. I’ve always been fascinated (for some crazy reason even I can’t explain) with the photos and stories of both sides, Allied and Axis particularly late ‘44 and ‘45. Maybe it’s the men themselves, fighting just to stay alive for their buddies and their own sake. The faces of the GIs reflect that strain of combat even when seemingly at ease. The uniforms they wore on both sides seemed to reflect that survival mode, mixed and matched with practicality first and foremost, and thoughts of the parade ground far in the past. These details needed to be present in the diorama.

Composition

Now that I had the story established, I needed to compose the scene and select the elements to tell the story. I always wanted to build another M4A3E2 (so-called ‘Jumbo’ Sherman) and having just picked up the 1:35 scale Blast Models conversion kit of this vehicle I decided to build the diorama around this tank. I also used a photograph in the Concord book US Tank Battles in Germany 1944-45 by Steve Zaloga as additional inspiration, in which I also liked the elements present in the photo, such as a war torn building and the placement of the battle weary GI’s next to a Jumbo Sherman. The focal point now of the diorama was established as the Sherman and it was important that the placement of the figures not only leads the eye back to the tank, but draws the viewer into their story as well. I imagined the viewer as essentially as a Signal Corps photographer and the GIs and tankers looking towards the camera with halfhearted interest.

The building would form a backdrop to the scene and while roughly mocking up the placement of the various pieces, I seemed to need something of substantial size to fill in a dead spot, but not distract from anything else story-wise and a bare tree seemed not only to fit the bill, but it also directs the eye subconsciously back down from the ruined building back towards the focal point. Something that I feel is important when laying out a diorama is to make the whole scene as tight and compact as possible not crowded, but to utilize all available space so the end result, in my opinion, presents a more dynamic composition.

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Picture 4 Variety is the key with any group of combat figures not on a parade ground! Rifleman and BAR Gunner make an interesting comparison. Picture 5 The Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) Gunner is in the S&T range as STP35008. Picture 6 Rifleman with M1 Garand Rifle. He's not wearing winter overshoes but note the canvas bandoleer of extra .30 ammunition clips around his body. Picture 7 The squad leader is a lieutenant armed with a Thompson M1A1 - he's available as STP35010.

The Figures

When I was about to undertake this project I contacted my friend and owner of S&T Products, Jim Sullivan and asked him if he would be interested in some 1:35 scale GI’s and tankers; I have sculpted a lot of 1:16 scale figures for S&T but none in 1:35 scale. His response was definitely yes and now the figure sculpting technique would change a bit in that I would have to make sure they would break apart properly for moulding. My goal was to give each figure his own personality, character, unique uniform combination and gear, but at the same time keeping them historically accurate using actual photos as a guide. In a small way (no pun intended) hopefully these figures are a tribute the brave common foot soldiers and tankers. These figures were to become original pieces and eventually available to the public, so all of the boots, equipment, weapons and, of course, the faces had to be sculpted entirely from scratch.

I began the process by creating the heads first, making sure to sculpt these figures in true 1:35 scale, as they were to be placed in and around a vehicle that was accurate in that scale. There is nothing more distracting to me than to see 1:32 scale or 54mm figures crammed into 1:35 scale vehicles. I try to keep my figures in a mix of between 5ft 9ins to 6ft 1in tall (1:35 scale of course), varying the size just like little humans. After the faces were complete I moved on to sculpting the other equipment and bits. When finished, I moulded all the pieces in RTV silicone, which would enable me to pull out castings of all the necessary and the multiples of parts like canteens, boots, etc. While sculpting the heads I also created scale ‘body buck’ pieces, essentially upper torsos and pelvis sections that would then be joined with bendable wire to represent the limbs. Once I was happy with the pose and proportions I used a quick-setting (approximately 10 minutes working time) epoxy putty called Propoxy 20 to both solidify the piece and to rough in the muscles. For the rest of the sculpting work I use predominately Magic Sculpt and Duro for certain details. Another part of my sculpting process is to photograph myself (I have an extensive collection of WWII uniforms and equipment) in the position of the figure, which is very useful in achieving the proper body language, correct folds, and weight distribution. This diorama turned out needing 10 figures in total; to not only make proper use of the space, but to also convey the idea of a squad at ease before preparing for an assault. Because of the interaction between such a large numbers of figures, I felt it necessary to build up all the figures to a semi roughed in level at the same time, with at least the muscle structure of each complete, in order to totally visualize the entire diorama.

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Picture 8 The 'back lot' - viewed from the rear of the diorama inside the building has been loaded with rubble - modelled with fallen roof parts, bricks and assorted woodwork from rafters, etc. Picture 9 Two infantrymen were posed at the side of the tank and help to give an impression of the height of the Sherman. The figure on the left is available from S&T Products as STP35009 'GI Leaning - Winter 44.'

The M4A3E2 Sherman Tank

This version of the Sherman tank entered into service late in 1944 and was originally intended as an assault vehicle to take out fortifications, but found its calling as a lead vehicle for armoured columns. Its thick frontal armour and distinctive turret increased its survivability, but created the need to be fitted as original equipment extended end connectors (duckbills) on the tracks to help compensate for the weight of the extra armour. Initially fitted with the 75mm cannon it was later re-fitted with a 76mm gun, which is the version I’ve depict-ed. The nickname ‘Jumbo’ was a post war invention according to various sources, but it accurately describes the look of this Sherman. My 1:35 scale ‘Jumbo’ is based around the excellent Blast Models resin kit, which is designed to work in conjunction with Tamiya’s M4 early kit number 35190. The Blast kit is very complete with highly detailed and expertly cast parts that build up into a great replica of this tank. I encountered no fit problems and it went together quite quickly. Also included in the kit is a turned aluminium barrel. I used the terrific Formations resin tools instead of the Tamiya tools and little bits of odd wire, styrene, and such to finish detailing out the tank. The basis of the tank’s stowage was again a combo of a couple of different Blast Models Sherman Stowage kits, Dragon US gas cans and some home made tarpaulins. On the front of the tank I used a couple of Hudson and Allen US rations boxes for interest. I replaced the Tamiya tacks with RHPS T48 plastic individual links with grousers appropriate for the E2 Sherman. These tracks go together fairly easily, very nicely detailed and are an important upgrade to the overall look of the vehicle. The Somerfield matting or the ‘chicken wire’ looking stuff was the result of scaling a photo of a real Sherman (with the matting) to 1:35 scale on a colour photocopier to create a proportional template and I then went searching the bridal veil section of my local fabric store until I found a very close match. I made patterns off the tank then used thin armature wire for the structure that supports the matting portion and glued the bridal veil to it. I then pre-painted it a dingy brownish grey colour and later attached it (with super glue) to the painted tank.

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Picture 12 US 'Tanker' figures in the 'Jumbo' are available commercially from S&T Products and are, clockwise; STP35002 Tank Commander; STP35004 Loader; STP35003 Gunner; STP35005 Tank Driver; STP35006 Radioman.

Painting and Finishing

This is where the real fun begins! I began by painting the Jumbo a base colour of Tamiya XF62 Olive Drab, then random progressively lighter versions of the base colour (XF62 Olive Drab + XF60 Dark Yellow) to begin the weathering process. The suspension and lower half of the tank was then airbrushed with a 50/50 mix of XF49 Khaki and XF52 Flat Earth. The next step was to seal the base coat with Future Acrylic and the model was set aside to dry for a day or two. An oil paint wash (a mix of Raw Umber and black) was applied and when dry certain areas were further faded with a dry brush of a few different ‘buff coloured Humbrol enamels’. After studying colour photos of real Sherman tanks in combat I wanted that dirty, dusty look on my model so I got out the Mig Pigments and went to work. Colours used were European Dust, Gulf War Sand, and Light Dust. I scrubbed it into all the cracks and crevices as dirt and dust get trapped here, and rubbed off the pigment on the high spots where the crew was likely to be getting in and out. Random stains were created with oil paint and pencil lead on a few areas that would have any bare metal showing (like the welded-on metal storage rack across the bow) and I used Vallejo Satin acrylic on some high point for a polished look. Chipping was limited to ammo boxes, brackets and light metal objects, not the tank itself, as my photo reference did not show that happening to the paint used on US tanks.

Figure Painting Tips

The figures were tackled next and painted in my usual mix of paints: Vallejo, Humbrol, and a bit of artists’ oil colour. My philosophy on painting figures is to use whichever paint type works best for the effect I’m trying to achieve. For example, my faces are painted in Humbrol enamels, but details such as eyes and brows are done in Vallejo acrylics. The 5 o’clock shadow beard tone is done with thin oil washes. It’s a bit unorthodox, but it’s a system I’m comfortable with.

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Base and Groundwork

The next task at hand was to create a natural environment that would pull the whole scene together. The ruined building was based on an old Kirin (I think?) resin casting and detailed with homemade stucco, window casings, scratch built interior, roof bits and lots of 1:35 scale brick/rubble. This was painted completely before it was locked down permanently to a custom base created for me by my friend Jim at S&T Products. The road was built up in styrofoam to vary the height of the ground work and covered in a mix of Spackle powder, Burnt Umber acrylic paint, plenty of white glue and a final dusting of fine dirt and debris. Hudson and Allen forest litter was used to represent fallen leaves. Once dry the base was painted in various earth tone Humbrol enamels, oils and Vallejo acrylics. Final finishing was done with a light airbrush misting of a dust colour and Mig pigments to tone the work together by marrying all the elements together, the tank, building, tree and groundwork.

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Picture 16 Hudson & Allen US ration boxes have been attached to the hull front. Picture 17 Big tarpaulins and other stowage on the 'Jumbo's' engine deck.

This diorama was an extremely rewarding experience, although time consuming from the aspect of the large amount of scratch built figures that had to be created. I loved the challenge of creating little humans (hopefully full of character, expression, and detail) and sculpting back again in a scale I haven’t worked in for a while. The end result of pushing yourself is that you grow as an artist or modeller and the process broadens your skill base. Remember the old saying: ‘The man that does nothing makes no mistakes’, so try something new and always have fun!