Afrika Korps pictures - First try at diorama pictures, incredible FL detail! (1 Viewer)

[phoenix26]

Here is my first attempt at Afrika Korps diorama pictures. I'm still working on lighting and the colour of the "sand". From other photos I've seen I think the sand needs to be more golden in colour. If any of you have actually been to North Africa I would appreciate some feedback. More to come...

 

[Obee]

If you add a couple of figures, you can make this picture from North Africa in WW2:



John

 

[villagehorse]

You have done an excellent job, look forward to seeing more. The sand looks fine by the way. Robin.

 

[TomNT]

Nice little dio and pic's mate.

Tom

 

[Grognard]

Nice dio indeed! I think you are fine with the sand. I have been to Morocco many times including in the South at Ouarzazate where the desert starts and the sand has different colors depending on where you are (red to gold) and the sun light but it's not white for sure :wink2:

 

[Andanna]

This looks very nice. Great start into a different aspect of this hobby. The quality of the figures does not hurt of course.

 

[katana]

Nice scene and very realistic except for the uniform colors.. I do not understand why the DAK FL figures uniforms are Fieldgrau overall
.
German uniform references show a typical DAK uniform consists of a Sand color M43 fieldmutz and Sand color pants or shorts; not the overall Fieldgrau uniform color, only the tunic is typically Fieldgrau (Greygreen). The steel helmets should also be Sand color. The Sand color hats, pith helmets and steel helmets are necessary to reflect the sun in the desert heat. Does anyone else find these FL DAK uniform colors unusual?

View attachment 200842View attachment 200843View attachment 200844

Here is my first attempt at Afrika Korps diorama pictures. I'm still working on lighting and the colour of the "sand". From other photos I've seen I think the sand needs to be more golden in colour. If any of you have actually been to North Africa I would appreciate some feedback. More to come...

 

[Panzer]

Nice scene and very realistic except for the uniform colors.. I do not understand why the DAK FL figures uniforms are Fieldgrau overall
.
German uniform references show a typical DAK uniform consists of a Sand color M43 fieldmutz and Sand color pants or shorts; not the overall Fieldgrau uniform color, only the tunic is typically Fieldgrau (Greygreen). The steel helmets should also be Sand color. The Sand color hats, pith helmets and steel helmets are necessary to reflect the sun in the desert heat. Does anyone else find these FL DAK uniform colors unusual?

Hello Katana.

The uniforms shown on the two figures are correct in design and color. Both are wearing the early model M40 Herr Tropical Tunic. The original tunic color was olive drab (green) and was made from cotton twill fabric. As with all dying runs, the green olive drab color could vary slightly from manufacturer to manufacture and could even vary slightly within different dying runs from the same manufacturer.

Later, during the Tunisian campaign, a second model tunic was introduced. There were a few differences between the two models, most notably the first model was olive color, had pleated pockets with pointed flaps above the pockets and the later model was a brown color with unpleated pockets and flat even flaps.

The early model tunic is the most common in circulating DAK photos. The uniforms tended to fade with sun bleaching during wear and harsh washings so many of these tropical uniforms eventually faded to a variety of shades including sand color.

Of the two displayed figures, one is wearing the Heer Visored Hat and the other is wearing the Heer Oversees Cap both made of cotton twill in the original olive drab color. In circulating photos, you see these in a variety of shades also due to sun fading and washing but many of these were a result of the troops whitening their hats in water with dissolved anti-gas tablets (from their gas mask kits) in order to rid themselves of the “new guy in a new uniform” look to that of an “Old Salt” or veteran appearance.

The Heer M35 Tropical helmets were also issued in the olive drab color. Troops would often repaint these helmets with whatever tan or sand color paint they could find sometimes mixing the paint with sand.

I hope this helps.
Rick

 

[WesternOutlaw]

Hi Phoenix. I'm a King & Country collector but always enjoy seeing the wonderfully detailed figures by First Legion, esp. DAK. I like your picture(s). I've never used sand or synthetic sand in any of my N. Africa pictures, so I appreciate different ground ideas that collectors share.

I've made a few different N. Africa/Desert Village dios over this past year (DAK and British 8th), but always return to something along this shape. Seems to photograph well. Sorry it's not First Legion.


Arbet 'Asud (Village of the Four Lions) by Western Outlaw, on Flickr

I'd really like to use sand as ground cover and I even purchased a small container of plastic sand, but I can't bring myself to adding to my figures/vehicles.

Keep up the imagery and I will certainly check out your future pictures as you perfect your photography. :salute::

 

[katana]

Thanks for the information. Over time the original OD Tropical Uniform would fade to a medium brown and possibly a sand color; this would account for the variety of colors associated with DAK uniforms i.e. green, brown and sand. I presume that the OD used by FL reflects early DAK uniforms as issued, that have not been sun bleached. K&C and TG DAK uniforms show the typical mix of colors resulting from sun bleaching and long use; thus a variety of colors. I agree that the FL uniform designs and colors are correct; however showing a variety of the faded colors would be more realistic IMO.

Hello Katana.

The uniforms shown on the two figures are correct in design and color. Both are wearing the early model M40 Herr Tropical Tunic. The original tunic color was olive drab (green) and was made from cotton twill fabric. As with all dying runs, the green olive drab color could vary slightly from manufacturer to manufacture and could even vary slightly within different dying runs from the same manufacturer.

Later, during the Tunisian campaign, a second model tunic was introduced. There were a few differences between the two models, most notably the first model was olive color, had pleated pockets with pointed flaps above the pockets and the later model was a brown color with unpleated pockets and flat even flaps.

The early model tunic is the most common in circulating DAK photos. The uniforms tended to fade with sun bleaching during wear and harsh washings so many of these tropical uniforms eventually faded to a variety of shades including sand color.

Of the two displayed figures, one is wearing the Heer Visored Hat and the other is wearing the Heer Oversees Cap both made of cotton twill in the original olive drab color. In circulating photos, you see these in a variety of shades also due to sun fading and washing but many of these were a result of the troops whitening their hats in water with dissolved anti-gas tablets (from their gas mask kits) in order to rid themselves of the “new guy in a new uniform” look to that of an “Old Salt” or veteran appearance.

The Heer M35 Tropical helmets were also issued in the olive drab color. Troops would often repaint these helmets with whatever tan or sand color paint they could find sometimes mixing the paint with sand.

I hope this helps.
Rick

 

[fmethorst]

Some samples of German tropical uniforms

Heer















Luftwaffe







Frank

 

[Artillery_crazy]

Hi WesternOutlaw,

Great layout for this Desert Village....:salute:::salute:: Need to copy it myself on one of my dios....{sm4}
Cheers
Luiz

Hi Phoenix. I'm a King & Country collector but always enjoy seeing the wonderfully detailed figures by First Legion, esp. DAK. I like your picture(s). I've never used sand or synthetic sand in any of my N. Africa pictures, so I appreciate different ground ideas that collectors share.

I've made a few different N. Africa/Desert Village dios over this past year (DAK and British 8th), but always return to something along this shape. Seems to photograph well. Sorry it's not First Legion.


Arbet 'Asud (Village of the Four Lions) by Western Outlaw, on Flickr

I'd really like to use sand as ground cover and I even purchased a small container of plastic sand, but I can't bring myself to adding to my figures/vehicles.

Keep up the imagery and I will certainly check out your future pictures as you perfect your photography. :salute::

 

[katana]

Great photos Frank! They show the diversity in uniform color combinations that I expect in DAK troops. Also to be considered is the use of captured British and found Italian Uniforms; given the poor resupply situation. I read that Erwin Rommel had several pairs of British shorts.

Some samples of German tropical uniforms

Heer















Luftwaffe







Frank