Omaha Beach info (1 Viewer)

[Crossroads]

I need a little help. I have a customer who is planning a diorama of Omaha Beach. He is looking for a 3D map of Omaha Beach and other information concerning troop layout and fortifications on D-Day. He is trying to get as realistic and accurate as possible with his diorama. Any information that you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Right now he is in the planning stages but is looking to do a diorama of about 5' x 5' in 1:32 scale.

Thanks
Ronnie
www.crossroadsdiecast.com

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Ronnie,

I would need to know a little more info does he have a certain sector in mind? I am sure there are lots of good maps out there and if the area is narrowed down it would be helpful. I will do some checking on a few of the sites out there and let you know where would be good to look. Please try and narrow the focus a bit.

Dave

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Ronnie,

Have him google Omaha Beach and he will find a bunch of sites that have maps and photos he can look at. There is an extensive article in wikipedia also as well as a very detailed report with photos and maps from an Army site.

I will see is there is a 3D map site I seem to recall hearing about one from an Engineer friend so if there is one I post the info

Dave

 

[binder001]

As stated, it depends on which sector you want. Omaha had a number of variations. Some quick suggestions - look at several of the Osprey books including "Operation Overlord", "DDay - Omaha Beach", and I forget the exact title, but Steve Zaloga did an excellent volume on the German fortifications in the Osprey series (I'm at work, but can verify when I get home). There is also "Spearheading DDay" by Jonathan Gawne - an ABSOLUTE MUST for anyone looking at historical accuracy for US forces on DDay.

What scale are you considering? Omaha was a big place - lots of open ground for killing zones, then there was that bluff! To show the scale of Omaha, even in 1/72nd would take a big diorama!

You also have to decide "when"... the situation changed rapidly, even in the hell-hole areas where casualties were heaviest. Despite the heavy losses SOME armor made it ashore in certain areas, there were different landing craft in different areas and different waves. The Army-Navy combined engineer teams were among the early arrivals and suffered major casualties.

I recommend starting with Gawne's book and then work out from there.

Gary

 

[Crossroads]

Thanks for the info. I will forward your suggestions and see if he has narrowed his focus any.

Ronnie
www.crossroadsdiecast.com

 

[panda1gen]

Try Heimdall publications they are excelelent and have one book for every beach sector in great detail....plus much more

 

[Beaufighter]

Cheers Forum Squadron Members:

I thought you would find the following very interesting...

New Aerial Tour of the Normandy D-Day Beaches

LONDON, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The London-based tour operator, British Tours Ltd, is now offering aerial guided tours by low flying aircraft of the D-Day invasion beaches.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070227/NYTU001 )

Accompanied by a military expert guide, the tour flies by private twin- engined plane over Portsmouth Harbour, where General Eisenhower's headquarters were stationed and across the English Channel to the Normandy beaches.

Dramatic views of D-Day's historic landmarks can be witnessed from low- altitude, including:

- Omaha beach, where the U.S. 1st infantry division and 29th infantry
division came ashore
- The Pointe du Hoc cliffs, scaled by 2 U.S. Rangers on D-Day
- Utah Beach, where the U.S. 4th infantry division landed
- Pegasus Bridge, captured by British 6th Airborne Division Glider Troops
- Juno and Sword Beaches, where British commandos and Canadian infantry
divisions came ashore
- Mulberry Harbour, which protected the landings of the vast numbers of
men and vehicles during the invasion

Landing at Cherbourg, the tour continues by ground to St. Mere Eglise -- the first town to be liberated by the Allies -- Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc cliffs and the American Cemetery featured in the opening scenes of 'Saving Private Ryan', where 9,387 American military dead are laid to rest. Lunch is in a local fishing port. The return journey to England flies over Chichester, Arundel Castle and Guildford Cathedral.

Apart from the unique drama of the day, the new flying tours have hugely cut the journey time to reach Normandy, allowing the sights to be offered in a single day tour from London of just 10 to 11 hours. Normandy tours by train from London, and by car from Paris are also available.

The cost for a party of 5 people is 3,350 pounds Sterling (per party), which includes airport transfers, tour guide, private plane flights and aerial tour, and transportation in Normandy.

British Tours Ltd has trained seven guides for this tour. They include a former pilot in the Royal Air Force, a former diplomat, a military lecturer and a modern historian educated at Oxford.

British Tours Ltd has specialised in private tours in London, Britain, and Europe since 1958.

For further information see http://www.britishtours.com/normandy.html or contact Jason Doll-Steinberg, Marketing Manager, British Tours Ltd at normandy@britishtours.com.

British Tours Ltd, 49 Conduit Street, London W1S 2YS, Tel + 44 (0) 207 734 8734.

http://www.britishtours.com

 

[sceic2]

Considering that a 1:30 scale Busmark would be 35-feet long, how big would a Normandy diorama be if it were accurate and true to scale? Miles is my guess.