Why Dio Omaha or Utah???? (1 Viewer)

[Currahee Chris]

Hello Frogs!!

I have been contemplating doing a pretty massive dio on the Normandy landings- in particular Omaha. However, I got to thinking about it and began to ask myself- why?? For the most part- you would have a majority of the table covered in cliffside with concertina wire and sand- the other half would have various troops getting killed- what would make that an exciting dio?? I guess I ask because you see a lot of KC and Conte figs geared towards the landings- the German figures aren't really shooting down onto the beaches but more like they are shooting at targets opposite themselves. So it gets to be a posing factor for the Germans.

Plus, what about scenic pieces?? I remember Conte did that awesome pillbox set a few years back. But that is pretty much long gone. Build A Rama does some pretty cool bluff pieces but they can get pretty salty if you are doing a really large set. I guess I could just do my own but that would take someone with artistic talent- which I have none of.

I don't pose this question to minimize the sacrifice, that is DEFINATELY not my point- but, perhaps it is a way to honor their sacrifice. I guess I am just looking at it from a hobbyist perspective- you really don't get much in the way of germans- you just get a lot of Americans storming the beaches.

I remember seeing some dios that were displayed by people- I think Sceic2 did one that turned out pretty cool. I considered combining a "Landings/Airborne" drop and using a MASSIVE table and putting the landings on the one side and then over and beyond the cliffs, using my Normandy Village to show like the 101st taking a village while the troops are landing on the beaches. It's a great concept but good Lord, I am looking at 2 FULL SIZED plywood sheets to pull that off- somewhat big and bulky.

I dunno- just curious what everyone has to say about it.

STANDS ALONE!!
CC

 

[Robert E. Lee]

You could use the FJ MG42 and mortor teams for the germans but I would not recomend doing the dio. It would be incredibly expensive and static

 

[Harrytheheid]

Chris,
There's another thread on the forum that mentions the incredibly detailed 1/72 scale AFV's and figures available nowadays. Both from a space and expense point of view, would this be a better way for you to go rather than 1/30 scale?

 

[Currahee Chris]

I spent this weekend remeasuring my basement and getting an idea of where I can create "Hidey-Holes" for dioramas. After thinking on it for awhile, I was strongly considering doing Omaha and the normandy village assault on a massive table the size of 2 sheets of 6x8 plywood. But, then I decided against it.

Looking at the measurements I came up with this weekend- there are plenty of smaller areas that I can use to dio Omaha- this was a case, in my opinion, where bigger wasn't neccesairly better.

I have enough room in the basement to dio 5 major scenes on plywood- erasing Omaha as one now frees up a table to use for Stirling or BANNOCKBURN!!

STANDS ALONE!!
CC

 

[damian]

Chris
I deliberatley did not buy the K and C on the beach stuff back in 1999/2000. As much as I enjoyed Saving Private Ryan I wasn't up to recreating the landings. I concentrated on a Normandy village type scene with 81 st airborne facing off against Waffen SS. I did relent and buy the three recnet on the beach type figures in 2005. In my opinion the Conte Bloody Omaha series is the best for recreating the actual landing. The diorama is as you say a Stand Alone. You can always add on some Conte landing craft and if you get some palstics and pain them you can flesh it out.

Regards
Damian

 

[Harrytheheid]

I spent this weekend remeasuring my basement and getting an idea of where I can create "Hidey-Holes" for dioramas. After thinking on it for awhile, I was strongly considering doing Omaha and the normandy village assault on a massive table the size of 2 sheets of 6x8 plywood. But, then I decided against it.

Looking at the measurements I came up with this weekend- there are plenty of smaller areas that I can use to dio Omaha- this was a case, in my opinion, where bigger wasn't neccesairly better.

I have enough room in the basement to dio 5 major scenes on plywood- erasing Omaha as one now frees up a table to use for Stirling or BANNOCKBURN!!

STANDS ALONE!!
CC

Chris,
I reckon for Bannockburn, then you'll have to go for 1/72. Problem is the painting. You said you're no good at it and neither am I. Hmmmm....frustrating.
I'll get those pics to you ASAP.

 

[Currahee Chris]

Chris
I deliberatley did not buy the K and C on the beach stuff back in 1999/2000. As much as I enjoyed Saving Private Ryan I wasn't up to recreating the landings. I concentrated on a Normandy village type scene with 81 st airborne facing off against Waffen SS. I did relent and buy the three recnet on the beach type figures in 2005. In my opinion the Conte Bloody Omaha series is the best for recreating the actual landing. The diorama is as you say a Stand Alone. You can always add on some Conte landing craft and if you get some palstics and pain them you can flesh it out.
Regards
Damian

My sentiments exactly. Looking at this stuff now, this is the direction I am going to go.

 

[Currahee Chris]

Chris,
I reckon for Bannockburn, then you'll have to go for 1/72. Problem is the painting. You said you're no good at it and neither am I. Hmmmm....frustrating.
I'll get those pics to you ASAP.

Got the pics bro- very cool stuff- I am going to try to send you a vid of some buddies blowing up a wash machine over in Afghanistan- the one dude dropped a grenade into it and ran away and it went BOOM!!

 

[Harrytheheid]

Got the pics bro- very cool stuff- I am going to try to send you a vid of some buddies blowing up a wash machine over in Afghanistan- the one dude dropped a grenade into it and ran away and it went BOOM!!

Chris,
Like the new Avatar - and I did think you would be a Pink Floyd devotee.
Will watch the movie clips when I get back to my hotel tonight. Almost finished in this sandbox. Germany on Sunday.

 

[Warrior]

Chris,
I'm alittle late to this party, but here is my .02 for what it's worth.

Omaha would be a great dio, but you have already pointed out the problems associated with it. I thought about doing the same thing myself, one of the 20mm companies I rep came out with a boatload of Omaha Beach Americans and I thought about doing a dio, but as you pointed out, it's mostly beach and the bluffs with bunkers and pillboxes on it, so I canned the idea.

I think your other idea is better in terms of dio possibilities; do the french countryside, the bocage country with a village thrown in for good measure. The possibilities are endless, as are the terrain items. As you pointed out, you already have the K & C village. Conte does a terrific set of hedgerows, he does a great french farm complex with three buildings and a wall section as well. Companies like CTS and Formtech and Hobby Bunker do some nice pillboxes, bunkers, buildings, etc to spruce things up as well.

Doing a dio like that allows you to use US and German vehicles, loads of troops, it would be sweet, let me know if you need any help putting together the terrain if you go down that road. Building the terrain boards is a no brainer as well, I could walk you through that too, I think overall, it would be first rate.............

 

[Fubar]

Chris, I'll second Georges comments. Theres no real reason your diorama has to be a permanent display. You could do a very nice convincing diorama that you can put up and take down at will. It might not have that total diorama perfect look , but you will be suprised at how effective some simple foamcore bunkers on a terrain boards, even fabrics can look.
I havent done Omaha Beach yet{ I have enough, more than enough painted bunkers, trenches and obstacles, just havent done it} but have done all kinds of wargame and displays for many different periods. All of which I take apart and put away.


Maybe try a single 4 x 8' to start with.

Fub

 

[Currahee Chris]

Thanks for the comments guys- Fub, looks really cool!! If you recall, I did ask on the Conte thread about the measurements on their Omaha sets- I believe you provided me the measurements. This dilemma was the impetus for that question.

George also expressed to me some similar thoughts I had regarding the loss of life- especially all the young men who left their all their on the beach. I desperately want to convey something similar as a tribute to them but am just perplexed. Of course- what's the rush?? I've still easily got 30+ years of collecting time ahead of me.

Of course, now seeing Fub's dio and then George's comments, I am back thinking on that 2 plywood table jobber again.

Really knew I should have grabbed that Conte Bunker set back when!!

STANDS ALONE!!
CC