This annex 1.3 complements the Dioramas FAQ series and explores every aspect of diorama design and planning. What makes a good story and how can you get it across with models? Where can you find a good idea and how can you develop that idea into a successful project? How can you compose a diorama so that it tells its story best and looks good at the same time? How can you use colours, figures, accessories, scenery and bases effectively in your composition? How do you turn a historical photograph into a three dimensional scene? How do you plan a box diorama? This seemingly theoretical subject is treated in the most practical way, making it accessible and useful for every modeller. There are some differences between the Box Art and the Figures. Figure A is shown with his sleeves slightly rolled up, but the figure actually has full length sleeves. Three of the crew have the early style Mk I pistol holster with the long thigh strap. Although still used by some individuals, this style had by 1944 given way to the shortened thigh strap of the Mk II holster. Around the waist the figure wears a 37 pattern belt with a RAC Corps Mk I pistol holster. This is the style with the long thigh strap and the leg tie down and open toped pistol holster. The strap and a pistol lanyard are moulded to the right leg, as is the tie down. The holster and pistol handle come as a separate item and are quite well depicted and a small ammo pouch is once again included. MiniArt are to be congratulated for the effort put into these figures, the Mk I pistol holsters, whilst looking somewhat cool, weren’t really all that common by 1944, and I would have preferred the Mk II shortened version or the flapped holster instead. This figure is also dressed in the Light Denim Tank suit, this time wearing a British warm leather jerkin over the top. The garment is well depicted, as is the exposed part of the Denim Tank suit.

Following on from that, here is an In Box look at the first set of 1/35 plastic injection Tank Crew figures, the first generic set of British/Commonwealth plastic Tankers ever as far as I know. The figures are contained on 2 sprues that come sealed in a clear plastic bag. Also in the box is a small paper insert depicting the sprue parts and numbers corresponding to the build instructions on the reverse of the box.Staying behind the theatre of operations during WWII, the Feldgendarmerie closely worked with the Geheime Feldpolizei (Secret Field Police) and SS in the rear. Their duties were to monitor traffic and population control, fight with partisans as well as arrest and execute rebellions. According to some historians, the Feldgendarmerie soldiers were also involved in war crimes and Jewish purges in occupied territories. To complete the figure is a separate head complete with beret and goggles. The face and beret are well done, and this chap sports a moustache, the box art showing him with Officers brown boots.

You could use both Panzer Aces 317 and Vallejo 921 English Uniform for painting the British infantry uniform. Both colors are close in shade. This kit contains models of five figures: Totenkopf Division ( Kharkov 1943 ) & Weapons and Equipment This figure depicts a crewman in a standing position, head slightly bowed holding a map board in his left hand and a radio handset in his right. The figure consists of 14 parts; arms, separate right hand, legs, upper body, head, tankers helmet, goggles, map board, pistol holster and small ammo pouch and separate earphones. Around the waist the figure wears a 37 pattern belt with a RAC Corps Mk I pistol holster. This is the style with the long thigh strap and the leg tie down and open toped pistol holster. The strap and a pistol lanyard are moulded to the right leg, as is the tie down. The holster and pistol handle come as a separate item are quite well depicted, and to accompany that you also get a small ammo pouch.

Video review guide PT III: Hol(e)y Hetzer! - Exterior construction & detailing of Takom's 35th scale

This figure depicts a crewman in a standing position, hands on hips with legs slightly apart. The figure consists of 9 parts; arms, separate hands, legs, upper body, head complete with beret/goggles, with a pistol holster and small ammo pouch This is a 120mm figure painted entirely in Vallejos. The base colours for the uniform was British Uniform and for the webbing Khaki Drill. This figure is dressed as the others in the Light Denim Tank suit with all the correct detail being in place. This product is available in two scales, 1:35 and 1:24 and was painstakingly designed from scratch as a digital model. This set contains 56 parts moulded in light grey plastic. Depicted on the box top is a nice colour image of the 5 painted figures signed A Kapawyk (Andrey Karaschuk) 2008 whom I assume sculpted the figures, but that is a guess on my part. On the bottom is a very clear colour building and painting guide. Painting suggestions cover 8 of the more well know paint manufacturers paints which is a nice touch. The box measures 10” by 6 1/2” approx which is quite large and seems the standard size used by MiniArt for their figures.

I hope I was some help. A couple of years ago I painted the two Alpine British Tankers and I was happy with the way the colors came out. Around the waist the figure wears a 37 pattern belt with a RAC Corps Mk II pistol holster. This is the style with the short strap. The holster and pistol handle come as a separate item and are quite well depicted and to accompany that you also get a small ammo pouch. This figure depicts a crewman in a sitting position with the left leg designed to be inside a tank and the right leg bent resting on the cupola edge. The example I’ve see him used on was also a Sherman. The figure consists of 10 parts; arms, separate left hand. legs, upper body, head complete with beret, with a pistol holster and separate earphones. In the period between 1943 and 1945 the Feldgendarmerie were infamously known for chasing and executing deserters, many of which were wrongfully convicted. This gave the units a bad name "Kettenhunde" or "Chained Dogs" after the gorget they wore with their uniforms.

This figure depicts a crewman in the process of mounting a tank via the front glacial plate. The example I’ve see him used on was a Sherman. The figure consists of 9 parts; arms, legs, upper body, head and beret with pistol holster and pouch.

To complete the figure is a separate head complete with beret. This head also has reasonably good facial detail, and to add to the head you get 2 separate earphones.

4 Figures

This kit contains models of five figures: Miniart 1:35 - German Tank Crew ( Kharkov 1943 ) - Plastic Model Kit plus Weapons and Equipment - Includes Resin Heads The Feldgendarmerie were military police units formed in the Napoleonic era by the armies of several German kingdoms - Saxony, Württemberg, Prussian and Bavaria - which later became parts of the German Empire. In peacetime the units served with the Prussian Gendarmerie as a mounted police.