Post edited 07:26 – 11/02/2010 by admin
1942 El Alamein: The Inspection
This diorama is set after the fierce battle at El Alamein in 1942. Depicts an inspection over a British destroyed and abandoned Crusader MK II.
The Crusader (an Italeri kit n.6385 ) was one of my first ever build models. So I took the decision to recycle it for a 'burning improvement '! 
The figures are also '2nd hand' and are Dragon's 'old generation' sets with small modifications for the case.
The
Crusader as said before was already painted and to fit the scene was treated with
Mig pigments: Black Smoke with the addition of oxide and various shades
of rust.
A bit of white pigment White Ashes was added near the wheels, where the rubber was burned out. (The photos are not updated with this detail)
Deformations caused by explosions were gained with a lighter 
. As a reference for reproducing the scene I used New Vanguard – Crusader Cruiser Tank 1939 to 1945. Excellent source of reference on the Crusader tanks.
The
whole idea is to represent a little chaos that reigned in DAK: Uniforms
messy, out of order and exchange of resources between the different
divisions.
To this end I gave a touch of color as you can see some red or blue handkerchiefs around their necks. In general, the clothing has many different shades, from yellow to very faded green.
The
first divisions of DAK to arrive in Africa were still equipped with the
normal European clothing and were put together very quickly. It
was not uncommon that many specially lightened their uniforms, as for camouflage issues as to make some scene on the newcommers.
The figure above the Crusader is a resin kit of Toro. The
Kubelwagen Type 82, is a model produced by Tamiya and it belongs to Ramcke division, as we have also near it a Ramcke officer enjoying the scene.
Used kits:
Crusader MK II Italeri kit 6385
KubelWagen type 82 dak Tamiya
Figures: Dragon – Toro – Soldati.
Books:
21st Panzer Division – Rommel's Afrika Korps Spearhead.
New Vanguard – Crusader cruiser tank
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