Diorama of the Battle of Gazala featuring British tanks, soldier figurines, and black smoke in the desert Lee Airfix 1/32 scale model kit of the British M3 Grant tank, depicted in the midst of battle in the desert

The Lee

The Battle of Gazala: a pivotal moment in the clashes between the British and Rommel's Italian-German forces...

This will be the subject of several dioramas, of which this is the first, viewed from the British side. It features vehicles typical of the North African front. The first is the Grant tank (the Lee modified by the British) by Airfix in 1/32 scale. It’s an old model (1976), but it’s still interesting.

The goal, once again, is to present a foreground and then a background to create a sense of depth...

Sand-painted tank model parts placed on the assembly instructions There are no photo-etched parts for this kit at this scale. It has a lot of openings, and it would be a shame to leave them closed just because the interior is empty! So you’ll need to build the interior to some extent. We cut out the interior to make room and accommodate the engine bulkhead. The front and rear fenders are sanded down to the correct thickness...

Tank model under construction, showing the detailed interior compartment on a cutting mat Installing the drivetrain using parts from the surplus box. The seats are glued in place. Evergreen plastic is used to secure the interior trim strips. The engine bulkhead is installed...

Model parts being assembled, with a black-painted turret on the workbench

The turret shaft is made from a coffee pod—it's just the right size for this scale!

A sand-colored armored vehicle model kit with an open turret slot on the workbench

The turret shaft in place with its openings. A mesh floor has been added...

Tank model under construction, showing the detailed interior of the sand-colored fighting compartment A look at the progress of the work: the dashboard is in place, with the two .50-caliber machine guns below it. The 75mm gun is mounted on its cradle...

A beige tank model under construction, showing detailed interiors of the gun, engine, and turret

Another view...

Scale model of an anti-tank gun being assembled, with the carriage, shield, and seat laid out on a drawing

A close-up of the main gun...

Interior of a miniature tank turret currently being outfitted, with painted details and equipment

Installation of the radio (30-caliber), the breech of the 37-mm gun, and various accessories in the turret...

Beige resin model parts and brass photo-etched parts mounted on a pencil sketch A resin episcope is mounted on the ceiling above the 75mm gun, and others are mounted in the turret hatches...

Beige plastic tank hull being assembled, featuring a detailed interior layout

Another view showing, in particular, the rails with their bolts...

Painting

Model tank parts painted sand and white; hull, turret, and gun disassembled

The entire structure is coated with a layer of white primer, which makes it easier to see!

Detailed interior of a tank model featuring a gun, turret mechanisms, and a fighting compartment Next, painting the interior. A somewhat dirty white. We start with a light gray and finish with a white drybrush, then apply a wash after it's completely dry...

Model of the American M3 Lee tank being painted sand-colored; interior of the turret visible with shells

Another view...

Model of an American M3 Grant tank currently being painted sand-colored and primed gray Model of an M3 Grant tank currently being painted sand-colored and primed gray 3 photos showing the assembly of the upper and lower sections. Liquid putty was applied to all the seams to finish the assembly. Note that the inner fender liners—on the exhaust side—were made from plastic card, since they were not included in the kit. The protective cover for the 75mm gun barrel is made of toilet paper. The headlight covers have been remade from lead sheet. The seam between the two turret halves must be invisible...

Top view of a gray British tank model next to paint cans

The base acrylic paint is a dark green (H330) from Hobby Color...

Model of a British tank made of light-colored sand, with its separate turret placed next to it

Then we move on to hairspray—24 hours later—followed by Hobby Color H85 varnish...

Model of an American M3 Grant tank painted gray, mounted on a painted base

Next, we treat the entire tank...

Model of an American M3 Grant tank in sand-colored paint scheme, three-quarter front view

Model of an M3 Lee American tank in weathered green with its two guns at the Battle of Gazala

You apply and wear down the green camouflage in the same way. H303 green FS34102 Hobby Color...

Model of a British M3 Grant tank in green camouflage, three-quarter rear view

A wash consisting of 70% black and 30% umber was applied to the details throughout the entire piece...

Model of a British M3 Grant tank, viewed in profile, with gear secured to the tracks

Dust is added to the rocker panels as well as the front and rear—H318 Hobby Color radome...

Model of a British-style, weathered American M3 Grant tank, three-quarter front view on a white background

Note that this 1942 version, as seen in the magazine "Bataille de Blindés," is not an almost-white sand color but leans toward light gray...

Model of British M3 Grant tank, number 52, in a desert diorama featuring armored vehicles

The finished vehicle placed on its display stand...

The Humber Car

"Monty's" Humber! Best known among modelers as General Montgomery's command car when he took command in August 1942... More of a truck than a car...

Military vehicle model parts being assembled, with seats and body based on a pencil sketch

It's an older kit, but it's easy to assemble. The seats and folding top have been improved...

Painting

Model of a gray German convertible under construction, showing the interior layout of the seats

As with any vehicle interior, we start by painting...

Model of a vintage car painted in a sand color, masked with tape before painting

First base coat: Tamiya HF52 Flat Earth...

Sand-colored military vehicle model, interior masked off, wheels and body being painted

Then, for the highlights: Tamiya XF59 Desert Yellow...

Model of a sand-colored convertible military vehicle, with the interior concealed and the wheels removed and placed next to it

Finish: Tamiya XF57 buff...

Model of a sand-colored convertible military vehicle with a green body and tarp, three-quarter rear view

A final dry brush stroke using Humbrol 237 + white will be applied...

Sand-colored British military convertible car model with an RAF roundel, registered as M244956

Applied the paint, and, after it dried, applied the decals. The windshield was treated with matte varnish...

Dusty model of a German military convertible with an ammunition box and a rear tarp

Paint on the soft top, weathered decals, and a thin layer of dust along the edges of the body and wheels...

Model of a German military convertible on a desert diorama with tanks in the background

The finished vehicle, set against its backdrop...

The Daimler Scout Car

Tamiya 1/35 scale model kit of the Daimler Scout Car Mk II with three soldier figures

A small, attractive vehicle widely used in the Desert War, but also in Europe...

Sand-colored model of a British armored vehicle placed on top of the assembly instructions It's easy to assemble, but like all model kits, it will require a little touch-up work—first, removing the mold sprues...

Model of a British armored car in desert sand livery with a detailed interior and cargo The very open interior will be given more detail. Two radios are installed behind the seats. Trim strips and rods run along the perimeter of the frame. Accessories such as bags and weapons will complete the look. The tarp is made of thin toilet paper. The whole thing is painted...

Painting

Gray British tank models and an armored vehicle currently being assembled and painted

Base: same as the Grant and the Matilda—Hobby Color HC 330 dark green...

Scale model of a sand-colored, weathered armored reconnaissance vehicle for the Cyrenaica campaign

Then do the same thing with hairspray...

Scale model of a British Daimler Dingo armored car in desert sand camouflage

The top of the body has been whitewashed, and a green camouflage stripe has been added. Applying the decals...

Scale model of a British open-top armored car featuring sand-colored paint, a pronounced desert patina, and a chassis number

Then the final dusting...

Model of a British armored car and tanks on a desert diorama depicting the Battle of Gazala

The vehicle in place on its set...

The Matilda II

The two versions from Tamiya (a Russian version has since been released). The box on the right, which is newer, features improved details. The kit on the left was used in this diorama and has been upgraded...

Sand-colored tank model currently under construction, with the turret detached and the interior visible A very unique tank, worthy of a place in any collection. Of course, since the hatches are open, I had to create a semblance of an interior. Once again, the surplus box came in handy. Some parts are custom-made, others are added. Seats, a .30-caliber machine gun, and a breech for the gun in the turret, along with various accessories. You can see the radio mounted at the rear of the turret...

Model of a British Matilda tank in sand-colored paint scheme, side view during assembly

In this version, many missing details have been added...

Model of a British Matilda tank currently being assembled with primer and putty Exhaust upgrades, fuel tank caps. The front and rear fenders have been refined...

Model of a British Matilda II tank currently being assembled, with sand-colored paint and primer Turret hatches, hull mounts, roll bars, and track pads. Rearview mirror stem rebuilt (a rearview mirror on a tank!!!). Then liquid sealant to finish the joints...

Painting

Sand-textured British Matilda tank model, with separate hull and turret, desert sand patina

So, a dark green base coat, then hairspray: Tamiya XF59 Desert Yellow and Hobby Color HC85 Veil...

Model of a British tank with the turret separated from the chassis, showing the interior of the fighting compartment

Next, for the camouflage: Hobby Color HC70 RLM02 field gray + white and HC48 field gray...

Model of a British Matilda II tank, viewed in profile, painted sand-colored with a dust-like patina Following a controversy over the claim that British tanks were never painted blue, the camouflage will now lean toward green-gray and gray-blue—more realistic and less visible...

The second Matilda II

Model of a British Matilda II tank being painted in green and sand camouflage

We always assume that a diorama is viewed from a distance, so the tanks in the background will be cut off and painted differently to enhance the effect. It will therefore be cut off laterally along one-third of the right side. The interior isn’t detailed, aside from the turret hatches, since it’s barely visible. There’s no rear fuel tank—few Matildas had one in the desert...

Painting

Model of a British Matilda II tank, viewed from the side; gray primer, unpainted Here, too, the paint job is less "detailed" because the tank is part of the background scenery and is therefore less prominent. After applying a base coat of green, Hobby Color HC85 was applied as a wash...

Model of a camouflaged British Matilda II tank, viewed in profile, with barrels and gear on the roof A green camouflage pattern—found in a photo from the period in question—is painted over the entire vehicle. The large components are painted a uniform color to blend in with the surroundings...

Models of British Matilda tanks with red pennants in a desert diorama

The two Matildas in place on the diorama...

The Crusader III

Italeri 1/35 scale model kit of the British Crusader III tank, No. 219 The Crusader III by Italeri. Here is a beautiful photo of the model built by François Verlinden when it was first released...

Crusader tank model parts being assembled with clamping weights

The kit is cut along one-third of its length, including the turret. The track is positioned and glued in place...

Model of a British Crusader tank currently being assembled, with a sand-beige hull and an unpainted gray turret

Assembly. A few details added, including some in the turret...

Model of a British Crusader tank being assembled, with the turret open, viewed from the front

A "cross-section" view!

Painting

Unpainted British Crusader tank model, viewed in profile, with five wheels and a turret

Paint: Hobby Color HC85 veil...

Model of a British Crusader tank in desert sand camouflage, side view

Applying the decals and painting the side markings.

Model of a British Crusader tank in desert sand colors, three-quarter front view

Another view...

Model of a British Crusader tank in sand-colored paint scheme on a desert diorama of Gazala The vehicle is in place...

The Setting

A 55x35 cm sheet of plywood. Frame it using moldings...

Scale models of World War II tanks and military vehicles lined up on a display stand

A diorama base painted white with painted figurines placed next to it A 2-cm-thick sheet of "roofmat" (high-density polystyrene) is cut to raise the diorama within the frame, leaving a 5-mm gap all around. The edge of the panel is painted with matte black acrylic paint...

Diorama of British tank and vehicle models in the Cyrenaican Desert The ground is made from tile adhesive. “Pierruche”—a yellow powder used to grout cut stone—is sprinkled on top, along with some pebbles and a few blades of grass planted here and there. Before it dries, press a few tracks from caterpillars and wheels into the surface, taking into account that the ground is more or less hard. Finish by spraying the ground with liquid wood glue using a spray bottle.

Glue each vehicle to its respective spot using wood glue.

The background set piece is a 54x37 cm panel...

The figurines

Fifteen figurines of British soldiers and tank crew members bring the whole set to life. They have been modified to varying degrees upon request...

British soldier figurines being painted, some with a gray primer, others with a beige primer

The second one from the right is the only one in 1/32 scale that will be kept to display in the foreground...

Once assembled, they are treated with liquid putty for the seams. The skin is painted with acrylic paint, the straps and weapons with Winsor & Newton oil paint, and the rest with Humbrol oil paint...

The Background of the Set

Painted diorama backdrop depicting a blue sky above the sandy desert of Cyrenaica

The panel is painted with a brush. A white-blue sky against a desert backdrop...

A thick column of black smoke rising above the desert under a turquoise sky

Plumes of smoke rise in the wake of the recent battle... The entire scene was painted with an airbrush...

A destroyed tank billowing a thick column of black smoke in the Cyrenaican Desert We're emphasizing the effects to match the color of the background. The unpainted areas are those of the two tanks in the background...