A diorama featuring German tanks and soldiers in winter gear advancing through a snow-covered, ruined landscape “Can't wait for retirement, they used to say!” Model of a German Panzer IV tank in white winter camouflage, with the number 205 on the turret This diorama depicting the German retreat from the Eastern Front will feature three tanks and a substantial number of figures—78 in all...

The first tank is a Panzer IV Ausf. G modified into a Panzer IV Ausf. H, with, among other things, the addition of schürzen (armor plates)...

German Panzer IV tank model with white winter camouflage (No. 205) and weathered finish A photo of the vehicle, which was repainted and treated with hairspray to achieve the white finish...

Italeri model kit of the German Panzer IV ausf H tank, 1/35 scale The second tank is the old Italeri kit...

Model of a gray German tank currently under construction, featuring photo-etched parts and a long barrel ...It has been significantly improved with a metal barrel, track pads, photo-etched parts, and new separate armor plates...

Model of a German Panzer IV tank with worn white winter camouflage and a muddy patina It was painted in a sand-yellow and green camouflage pattern and then treated with hairspray to achieve the white color...

Model of a German Panzer IV tank, No. 316, with weathered finish, on a sandy terrain diorama A view of the scenery...

Dragon 1/35 scale model kit of the German StuG III Ausf. F assault gun, Sd. Kfz. 142/1 The third model is an assault gun—a Stug III Ausf. F...

Gray StuG III assault gun model with beige Schürzen side armor and photo-etched parts This one will also be equipped with schürzen, although generally speaking, most Stug III ausf Gs were equipped with them...

Gray German assault gun model with armor skirts and brass photo-etched parts Rear view - It comes with a nearly complete photo-etched kit...

Model of a German Stug III assault gun in worn white winter camouflage, side view A photo after painting...

Model of a German StuG III assault gun, No. 23, in winter camouflage, displayed on a diorama of muddy terrain ...And as for the scenery, it was finished with the usual washes and weathering, and finally accented with pastel powders...

Three scale models of German tanks at various stages of painting on a terrain diorama Aerial view showing the future placement of the tanks in the set...

The figurines

Numerous painted soldier figurines in gray winter uniforms arranged on a light-colored base A collection of painted German soldier figurines marching on a base Infantry troops. They’re made from resin miniatures and boxed plastic kits; some have been modified. The weapons on the resin versions have almost all been replaced because the resin warps the small parts, rendering them unusable. All the straps are added using thin sheets of lead...

Tank model with German soldiers sitting on the armor; currently under construction The soldiers' positions on the tank are based on a real vintage photograph...

Model of a German assault gun transporting numerous soldiers through the snow, Hungarian winter of 1945 After painting... The miniatures are painted using Humbrol oil-based paints and Winsor & Newton artist paints...

Diorama of a German assault gun, numbered 316, transporting soldiers across snow-covered terrain

Model of a German assault gun carrying numerous soldiers across snow-covered terrain

More views...

Top view of a tank model with gray resin soldier figures on a cutting mat The crew of the second Panzer IV...

Model of German assault gun No. 122 transporting soldiers in winter Model of a German winter tank carrying several soldier figures, Hungary 1945 diorama Rear view with the soldiers standing on the hood...

Model of a German assault gun in winter camouflage No. 23 transporting soldiers in white uniforms Model of a German assault gun, No. 23, in winter camouflage, transporting soldiers across muddy terrain Model of a German StuG No. 23 assault gun transporting soldiers in winter gear, Hungary, 1945 Model of a German tank in winter camouflage transporting soldiers across muddy, snow-covered terrain Five photos of the completed Stug III on its display base...

The Setting

Three models of German tanks with different finishes placed on a diorama of sandy terrain currently under construction It consists of an extruded polystyrene panel glued to a 41 cm x 78 cm MDF board...

Various objects and debris are scattered in the foreground. The whole scene is sprinkled with fine sand...

Diorama setting depicting muddy ground fading from dark brown to a whitish winter sky Then I painted the background with acrylic paint—from large tubes meant for artists—using winter mud as my inspiration...

Diorama base depicting a muddy, snow-covered terrain with tracks left by caterpillar tracks White powder is added to simulate snow. The final shot will depict a snow-covered field. We also apply thick, glossy, clear acrylic gel to the water holes and track marks...

A diorama featuring three German tanks in winter camouflage on snow-covered, muddy terrain littered with debris The tanks are glued to the diorama in their final positions using fast-setting wood glue...

A diorama featuring tanks and numerous soldier figurines advancing across a snow-covered winter landscape The figures in position with the troops and crews...

The Background Set

Diorama setting featuring the ruins of an isolated building against a misty gray sky Il est très simple : un paysage hivernal désolé et quelque ruine...

We cover up the damage before painting the background...

A winter diorama of a dilapidated, isolated building under a gray sky, with bare trees in the distance Quelques nuages dans un ciel couvert. On peint et détaille la ruine et on ajoute quelques arbres...