Ambush at Poteau

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This gallery has 6.33% of the users' votes.

By: jörg fiedler

Manufacturer(s): FCM 1/76 Ambush at Poteau

Modifications: Only straps for the guns. Nameplate from a lokal copy shop.

Description: Figures after the famous pictures taken on the 18th of December 44 by a german PK-Photograher after the attack on an american convoy near poteau during the battle of the bulge. Vignette on a 50x50 GW base. All fig were painted with vallejo colours. Gras is from mininatur.

Judge 1: Very nicely painted figures on an eye-catching base! I like the fact that the composition is based on an actual photo (this would even be more effective if you placed the original photo next to your vignette)! Groundwork is excellent with nice edging around the base. Figures are well painted but can use a bit more definition in terms of dark shadows and highlighting. Otherwise very nice.
Judge 2: You’ve chosen an interesting subject to your diorama. The fact that the work is based upon a real photo catches extra attention. It would be better to place this photo or at least give a link to it if it’s somewhere in the Internet. It also would be better to write a short cover story about the event (ambush at Poteau) you’ve mentioned. Still, as far as I know, that day Germans inflicted heavy damage to Allied convoy, and looking at your grim soldiers I can easily believe this. Terrain of your work is simple. You’ve invested some efforts to recreate grass, but having no photo the work is based upon it’s hard to find out whether the grass is authentic. As for me, I’m not sure that in December we can see such high and green grass. The figures are painted in rather dull colors, still, the work benefits from it because such coloration provides extra grim impression. I’d advice you to use more shades and highlights to make the figures livelier. And pay more attention to weapons – some drybrushing could raise their details thus making their appearance more interesting.
Judge 3: I like this little scene it really captures a the post battle feeling. The figures are well done with only a few minor touchups having been missed here and there. The colour of the pea dot uniforms is very good and the pattern is not bad for this scale. You could further improve your figures by paying closer attention to the small detiails such as edges of the webbing, buckles and deep shading. These sorts of things will lift you up to the next level. As has already been mentioned I wouldn't expect to see green grass at this time of the year in the Ardenne but over all this is quite a good vignette.