My latest project has been a diorama of an IS-2 tank. This was a difficult project, for a number of reasons. Firstly, I was very disappointed with the quality of the kit itself. The kit is by PST. I was impressed with the quality of the KV-1 tank I had done by the same company, but this kit for some reason had a lot of problems. There was lots of flash – to the point that I had to actually carve some of the small pieces out of the flash! The handholds on the turret I simply discarded and made my own out of light gauge wire.




The figure is an old pewter German with a Panzerfaust. I’m assuming he’s SS, due to the camouflage smock. I used a pattern from a uniform reproduction website I found. The damaged building and sidewalk came from another kit, an old Revell German armored car kit I picked up. I glued a second story in out of foamboard and used floor textures from paper buildings that I use for wargaming.


I weathered the tracks with pastels, as well as the residue behind the exhaust outlets. The broken in glass on the floor inside the building are cut up pieces of a clear Pepsi bottle, and the broken pieces of rafter are made from a fireplace match.




Finally, the cobblestone street is made from an assortment of dried beans and nuts, with a light brown wash over top, and pastels to even out the look.