Well some of you already know that I won't be getting much in the way of scratchbuilding or new kits done for a couple of months while I finish my uni degree (long story but my accommodation for the semester will be very dynamic). But I am planning to take the opportunity to get back into some painting and actually finish off some models on dioramas. Although I am very much looking forward to the new figures that Jon (Paulson) will be releasing soon, I figure since it's been so long since I've painted anything I might as well cut my teeth on something simple...
... and by simple I actually mean a mini diorama.
So I was cleaning out a lot of my modelling junk last week and realised that I still have an unpainted squad of Pathfinders that belong to my army. Even if I do happen to have a game of 40k any time soon, I can't see myself using these guys so I figured I might as well stick a couple of them into a diorama.
So the story is this: two Pathfinders and a miniature surveillance drone are on a long mission stealthily creeping round to the enemy's flank. They have stopped momentarily inside a crater - one of them remaining at the ready while the other takes an opportunity to clean his helmet optics.
As it turns out, I've only ended up using one metal pathfinder, mainly because I hate working with metal minis (has anyone else noticed that white metal stinks?) and I was planning to have one guy crouched down. So my second Pathfinder is actually a heavy conversion using Fire Warrior and Tank Commander bits I had in my bits box. Some filing and greenstuff later and I think he looks even better than the metal one!
The drone I went to town with using styrene and Koto detailing parts. It's based heavily off the drone designs Cirillo did for the 4th ed Tau concept artwork. It's turned out quite nicely I think (note it still needs some greenstuff work around the engine area to fill gaps).
As a base for the diorama, I specially cast a cylinder of resin with black pigment. Came out quite nicely (although I didn't use enough mould release so getting it out of the cup I cast it in was a mission!). After hacking the top off at some angles I then whacked down some styrofoam to lay out the basic terrain shape. The idea was that this would be just part of a large crater. The groundwork is a mix of PVA glue, water, backyard dirt, talus, tiny rocks and talc (only used because I couldn't find any plaster around). This was my first time using this mix and I think it worked quite well, although I would recommend mixing the glue with water and then applying it to the mix (I just mixed everything together).
So now comes the nitty gritty: how to lay this thing out. You can see I've temporarily positioned my two Pathfinders and drone but I'm not real happy with it. The crouching pathfinder will have his gun by his side, but I still feel that they need some more equipment or something. As shown I have the drone advancing out over the top of the crater. I imagine he's moving forward to scout ahead. I know Warhound will say "I told you so" but I do feel a little like the minis are getting lost on the base.
Thoughts? Suggestions?