1/48 scale Diorama built by Steve Brauning, finished Oct. 2001

The most advanced airplanes (rocket armed Me262's) and the most advanced tanks (Tiger II and JadgTiger) meet.

An ad hoc armored column makes a stop at the improvised JG 7 base(*Parchim or Rechlin-Larz) in late March/early April 1945. The tankers check out the 262's while pilots look over the tanks, all under the watchful eye of heavy anti-aircraft cover. Several tankers and ground crew discuss the lack of fuel over empty fuel barrels and jerry cans.

The scene being depicted is, admitedly, hypothetical. The locations are documented III/JG7 bases, but the presence of an armored column is based on conjecture. It is plausable though, because during the last few months of the war there were armor movements either through or around central and southern Germany. These movements were attempts to reinforce certain garrisons(Budepest, for example), movement toward forming a "Festung Alpen", attempts by decimated units and isolated troops to re-form behind the lines, or even to escape the lines(S.S. for example knew that they were especially "targeted" by Allied troops, and some tried to escape to rear areas).

Elements of the Diorama

Aircraft:

View of the Me262's

1. Trimaster MA-12 Me262A-1a "Jabo" w/ Wgr. 21 mortar rockets "Green 1" III/JG7

Pilot: Rudi Sinner

Markings: Decals from Cutting Edge #48054

Accesories: Engine Covers: Scale Model Accessories; Monogram figure pointing out 30mm guns; Elan figure holding Wgr. 21 cm mortar rocket; Tanker observing.(click on the thumbnails for larger photos).

2. Monogram #5453 Me262A-1a "Yellow 7" III/JG7

Markings: Decals from DML "Jabo" kit, fuselage band from Cutting Edge.

Jaguar tanker looking into engine, Elan ground crewman standing by; Trimaster ground crewman showing a R4M rocket to Bandai tanker figure.

Vehicles, Figures, & Accesories:

View of the tanks

1. Mitsuwa Tiger II tank: Jaguar tanker holding 88mm shell; GasoLine tanker in hatch; Elan pilot observing

2. Mitsuwa Tigerjager tank: Jaguar tanker w /hand on gun barrel, Trimaster pilot figure (from He162) observing.

3. Bandai Opel Mautlier Half Track w/ 20mm flak (Verlinden)w/ crew: Bandai, Fuman, SMA figures

4. GasoLine quad 20mm flak 38 on roof, w/ SMA crew (2 members), a Bandai seated gunner, & Jaguar tanker carrying ammo box;

5. Also on roof: Bandai "Sapper" figure manning MG34 machine gun on A-A tripod mount.

6. Misc. Figures -

Equipment & House Furnishings:

1. Workshop & Fuel depot: Welding Cart, Air Compressor, cylinders, etc. "Berkshire Valley "O" gauge; Tarmac barrels; Bandai jerry cans; Trimaster ground crew holding jerry can (upside-down), Monogram pilot figure, and Bandai tanker observing

Close-up of house, etc.

2. House furnishings: Desk, wooden barrels,bathtub, pump, etc. - Berkshire & Selley Finishing Touches "O" Gauge; misc. figures inside; Fuman figure on low roof leaning on railing.

Building made from Design Preservation Models, "O" Scale modular wall system, 900 series;lighting kit adapted from doll house kit. For more info, see the "How to build dioramas..." section.

Cobblestone road - Vollmer embossed paper #HO6041. Trees are from natural materials.

Another full view, with acrylic cover in place

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