T-34/85 & Volkssturm Battle of Berlin ruins diorama 1945

Building a ruined city diorama, set in early 1945 as Soviet forces advance through the city of Berlin, with Volkssturm waiting to ambush them. In this video I build the diorama base, construct the walls from XPS foam, create rubble, and paint and weather the diorama.
Built using kits from Miniart, Academy, ICM, with scratch-built items.
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WW2 armour models: bit.ly/ww2armormodels
WW2 aircraft models: bit.ly/ww2aircraft
Music from TH-cam Audio Library.

[@simonmoss101]

Nice looking diorama. It’s always nice to see a tank set in a scene rather than just on its own on a shelf. 👍

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Simon.

[@nathanslattery1395]

I love this build! Something you could think about for future dioramas would be to mist a very thinned down coat of xf-52 buff over the whole dio to give it a dust tone and just help things blend together nicely, just a thought. You’re doing a great job. 👍

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Nathan, it's a good suggestion. By coincidence I have just started using that technique on a couple of current builds. I saw Panzermeister36 do it on his recent railcar video and thought I'd give it a try.

[@timothyewing]

Masterfully Done! I learn something new ever time I watch your videos!!

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you Tim, I really appreciate that.

[@paulhennessy5627]

Another option for the edge detail issue is to treat the "broken" edge with acrylic texture pastes. Works equally well on both the XPS and Miniart structures

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Paul - Yes, it's a good suggestion. I need to stop leaving the edging until the last minute, as a final thought.

[@ThatMofoDamon]

Beautiful diorama my friend, so many details. Thanks for sharing.

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Damon

[@TheHobbyShack]

Nice job mate- like how the ground came out as well as the foam Walls 👍🏻👍🏻

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks for watching mate.

[@philRminiatures]

Most impressive details, amazing job!!

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Phil

[@michaelnaven213]

Great tips on using the foam.

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks

[@SuperSherman44]

Great job bro!! Looks really great 👍

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks mate - glad you liked it.

[@johnzaferes2257]

Great composition! I really love your idea and creativity! Keep up the great work!

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you John

[@joshboy1st]

so cool!!!!!!! amazing attention to detail!!!!

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Josh

[@robbo1068]

Super job! The overall effects are terrific.....the way you used varying items to great use culminating in a very realistic diorama. Food for thought!! Congratulations.

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Robert

[@garywallace9525]

Great video, some real good tips and hints

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you Gary.

[@bubu0110]

Salut , très joli diorama ,surtout pour une première fois , encore bravo.

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks!

[@jamesnoble2753]

Very nice work here.

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks James

[@michaelnaven213]

Great finish.

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks

[@Octabust]

I love this video glad I found your channel.

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@the-primered-thumb]

That looks ace mate 😉👍

[@ModelNerd]

Cheers Tim.

[@Eugen_TV]

nice diarama! good job!

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks mate - much appreciated. Another diorama coming up "soon" I hope :)

[@simonfaure9694]

Excellent build again I will be doing a similar diorama but using the Academy 1/35 Sherman in Russian service with the same ideals,

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you. Have fun!

[@CWModelling]

Very nice 👍🏻

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks.

[@tedh7679]

Very nice.. it amazes me that someone could actually dislike this video.. lol.. anyway well done sir

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Ted.

[@jyvesguillemot]

very nice , mate ! jy

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks mate, much appreciated.

[@pineapplesand556ers]

You deserve ten times as many subscribers.

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks

[@lawrencereid9375]

VERY nice job! Did the bedspring armor come with the T-34 kit or did you scratch build it? I think you should DEFINITELY CONTINUE to produce dioramas like this one.

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Lawrence, much appreciated. The bedspring armour came with the kit. It's been a while since I've built a diorama, but I think a post-apocalyptic one using the Object 279 I built recently is next up.

[@t.j.w3561]

Really great stuff…you are very meticulous…I don’t think I’d have that patience! It turned out very realistic. I’m curious as to how long it took you? Keep it up…enjoying your work from “across the pond”

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you mate. I remember really enjoying this one for sure. How long? Tricky to say. A few weeks to build and paint the tank, working most evenings. Probably the same again for the diorama base. To be honest I enjoy it so much I don't really notice the time passing peacefully by 🙂

[@t.j.w3561]

@@ModelNerd Yes, you can tell you really enjoy it…that’s awesome. I used to do them as a kid, now I don’t have the patience (or time!) for them! But it’s great to see your builds, I get a kick out of watching them come together. Keep up the good work (and enjoying them)

[@cadecunningham2208]

How do you make your pigments stick to the diorama? Do you use glue or something?

[@ModelNerd]

Usually I use thinners or white spirit, but sometimes I just brush them on dry. Even with the thinners they are never completely attached and they will eventually rub off if you handle them. I know you can get dedicated pigment fixer, but I've never tried it.

[@michaelshittmann5325]

This is very yes

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks!

[@tpbbuzzelli1327]

Fantastic

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks mate.

[@tpbbuzzelli1327]

I to make my buildings from foam, I enjoy the challenge

[@ModelNerd]

@@tpbbuzzelli1327 Yes, I agree - I'll definitely be trying more of the same. I've ordered a book called Urban Dioramas from Mig - hopefully it should arrive in a couple of weeks. The only difficulty I find is getting hold of thin XPS foam (~10mm). It's much easier to find the thicker stuff which I use for bases (~50mm).

[@ModelNerd]

That said, a couple of builders on TH-cam use foam board for walls etc, and XPS just for details so I might give that a try.

[@tpbbuzzelli1327]

You can see a little of my work tpbuzzelll Instagram

[@maximilianh282]

Nice job mate! I bought the exact same kit from miniart but not very sure how to paint it especially the wall. I am a little confused about the wall at 3:46, it looks yellowish, and could you please tell me what color is that or how you mixed that color? Thank you very much!

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Max. Sorry, I should have included the paint numbers (I do this on more recent videos). Off the top of my head it looks like Deck Tan (XF78) or Buff (XF57).

[@maximilianh282]

@@ModelNerd Thank you Sir! It looks like deck tan to me but the one you used in the video was much lighter. I will go ahead and mix with white! Thanks for your hints!

[@user-bh5uo8ih1k]

What the material are you use for wall?

[@ModelNerd]

It was XPS foam that I bought from DioDump (www.diodump.com/diorama-materials), but you can get it from many places.

[@paulmcdonell5089]

Good day. Very nice looking. Question, I am from s. Ontario,Canada and cannot find Mini Art kits in this area, are they available in this country? Web searches give me nothing. A novice computer user.

[@ModelNerd]

Hi Paul, thanks for your comments. A lot of the Miniart building kits seem to be getting on a bit now and are usually out of stock. I bought mine over a year ago from Ebay and HLJ. To be honest though, I really enjoyed having a crack at the styrene buildings - much more fun.
Canadian? Then you might like my next video (or the one after, depending on the order I decide to publish them)....

[@paulmcdonell5089]

@@ModelNerd Thank you for your prompt reply.

[@piotrekszczepanski5125]

Amazing work. I especially love the addition of the tank riders.

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks mate, I'm glad you liked it.

[@graemebrumfitt6668]

Tanx... G :)

[@f.j.s8345]

Swear to god i read battle of bread

[@ModelNerd]

Nah, that would be a crumby battle :)

[@f.j.s8345]

@@ModelNerd yes but if you had the french and the italians in it... A BATTLE OF EPIC PROPORTIONS.
THE BAGUETTE V THE TASTY BREAD IVE FORGOTTEN THE NAME OF

[@MVeminor7]

It tells a compelling story.

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks Michael