Hello everyone I'm working on a large 1/30th Diorama of the Battles of Arnhem/Oosterbeek. It has beenn in the works for about 16 years and will probably not be fully finished for another 10+. It will have elements of the whole operation from the LZ/DZs through Oosterbeek and to the Bridgehead another Northern end off the bridge. Here is a detailed description: At my bridge area I have 2 Para covering several companies plus some Recce Squadron men, 9th (Airborne) Field Company and 1st Airlanding Anti Tank Battery (1x 6 Pounder). In the town section will be some 16th PFA and dead/wounded/captured 1st Parachute Battalion. There is a model of St Elizabeth's Hospital with 16 PFA and wounded Paras and Glider Pilots. Inside the hospital are German Field Nurses and medical staff as well as Dutch Nurses and doctors. To the East of the Hospital will be a scene with captured Glider pilots and Paras - unsure which Battalion As yet. There are lots of Germans present as this is the blocking line. Then we very quickly get to Oosterbeek and more specifically the Hartenstein where Colonel Graeme Warrack is organising the Cease Fire to allow the British and German wounded to be evacuated. Men of 181 Airlanding Field Ambulance are helping with the evacuation while Divisional men keep an eye on the situation. Off to the side of the church there is a US jeep present to represent the men of the 306th Fighter Control Squadron. Round the corner from this event is a crossroads controlled and defended by men of the 2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment including Robert Cain. After this at the next junction, Baskeyfield is taking out his SPGs. There are a line of trees separating the next section where Lt Bucknall's 2 jeeps from 8 Section, C Company, Recce Squadron hve run into Krafft's SS with a heavy MG positioned in front of their position in the trees. Another section of thick trees and then the 'over a mile long column' of 3 Para. At the front of this column is a junction where Lt Cleminson's No.5 Platoon, B Company have just ambushed General Kussin. The rest of the column consists of men marching at either side off the road, a universal Carrier, 2 jeeps; one of which is pulling one of the three 6 Pounder Guns of the C Troop, 1st Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery. At the rear of this column is another junction and beyond this will be the Church and the 75mm Guns of the 1st Airlanding Light Regiment and a small model of Kate Ter Horst's house. More trees separate the next section where the 2nd lift/Drop on the LZ/DZ is under attack by some probing German forces. British 1st Border Regiment men repel them from the edges of the LZ with Mortars of No. 23 Mortar (Handcarts) Platoon, Support Company and No. 25 Anti-Tank Platoon, 1st Bn, Borders Regt (Airlanding) with a 6 Pounder. While these units defend head on, men of the 21st Independent Parachute Company attempt a flanking maneuver. Glider Pilots also defend the area. On the LZ/DZ we have an area representing the RV of 11 Para where men are gathering having just heard that they are to march with all speed towards Arnhem. Hackett is heading across the LZ towards three RV in a jeep (he has not yet heard the news of the detachment of the 11th Battalion). - A Hamilcar Glider Chalk 320 has brought in the Universal Carriers of the 11th Parachute Battalion - the pilot watches as the second one is unloaaded. - A crashed Glider belonging to (Undecided but probably relating to 10 Para) has hit a small section of trees upon landing. The two Glider pilots have been killed and have been buried near the cockpit by men of the 133 PFA. The survivors of the crashed Glider who were not wounded begin to unloaded the Glider. Any wounded are taken away by men of the 133 PFA to the Dressing Station. A Chaplin reads their final rights to the Glider Pilots before blessing the Graves. A (10th) Battalion man who survived the crash watches on. **Urquhart's Glider is present with Urquhart, Batman, radioman of the signals section and motorcyclist of the Provost Corps.** This shouldn't really be present but I wanted to have representation of Urquhart on the LZ. This scene was here first before the rest came. In the Sky above the LZ area are men with Parachutes of the 156th Parachute Battalion. I have tried to represent as many units as possible. The figures are all 1/30th toy soldiers made by King & Country Toy Soldiers with a German Steyr and 2 men having been produced by Britain's and several of the Supplies made by Thomas Gunn. JG Miniatures have made a lot of the scenery. The Gliders, hotel, hospital and Frost's HQ have all been 3D printed. I designed the HQ and Hospital myself. I am hopeful that that the company K&C produces the 17 Pounder and crew and it's Towing vehicle as well as a stretcher team and ambulance jeep. I have had several ambulance jeeps made from New Ray Toys jeeps and hope to incorporate these into the diorama. There are a few others pieces I would like to add such as the Polsen AA gun being towed - I have found a 3D printed model of one and I have men representing the Polish Airborne whom I am hoping to include in the Oosterbeek Section. I am looking for photographs of this battle. I have scoured Google for years as well as Para Data. I love all of the varied accounts on there and have 37 pieces of literature relating to the battle. Please feel free to use this thread to share any photos you may have of the battle. They will all be used as reference material and for motivation! Thank you! Scott
