Star Power - Chrysler Detroit Arsenal

For the past 3 months my brother and I have been building a diorama to take to the IPMS National Meet in Omaha, NE. The theme of the meet is Arsenal of Democracy. You don't have to build a model for the theme, but I think it makes it more fun. After some discussion we decided on a diorama of part of the vast Chrysler Detroit Arsenal. 

They made about 25,000 tanks during WW2 in the city block-sized building. The factory kept working until about 1997. I have two personal connections to this factory. One I worked for Chrysler in 1978 right about when they sold their tank division to General Dynamics. Later, I worked on the operational testing of the Abrams tank.  I think I may have been in this building during one of my many meetings at Tank and Automotive Command in Warren, MI.

We decided to exploit the Rye Field Models 1/35th scale model of the M4A3E8 Sherman Tank with full interior. My brother built a Rye Field Model tank kit before and knew they were high quality. We divided the work- he built the tanks and the car,  I built the factory and the trains.  He worked down in Florida while I proceeded in Virginia. About 2 weeks before the meet, he flew up to Virginia to do some last minute work.

This structure was perhaps the most difficult model I have ever built. The biggest challenges were the size of the model and the totally exposed nature of the structure. I could not hide anything inside. I used my laser cutter and 3D printer extensively.  In retrospect, I think this would have been better as a photo etched model. But it's too late for that.

Dioramas must tell a story. We wanted to convey the total dedication of the USA to the war effort. So we included a vignette of Hollywood movies stars that toured the plant to raise money for War Bonds. So while the actors and actress ham it up for a photo. the workers keep plugging along.  The title of the diorama is "Star Power."  Can you figure out the triple entendre built into the title?

Some stats. The dimensions of the diorama are 35.75 inches long, 23 inches wide, and 18 inches high. There are 5 tanks, 2 railroad flat cars, 1 automobile, 27 figures and dozens of small details. 

I head to Omaha  tomorrow.. If you are around this weekend, stop by the meet and check it out.