The modeling is indeed superb. The shading and nuance, whether on the faces of the soldiers, the details of the uniforms and personal kit, or the realistic smudges, rust marks and drip marks on the vehicles, boats and bunker are all absolutely remarkable.
And the composition is quite compelling, too. This is the kind of diorama I can look at for the longest time, again and again, and find some new detail and see some new story each time.
But …
I lament that there wasn't a bit more attention to the historical research before the modeling effort. While the kit looks very well modeled, I am not at all convinced that it is appropriate kit for D-Day.
It appears there are some Marines among the US figures. At smaller scales, that may pass. But at 1/35, when you are clearly trying to put the Nth level of detail into your work … well there just shouldn't be any USMC jackets, boots or helmet covers in sight.
The Sherman is an M4A3. OK, it has a 75mm gun, and no cupola. That's good. But still, I am pretty firm in my belief that no M4A3s landed on D-Day. Only M4s and M4A1s. The first M4A3s didn't make it ashore until the second wave of armored divisions in about August or September.
And the M3A1 scout car -- um, what's that doing on a beach at D-Day? I mean it's a nice looking vehicle and all, but US Army forces didn't have any M3 scout cars on TOE in 1944. They were all replaced with M8s and M20s after Tunisia. Sure, some unit might have held on to one or two as personal favorites (to serve as armored light / medium trucks, I assume, as it had no benefit compared to it's replacements), but it would not have come ashore in the assault wave even IF it was a D-Day unit that held one or two. I mean, the biggest reason it was replaced was that it's unacceptably poor performance on soft dirt, sand and mud. Who would want to take up prime boat space for the assault for a lightly armed and armored vehicle that is among the most likely to bog down on the beach?
Sigh. I guess I should give at least some credit in that the tank in the LCM wasn't an M47.
I give it an A+ for artistry, but only a B for historical accuracy.
-Mark
(aka: Mk 1)