The trees do need to be smaller, do the same thing but alot smaller, and more of them,(some crushed) and add some depth to the leaves with a thin line of paint to simulate the veins of leaves. VERY well thought out.
I was going to wait on this idea, but it will be awhile before I attempt this kind of fighting scene.
Save up your clear scrap plastic, and shave it into small "shards". Stick them in the explosion area pointing in the direction the gun round is going,(and or the end of the gun) plus really good for deflections of the shell and or elsewhere at random. Paint them the same, but in clear.(orange, yellow, red) Leaving the center areas of the "shards" in clear gives the effect of "things in motion", and bits of debris can be put on the end so it does'nt look like their attached to anything. Try tinting clear epoxy and move it around (small drops at a time) with a toothpick, then layer different colours over each other. Very small fiber-optic cable can simulate sparks bouncing off the ground or other things, the same can be done with the cotton as simulated smoke. Remember that heat goes "out and up".
Very well done, and planned.
Allmost forgot, an electric engraver also works well with damaged areas without using heat.
I was just looking at my 1/144 METEOR kit and there is ALOT of clear red in 2 parts that go on the end of the main guns.(WOW 14.5 inches long, each) Maybe I will try this kind of diarama afterall since I won't be using them on this kit. I might be willing to sell one of them for the right price if someone is interested.
