Memory Lane - ESCI 1/72 Dioramas

The first one I got was the Isandlwana set in the late '80s at a hobby shop/pet store (really) in Melbourne, FL. I then got the Jena set at a toy convention in Ft. Lauderdale and ordered the Hamburger Hill set in the mail. Would have loved to have got the Foreign Legion set!

Stumbled on this - finally pulled out my Hamburger Hill set a few weeks ago and began work.

Ah yes, Esci that which got me started in the braille scale madness. I still have the "Don The Long Retreat" . picked it up at a real jem of a mom and pop hobby shop that was owned by a quaint old married couple called Harold's Place in Lynn Mass. some 20-25yrs. ago. Picked up a lot braille stuff there including diorama kits from Nitto and Fujimi. Miss that place a lot.

Fujimi! I remember buying the German infantry with gasmasks set and having my jaw drop when I found out I had to assemble 1/76 scale figures. But that artwork was awesome!

Some progress with Hamburger Hill - almost done with the figures and still have my sight.

That's a cool pic

Thanks! 

Just about done. 

The only ones of the Esci diorama kits I had was the AMT/Ertl Armored Assault which included their M4A1 and PzKfw IV along with US and German troops. I still have the diorama accessories like sand bags, oil drums, assorted crates.

The diorama kits I started with were old MPC ones which included Airfix vehicles (I think) and soft plastic soldiers. The two I had were Pearl Harbor attack with a Japanese plane with US soldiers on a base with a crashed US plane molded on. The other was a German tank and pill box from D-Day. I also built the heck out of the little Matchbox diorama kits.

I wonder if any modern model makers have thought of picking up this torch and carrying it into the modern age? 

With modern tooling there could be some really fun sets to be made. I'd buy into that trend!

M. Brindos

I wonder if any modern model makers have thought of picking up this torch and carrying it into the modern age? 

With modern tooling there could be some really fun sets to be made. I'd buy into that trend!

 

Miniart has combined some of their scenery bases with their figures & vehicles to make some sets in 1/35. And of course Airfix has re issued some of their old sets as well as come up with a new 1/48 RAF airfield set. But I don't think it has a base.

I had forgotten all about those MPC sets until this thread. Looking back I remember having quite a few. As well as some Revell and Hasegawa stuff. But the first diorama set I remember having was by Aurora, an Anzio set.