How do I make a Red Dawn Diorama

1984 or 2012

Are you talking  about what vehicles, what scene to depict, what figures to use?

None of it's real so just have fun with it.

Find some appropriate figures & vehicles, pick a scene/setting, then go for it.

A response and a question or two.

Response:  Crank your airbrush down to its finest possible line and airbrush WOLVERINES on the side of a burned out Russian tank.  MasterBox is advertising some new 1:35 Ukranian figures posing for pictures.   Add a spray can in one of their hands.

Question:  What is the recommended method for painting the rusty, burnt out appearance of the modern FSU equipment seen on the nightly news.  It is multi-layers & multi-patinas of rust edging against burnt metal and blistered paint

https://www.military.com/off-duty/movies/2022/04/26/wolverines-how-1984-classic-red-dawn-inspired-ukraine-resistance-fighters.html

While the above may be true for a "Red Dawn 2022" in Ukraine, it would not be totally correct for the 1984 movie. Most of teh vehicles used in it were actually US tanks and APCs that were visually modified to look like Soviet vehicles. At that time, not many Soviet vehicles had been captured around the world and none were available for movie props. Most of the vismods were based on M41 tanks and M42 Dusters.

HeavyArty

While the above may be true for a "Red Dawn 2022" in Ukraine, it would not be totally correct for the 1984 movie. Most of teh vehicles used in it were actually US tanks and APCs that were visually modified to look like Soviet vehicles...

Well, you raise a good question that Josiah can ask himself-am I depicting the actual movie, so, I want to use vehicles modified to look like Soviet AFVs? Or am I depicting the story, so I want to use models of actual period Soviet AFVs?  Both are valid choices.

I'm reminded now of Revell's tie-in with "Black Sheep Squadron" back in the 70s.  They repackaged their F4U and Zero kits for rerelease.  The boxes showed stills from the show.  So the Zero boxing showed a flight of Texans modified to portray Zeroes, but the kit was of a proper A6M.

Josiah

I'm curious on how I do this , can somebody help me please ?? 

Watch the movie, several times, and take good notes!

I'm only being half a smart-aleck.  Even if you've seen the movie many times, I would watch it again, paying close attention to the details, the way scenes are composed, and take notes.  It will help in planning the scene you want to depict.

And regarding which version to do, I'd do the original.  The remake was crap.

This would be a nice display - probably not too hard to do and pretty iconic from the 84 film

Josiah

I'm curious on how I do this , can somebody help me please ??

As noted above, you'll need to pick a movie, first.

(The original version had more vehicles to choose from)

Then, you probably want to select a specific scene.

(I would not select the Security Complex from the lesser, later filem; ditto for the Drive-in or the Fnal Conflict, scenes in the original--those are just too large and too complex.)

You'll need to settle on a scale, too. 

Once the scene is selected, then you need a base of some sort, and then grondwork and the like.

You may want to brows catalogs for various accessory items.  A person could probably "do" the Candy Shop scene with a brick building kit and a ZSU-23-4, and build the latter "stock" rather than VizMod-ing a Sheridan or Duster as the original movie did 

The sandbag ring and DSHK would be easy enough.  The civilian figures would need patience to collect up and paint.

Another one fro mthe original movie might be the "T-72" at the gas station.  You'd need a female figure to go with a bicycle, and the gas pumps are an available accessory.

The hardest (simple) one would be, IMHO, the Patriot's Rock.  You'd need a bunch od stills from the movie to build up the rock.  Gettign it "right" wold be fussy.  But, it could be set up like the final scene, as a Nat'l Park with a sign and no figures at all.

HeavyArty

 At that time, not many Soviet vehicles had been captured around the world and none were available for movie props. Most of the vismods were based on M41 tanks and M42 Dusters.

 

Back then, there were stories in the paper of the CIA questioning the film's producers about the faux T-72 which appeared in publicity photos during production. Apparently, it was a modified M-8 cargo carrier which has been fitted with a fiberglass turret which was realistic enough to leave the intelligence community wondering how the crew got their hands on a Soviet tank before they could.

It might be fun to incorporate a bit of that Hollywood-style modelling into the diorama. The T-72 would be an interesting enough subject to emulate with a bit of kitbashing, but the film is simply loaded with all sorts of different weapons and vehicles appearing in disguise. The link address below has some interesting ideas along those lines -

http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Red_Dawn_(1984)#:~:text=Behind%20the%20Scenes%3A%20The%20fiberglass,and%20the%20winter%20camo%20patterns.

Josiah

I'm curious on how I do this , can somebody help me please ??

 

there are many videos describing the construction of bases and doing groundwork available on YouTube.  Nightshift, Black Magic Crafts, Luke Towan, to name a few...all of these are good for learning the basics, and even some intermediate and advanced techniques....

as for the subject, you need to ask yourself, do you want a large scale 'diorama' with multiple figures, multiple vehicles, buildings, complex groundwork, etc?

or are you interested in something smaller, a 'vignette', depicting a scene, with limited figures and equipment, and a smaller base?

if this is your first "go-round", I'd suggest going smaller and simpler, and choosing the vignette.  

now, the next question...do you want to depict something specific, a specific scene from one of the movies, or, in the more modern examples, the current situation in Eastern Europe? Or something that people will say "yes!  WOLVERINES!" Without actually depicting anything specific?

answer these questions, then start roughing out ideas with some rough sketches, and work out placement, viewing angles, etc.  for the basics on this, I HIGHLY recommend getting a copy of Shep Paine's 'How To Build Dioramas' book, if you can find it! It is full of helpful information!

Justin 

Something as simple as this scene would be easy to pull off. A simple base, a  BRDM on its' side, and the "wolverines" graffiti leaves no doubt as to the setting. No figures need be added if they're not your cup of tea.

Slightly OT, but speaking of the BRDM...here's one on the plains of Colorado.  I drive by this thing each time I'm working remotely at the Colorado Air and Space Port.  Oddly, it sits in front of the Colorado National Guard Armory.  Had to use a Google Maps link because I've never stopped to take a picture of it.

https://goo.gl/maps/wckHPX1eHuVWFAs86

Too funny that it's even painted with VDV markings. Very Red Dawninsh... 

the Baron

 

 

HeavyArty

While the above may be true for a "Red Dawn 2022" in Ukraine, it would not be totally correct for the 1984 movie. Most of teh vehicles used in it were actually US tanks and APCs that were visually modified to look like Soviet vehicles...

 

 

 

Well, you raise a good question that Josiah can ask himself-am I depicting the actual movie, so, I want to use vehicles modified to look like Soviet AFVs? Or am I depicting the story, so I want to use models of actual period Soviet AFVs?  Both are valid choices.

I'm reminded now of Revell's tie-in with "Black Sheep Squadron" back in the 70s.  They repackaged their F4U and Zero kits for rerelease.  The boxes showed stills from the show.  So the Zero boxing showed a flight of Texans modified to portray Zeroes, but the kit was of a proper A6M.

 

Well put Baron.

Conversation old as modeling and movies. The Tiger in Kelly's Heroes.

The King Tigers in Battle of the Bulge. Heck, the halftracks in Rat Patrol.

First and foremost is what the modeler thinks is their vision. Most successful dios benefit from a little bit of a sense of humor. Shep's Road to Damascus is a good example. Nothing about it is silly, but it gets one to thinking.

The scene that stuck with me was Jed carrying Matt on his back to the park bench.

Bill

You're wanting to build a model of a Hollywood movie - they pulled all manner of props outta' their butts, so don't get too hung up on the AMS details. Close enough will be good enough.

As to size, that will be kind of dictated by the scene you settle on. Although I am a 1/72 airplane and tanks guy, I will say that there are a LOT more choices in 1/35 for anything armor related. And that would make your diorama easier to build as well.

Many giving the OP lotsa good advice,but not really clear which movie he is talking about,no feedback from him or clarification,guess he lost interest in the topic.

stikpusher

Too funny that it's even painted with VDV markings. Very Red Dawninsh...

Given that it's a "flatlands" CO VFW if that was "on purpose" as an inside joke.

That, if vistors "buy a round" that there's outlandish sea stories on how that VFW came to be in possession of the vehicle.

(Much like how the Navasota VFW had an M48 with an M60 turret out front of their Hall--they will compete to pull newcomer's legs . . . )

either is fine , though doing 2012 would be abit more neato to do 

Can you suggest some for the 1984 (and possibly 2012 one aswell) Thank you inadvance ^_^

No outlandish stories necessary. That BRDM-2 was discovered by me and others in the Pol-i-charki "boneyard" and brought back to the states by 5/19 Special Forces. That is Battalion HQ in the photo. I have used parts of it on motorcycle builds.

Here's a friend of mine from 5/19 posing with the FT-17 discovered by another friend - also brought back to the states.

Josiah

Can you suggest some for the 1984

Stealing screengrab images, here's one:

and another

The candy store (which has the fake ZSU-25-4 out front)

This one has the busted-up M-42 Duster (and without any explanation as to whether it's meant to be Russian or US)

THis could be elegant to build

This would be ambitious

CapnMac82

Given that it's a "flatlands" CO VFW if that was "on purpose" as an inside joke. That, if vistors "buy a round" that there's outlandish sea stories on how that VFW came to be in possession of the vehicle.

Its not a VFW.

Gunslinger

No outlandish stories necessary. That BRDM-2 was discovered by me and others in the Pol-i-charki "boneyard" and brought back to the states by 5/19 Special Forces. That is Battalion HQ in the photo. I have used parts of it on motorcycle builds

Thanks Gunslinger!  Very cool to finally know the story behind it.  I'll be out there again next week, trying to get the autopilot in an old Cessna Mixmaster squared away across the street.