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Seriously, I need some creative answers!--Building Buildings

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  • Member since
    November 2005
Seriously, I need some creative answers!--Building Buildings
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 29, 2005 9:49 AM
I am working on a diorama with 15 buildings, all with interiors. How can I let the viewer see down through three floors without leaving a whole wall off the dio?

"This is Two. We're movin'!"
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Waukesha, WI
Posted by David Voss on Saturday, January 29, 2005 11:43 AM
Definitely sounds like a challenge.

What kind of diorama and what type of buildings?

Well if anything, there will be windows right? Wink [;)]

Perhaps you could build them so one side of the building can be pulled away revealing the inside?

Take pictures while you're building and keep a mini-photo album alongside the diorama with pictures showing the interior?

There's always those mini cameras or like you see where they can snake down a tube with a camera on it. Get one of those and let people pretend they're like the FBI on surveillance. Wink [;)]
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  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: in the tank factory in my basement
Posted by biffa on Saturday, January 29, 2005 8:24 PM
if the buildings arnt conected you could make them stackable, remove roof see 3rd floor remove 3rd floor see second floor and so on,,

or have a wall on hinges that opens to see inside ,,, maybe
Ron g.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 29, 2005 10:03 PM
That sounds like a big project! What scale?
Anyways, you could try a clear plastic sheet to go on the side (unless this is what you didnt want to do)
The piece of plastic will let the viewers see in and not be able to steal your people/objects inside, not like anyone would.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 30, 2005 11:48 AM
maybe you can use optic fibers to light the interior. that way you can close the walls behind the buildings and the details can be seen as the interior will be lit. you can also play with the location of the fibers: fireplaces, light bulbs ETC.

I have a trouble like this myself, but I'm too lazy, I just close the windows with curtains... Wink [;)]
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Sarepta, LA
Posted by Scorn on Sunday, January 30, 2005 12:33 PM
windows on the outside and maybe skylights? don't know if that will help....

lighting the interior def seems the way to go also.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 30, 2005 12:39 PM
if you put the buildings near the edge of the diorama, you can have a wall open to the side, as though you cut right through the building.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 30, 2005 12:52 PM
Like t3488g said thats the way I would do it.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 31, 2005 1:04 AM
Ummm, maybe you could tell us what it is you DONT want to do. And from there we could advise.

But I like the building on the edge. This is how I do my dios if I want people to see the detail inside. Heres what I mean...
OUTSIDE


INSIDE

Hope this helps.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 31, 2005 10:53 PM
I need all four sides on the bu9ildings. On some there is a wall I don't need, but but that wouldn't help the viewr any because it's along the back wall. it's a 3 x 8 foot diorama
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 31, 2005 11:11 PM
If you need all side on that your options are limited depending on what type of buildings you are after.

You can't see into most buildings model or not, even if you do you only get to see a limited area behind the window,
provided no curtains, tinted windows or simialr are there.
Those rooms could be lit but unless you are doing a night-time scene it will look awry.

Again depending on the scale and the size of the windows it will affect how much you could even see if it was lit.
Sounds to me like you will have to compromise somewhere.

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 31, 2005 11:47 PM
One more option. As I understand it most homes in Mog have no A/C. No to mention it is a very hot place during the day. Some homes and older buildings there have really REALLY big windows. This may be to your advantage. If you have a 8" wall and two really big windows on that wall, say 2.5" long. That leaves you with an 1" on both sides and .5" in between the windows. With a net effect viewing area of 5". Also make the windows taller as well increasing the viewing depth. If your "seriously" going to do this, I would build a test building using cheap material just to see what effects lighting, large windows, removable walls/levels, ect... will have on the internal viewing.
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