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new kid in town

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  • Member since
    February 2007
new kid in town
Posted by Boomerang on Thursday, February 22, 2007 6:34 AM

  Hi everyone, i been on and off in modelling since i was a kid. Dioramas fascinate me to no end and i just have to say that the ones i have seen posted on this forum keep on reinforcing why they fascinate me so much. I have been viewing this site for ages and just love the work that is being done. I just wish i could produce the standard that i see here. Which is why i have decided to get involved here, maybe i can get some motivation from here. I have some great ideas for some dioramas (well i think so anyway...lol), i can see them in my mind but sometimes i am just not even sure where to start...lol. Anyway, what i want to do is get motivated, put some pics on here, take on board comments, criticism and (hopefully encouragement) from all you good people and that way be spurred on to make some fine works of art. Keep up the awesome work..

  • Member since
    April 2004
Posted by BigDuke634 on Thursday, February 22, 2007 6:43 AM
Welcome! I think you'll be able to get as much help as you want here. These guys and gals have have helped me out on many an occasion.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by ajlafleche on Thursday, February 22, 2007 7:37 AM

Welcome. Here are some random thoughts base don personl experience and years of studying dioramas as a judge.

The first step is to plan and plan some more. Sketch things our. Try a layout and take some digital photos and study them to help with better positioning of stuff.

Study some archival photographs for layout and composition ideas. Also consider how the photographer and editor cropped and chose the picture. Guaranteed, for every photograph you see, there are dozens of negatives and proofs in the trash bin.

Try to find Shep Paine's book on diorama building. Use what you see online as inspiration not reference. Pictures of models are pictures of someone's interpretation of somethng else, and very often, that's another model rather than the real thing. Hence we get faddy things like over chipping, heavy to the point of absurd pre-shading, and mud on everything.

Keep your early projects simple, don't be tempted to do Omaha Beach for your first project, rather consider a German machine gun nest on the bluff, for example. Too big a project will likely result in frustration.

Two things to learn early on are repositioning/converting figures, since given poses are rarely compatible with your ideas, and make sure your uniforms and equipment match.

If you're going to use figures from different manufacturers, keep the personal gear and weapons from one source. People may vary in size, but the M1 Garand only came in one size.

Always use some sort of earthwork, such as Celluclay or plaster of pari or other material to give your base a natural feel. Sand/turf glued to a flat piece of wood doess not look natural unless your actionis on a football field.

If you want feedback and direction, especialy in your first atempts, post interim photos here and at other sites so you can make corrections as you go along. generally, critiques here are pretty mild, while at Missing-Lynks they are quite demanding. Armorama falls somewhere in the middle.

Remember, foremost a diorama is telling some sort of story, be it big or small. Make sure your story is internally consistent. If you have an MG team in firing position, there shouldn't be a figure in the scene standing around with his hands in his pockets.

Remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Sunny Florida
Posted by renarts on Friday, February 23, 2007 9:15 AM

Al said it all I think. Have a plan, file the plan, fly the plan. If you don't like it you can always do it over or do another one. The more you do the better you'll get at things like composition and techniques. Keep in mind end display (where exactly will that Omaha Beach Diorama fit when its done?) If you spend some up front time planning your project out, you'll have a direction and goal to work to rather than a stream of consciousness project that will end up not being what you thought it would be. Keep your expectations in line with your abilities and you should progess nicely. Post us some pics. Lots of helpful folks here and all have anopinion. Read it all, keep what you think is helpful, discard what isn't and have a good time.

Welcome back.

Mike "Imagination is the dye that colors our lives" Marcus Aurellius A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"
  • Member since
    February 2007
Posted by Boomerang on Saturday, February 24, 2007 2:49 AM

    Thanks everyone for your positive comments. I have taken all on board and am inspired to have a go. I don't have any modelling buddys. My main hobby is scuba diving but i love to get into my models when i can, i find it relaxing. That's why i thought i would have a go on here. I feel like i'm in good hands already!! The comment about reposing figures makes so much sense. My biggest hurdle at the moment is figure painting. All the experts seem to use oils, do any of you aussie modellers no of good oil paints here?  I have one diorama featuring Tamiyas MarderII almost finished. I am happy with tha Marder but i am baulking at the figures. Also i have under way Tamiyas PAK40 AT gun. Does anyone no how to get a convincing brass finish for the shell casings using paint. I was going to experiment with brass coloured paint with a thin overcoat of clear yellow. Any ideas?

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 24, 2007 6:00 AM

hey mate , Aussie Aussie Aussie lol My advise would get your hands on either one of the dragons pak 40's because they have brass shell in them. And there's more detail in the dragon's pak 40 then in the tamiya one.

cheers butterz

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by ajlafleche on Saturday, February 24, 2007 9:41 AM

Well, not ALL the top painters use oils. Cruise around the figure sights and you'll find a lot of people have moved to the latest generation of acrylics such as Andrea and Vallejo. (You'll ikely have to order on line, though; relatively few shops carry them). For an example of what these paints can do, check out Alan and Marion Ball's site. She paints almost exclussively in acrylics. It's also a great place to check out some excellent figures, vignettes and dioramas.

For figure sites checkout

Time-Lines

planetFIGURE

Historicus Forma

Remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

  • Member since
    February 2007
Posted by Boomerang on Sunday, February 25, 2007 12:54 AM
 Butterz007 wrote:

hey mate , Aussie Aussie Aussie lol My advise would get your hands on either one of the dragons pak 40's because they have brass shell in them. And there's more detail in the dragon's pak 40 then in the tamiya one.

cheers butterz

G'day butterz, oi oi oi...lol. Thanks for your suggestion mate. I have had the Tamiya kit for a while now and also have the AFV Club 75mm ammo kit. I work on a budget, so i am not prepared to go and buy new kits just to get brass shells. I just have to challenge myself to do the best from what i already have.

Hey, are you in the army up there in Townsville? A bloke i dive with here in Newcastle comes from up there. He is an infantry instructor at Singleton. Not sure i should mention names here though. Thanks again..

 

And to you ajlafleche, thanks heaps for your input. I checked out those links you gave me, they were awesome. I had not found those ones before. I am suffering information overload...

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 25, 2007 3:10 AM

hey bud,

yep im in army up here used to be in darwin.

And for the budget i fully understand so all the best and i see you in here for sure

 

cheers Butterz

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