whats the differance?

I beleive A diorama decpicts action, or an entire scene, and is usually larger, such as a sherman smashing through a fence being ambushed by germans, whereas a vignette is usually just asmall base with a couple figures on it, with ntothing particular happening.  Correct me if Im wrong.

Agreed, Ian...a dio conveys action of some sort, a viginette is merely a setting. These definitions as they relate to models seem to have sprung from the hobbying world of model shows and the categorical neccesities rather than from the de facto descriptions in the dictionary. In the dictionary, a viginette is described as "a brief scene or moment in a play or stage production..."

From what I've seen at shows, however, sometimes a viginette can be a pair of figures on a small base, even if there's an implied story. For instance, this scene--which obviously has an implied story--won a "Best Viginette" at SYRCON. So, go figure! If you're worried about entering it at a show, check with the club beforehand and ask what constitutes either in their rules

In most cases, a vignette consists of a small story told with figures. It can have plenty of action, so long as it does not feature vehicles. A diorama is a bigger story or one with a large number of figures. There might be very little action, e.g., a tank crew having a meal next to the tank. A good diorama or vignette has all its elements very internally conssitent, i.e., there shouldn't be a guy sitting with a cup of coffee in his hands if the guy next to him is firing his gun. A single figure or vehicle on a base with ground work is neither a vignette nor a diorama. You could make a case for a tank with a commander in it set on a road being a dio, but the story would be quite weak.

ajlafleche--

Total agreement, you hit it right on the head. I see a lot of very weakly designed dios that are not really much more than a LOT of figures (well done) a LOT of buidings and roads (as well done) and tanks/trucks/motorcycles (equally well done) but no STORY.

To me a line of troops walking on one side of the road and vehicles passing on the opposite side , set inside of a scratchbuilt road and European ruins, is not a well-developed diorama. Good looking models, just not a strong diorama that tells a strong story.

David