 Hans von Hammer wrote: |
| Couldn't disagree with you more on the U-Boat dio, Hans. I see a very clear and interesting story being told there... And I don't think the entire U-boat needs to be there for it to serve as the focal point (I mean, in 1/35th tht would be darn near impossible....). |
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The U-Boat (along with the "1.5 Shermans", and the bridge) should have been in a shadow boxe... That's the best way to crop a model... When you crop a model and leave it viewable from all directions, it looks like what it is... A section of an object... Were I judging that particular dio, and another person did one the same way, but put it in a shadow box, the box-dio would have won... |
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Hans, I've read some really on-the-money posts from you, but this IMO isn't one of them, or the the lengthy one that follows, thumping the Shep Paine book like it's scripture, apealling to the same limiting opinon, that a Dio would never be successful by chopping it's main element, or even a supporting one viewable from unfavorable sides. This aproach(like many) has it's own set of hurdles, but A Dio can be built that does what you are saying and be a success, even enough to take an award at Euro. If I had gone on just a few lines more with MY own lengthy post, relating last years highest medals at Euro, (for comparison to this years poor output) I would have credited the one Silver I mentioned to Aitor Askue, for " Hamburg 1945 " which was.... a dockside scene featuring a U-boat(chopped off at both ends) along with lots of 'set dressing' and figures, which got that Silver in The 'Military Vehicle Diorama' catagory. It's quite a nice piece, (I will attempt to locate an image of it I can post)
"Hamburg 1945 " Silver at 2008 Euro-Militaire (only photos I could find -unknown photographer)
~and while I like the Dio from this year myself (it's AWSOME, as we're several others no ones talking about in this thread, that while un-awarded, we're very well recieved by visitors), I would say that what left this sub dio falling short was not chopping the sub, but the akward dimensions used, of being far 'deeper' than it was wide, allowing the builder to show a greater range of areas, but making life perhaps too easy on himself by showing such a brief 'clip' in the 'frame'.
(these photos by Michael McLaughlin )
You can see that in a front veiw, it's wildly interesting & the same Dio, carried out wider than it was deep, would have had a bettter impact, allowing the veiwer to simply view, rather than constantly adjust himself to accept it as intended. OR { Perhaps you are right, it would be better inclosed, but that is just not the way Dio's are being built...BUT maybe as you mention, it should more often be considered}
Heres another great example of a chopped sub that works great. A popular, well-known model from Andrea Miniatures, done here by my friend on the MM site, Frederico
I read Sheperd Paines book as well, and as an overview to everything Diorama it is maybe the best. As far as delving into each process and technique goes, arguably enough - better ideas ( and alternate methods)have eclipsed much of it. In some respect Shep opens the doors for the modeler, in others he may limit the scope of possibility by putting a rule in place of a guidline, a guidline in place of a suggestion, but isn't that teaching ?- growth would have to sprout further branches to ever get toward world-class. As Paine eludes to in his book, composition and balance is something one most get a 'feel' for through experience, he goes further than most in attempting to instill some basics.
As someone working at creating artwork of one sort or another for over 30 years, I know the key is not to have NO rules. this creates unseemly chaos in most cases. Likewise one cannot create the finest works while operating inside rules of establishment in all cases. The finest work comes from forming your own rules (for use within a given artpiece), and deciding yourself when its best to break them.