I'll look more deeply into the shadow box idea ... I just don't like my first thought of shutting it all in. |
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I understand your consternation at "closing in" a scene, but there are several important advantages to the shadow box that just can't be done with an "open" diorame...
First off, the controlled lighting. There's just no other way to do it unless you have total control over the direct AND ambient light in the room.
Next, there's the advantage of controlling exactly what the viewer sees, and more importantly, what he/she doesn't see: Wires, bulbs, unplanned shadows, glare from reflections, etc (oh, and DUST)...
Then there's "ease" of construction. You don't have to paint anything that won't be seen through the view port (unless you want to ). You can run wires down the outside of figure's arms and legs, use painted foil wiring in many places, hide fill lights and back-lights, etc...And as always, the advantage of Forced Perspective, something that just can't be done on an open dio with any fraction of a "God's-Eye View" of the scene...
Overall, think of your scene as a movie set, shot on a sound stage, and you'll see why the shadow box is the ultimate diorama setting... Looking at say, a dio of the 20mm FlaK gun blowing the paratroopers into chunky salsa attacking the Tiger in Saving Private Ryan (extreme example, I know but that's the point) would never be doable in an open scene unless (1) space wasn't an issue and you could do both in 1/35th scale and keep 'em 6 feet apart), and (2) there was a magical way of suspending parts in mid-air and hiding the power to a series of LED-lighted "bullet strikes" from the 20mm on the Tiger's armor. Being able to hide suspension wires/rods, electrical wires, and lights in a shadow box, along with the forced perspective element shrinking the depth of your diorama down to 12-18 inches, makes for a relatively easily-built scene (easy as shadow boxes go, that is) and one that's easily transported...
Now, I ain't trying to tell you what to build... BUT...
Try mocking it up again with a cardboard box and "roof" and a few "Christmas lights" taped here and there before you rule out a shadow box... (BTW, don't forget that those lights come in green and blue, perfect for NVG and night scenes)