How I build dioramas Part 2
- Thread starter JohnReid
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JohnReid
A Fixture
This is where I am now in 1/16th scale.The airplane is 90% finished and the old wrecked Model T is done.Next will be to build the wood base and step the different levels accordingly.Still a long way to go!
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
Which backyard?
Yesterday:
I am still stuck on which backyard to put the airplane in??? I waiver back and forth but ...........I would like to settled this in my mind before proceeding on even though the final decision could be put off until after I build the 1/16th base.
As soon as I put the clothesline in the other backyard I started to see the possibilities of the "airplane in the middle yard "arrangement.It also opens up a lot of possibilities for the garage/shop idea.The neighbors pristine backyard with the clothesline will now be in more direct contrast to the rest of the diorama and would help to emphasize the chaos/order sub-storyline.
Today:
Well I finally asked for help on this.So why not go to the top ? I have admired Shep Paine and his work for years,in fact it was Shep that inspired me to get in this stuff in the beginning.But this is the first time that I have ever reached out to another artist on such a basic question of the overall composition .
He advised me that the airplane should go in the middle yard but elevated on saw horses for visibility.I was planning to use jacks on the wheels anyway but that just confirmed that part of my plan.He likes the airplane center stage but he really did not expand too much on why he felt this way but you know what? I think I will trust his artists eye on this one.It sure hasn't failed him in the past. Thanks Shep!
Yesterday:
I am still stuck on which backyard to put the airplane in??? I waiver back and forth but ...........I would like to settled this in my mind before proceeding on even though the final decision could be put off until after I build the 1/16th base.
As soon as I put the clothesline in the other backyard I started to see the possibilities of the "airplane in the middle yard "arrangement.It also opens up a lot of possibilities for the garage/shop idea.The neighbors pristine backyard with the clothesline will now be in more direct contrast to the rest of the diorama and would help to emphasize the chaos/order sub-storyline.
Today:
Well I finally asked for help on this.So why not go to the top ? I have admired Shep Paine and his work for years,in fact it was Shep that inspired me to get in this stuff in the beginning.But this is the first time that I have ever reached out to another artist on such a basic question of the overall composition .
He advised me that the airplane should go in the middle yard but elevated on saw horses for visibility.I was planning to use jacks on the wheels anyway but that just confirmed that part of my plan.He likes the airplane center stage but he really did not expand too much on why he felt this way but you know what? I think I will trust his artists eye on this one.It sure hasn't failed him in the past. Thanks Shep!
JohnReid
A Fixture
Who is Shep Paine?
For you younger whipper snappers out there!
For you younger whipper snappers out there!
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
I bought this dog-eared copy new in 1980 and have poured over it now for 30 years.This was Sheps first book and it just blew me away!He has produced many others since all equally as good but more specific in subject matter.
For 20 years I was just too busy with other art forms to really get into it.I stopped teaching decorative birds and retired 10 years ago and have since devoted all my time to dioramas.
Shep's profound influence on my work began with HMS Victory when I decided to actually crew it and tell a story back in the 80's.Since then it has been all WW1 airplanes.Unfortunately Shep never did anything in our genre but it really doesn't matter as the techniques are all about the same.
I especially like his shadowboxes of historical subjects,they really are the best that I have seen.
What really interested me the most was his use of models for telling a great story.The "Art" in his dioramas is in the storytelling .This is what really got my attention and has captured my interest in art ever since.
For 20 years I was just too busy with other art forms to really get into it.I stopped teaching decorative birds and retired 10 years ago and have since devoted all my time to dioramas.
Shep's profound influence on my work began with HMS Victory when I decided to actually crew it and tell a story back in the 80's.Since then it has been all WW1 airplanes.Unfortunately Shep never did anything in our genre but it really doesn't matter as the techniques are all about the same.
I especially like his shadowboxes of historical subjects,they really are the best that I have seen.
What really interested me the most was his use of models for telling a great story.The "Art" in his dioramas is in the storytelling .This is what really got my attention and has captured my interest in art ever since.
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
Modules 1,2&3.
This is the first three modules of six that will eventually have to be made.The total area of these three modules is about 56" long by 31" wide.They will be screwed or bolted together from underneath the floor.Each floor will be glued down at a later date.Module four will be the back lane way and five and 6 the buildings facades.The eventual overall all size will be 62" X 43" plus the case.The wood is hand picked #1 grade pine with old,well aged birch plywood.I used carpenters glue and 2" nails to hold it together,screws will be added later.
The next step will be a couple of coats of lacquer,the first coat 2/3rds lacquer and 1/3rd lacquer thinner and the 2nd straight lacquer.Make sure that all the end grain soaks up lots of lacquer in order to seal it well for future water based materials and for protection against warping.
I designed this in modules for ease of tear down and build up on site and for ease of transport without being too heavy .All glue lines follow fences or the buildings outer edges so not to be visible when it is finally put together.
So now the fun can begin ! Oh,by the way my neighbor built it for me.
This is the first three modules of six that will eventually have to be made.The total area of these three modules is about 56" long by 31" wide.They will be screwed or bolted together from underneath the floor.Each floor will be glued down at a later date.Module four will be the back lane way and five and 6 the buildings facades.The eventual overall all size will be 62" X 43" plus the case.The wood is hand picked #1 grade pine with old,well aged birch plywood.I used carpenters glue and 2" nails to hold it together,screws will be added later.
The next step will be a couple of coats of lacquer,the first coat 2/3rds lacquer and 1/3rd lacquer thinner and the 2nd straight lacquer.Make sure that all the end grain soaks up lots of lacquer in order to seal it well for future water based materials and for protection against warping.
I designed this in modules for ease of tear down and build up on site and for ease of transport without being too heavy .All glue lines follow fences or the buildings outer edges so not to be visible when it is finally put together.
So now the fun can begin ! Oh,by the way my neighbor built it for me.
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
Shep Paine on gizmology in dioramas.
I have often mentioned stand alone models ,scale distance,gizmology etc...
here is what Shep Paine has to say about it.
Gizmology ,a term I think that he invented, is a technique of suggesting details that are not fully modeled.It is an artistic impression rather than an actual photographic representation.It is a way of getting ninety percent of the results in ten percent of the time, that what he calls "point- for- point" modeling would require.It allows you to concentrate on the fun stuff like design and the storytelling part of the diorama.
He does believe and I agree that gizmology is a good technique for dioramas ,it is not the same for stand alone models though.A diorama is an artistic representation and the aircraft is only one of several elements in the scene.A stand alone model is a scale miniature and point -for-point modeling is the only way to do it justice.The best way to describe the difference is a painting of an aircraft in flight as opposed to a scale drawing.With that distinction being made it is not a license to conjure up fictitious details out of thin air.Shep says "a conscientious gizmologist scrupulously follows his references,and I was always careful to do that.Within that framework,I had a lot of fun playing with gizmology in my dioramas.It's fun to see how much you can achieve through suggestion."
I have often mentioned stand alone models ,scale distance,gizmology etc...
here is what Shep Paine has to say about it.
Gizmology ,a term I think that he invented, is a technique of suggesting details that are not fully modeled.It is an artistic impression rather than an actual photographic representation.It is a way of getting ninety percent of the results in ten percent of the time, that what he calls "point- for- point" modeling would require.It allows you to concentrate on the fun stuff like design and the storytelling part of the diorama.
He does believe and I agree that gizmology is a good technique for dioramas ,it is not the same for stand alone models though.A diorama is an artistic representation and the aircraft is only one of several elements in the scene.A stand alone model is a scale miniature and point -for-point modeling is the only way to do it justice.The best way to describe the difference is a painting of an aircraft in flight as opposed to a scale drawing.With that distinction being made it is not a license to conjure up fictitious details out of thin air.Shep says "a conscientious gizmologist scrupulously follows his references,and I was always careful to do that.Within that framework,I had a lot of fun playing with gizmology in my dioramas.It's fun to see how much you can achieve through suggestion."
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
The above is a good example of gizmology based upon fact.This type of pump-barrel arrangement did exist in the WW1 era but I used car parts,old ship modeling parts ,plastic and wood to represent metal and old 1/16th aircraft parts for the pump.
It works for a diorama but as a stand alone model it is just gizmology but I love the artistic freedom that it represents.Stand it beside an aircraft and the average viewer gets your message without you having to show every little piece in perfect scale,or perfect color or whatever....
It works for a diorama but as a stand alone model it is just gizmology but I love the artistic freedom that it represents.Stand it beside an aircraft and the average viewer gets your message without you having to show every little piece in perfect scale,or perfect color or whatever....
JohnReid
A Fixture
I know that WW1 airplanes have always been a niche genre even with modelers of aircraft but I think that things may be changing,thanks to Peter Jackson the New Zealand film director of Lord Of The Rings movie fame.A modeler himself with a life long love of WW1 aircraft,he has started a company known as Wingnut Wings that specializes in only 1/32 scale WW1 kits.Not only airplanes but figures for the diorama and vignette builders and super kits complete with all the aftermarket stuff that you could ever possibly want.
As a builder and collector himself he knows what we want, highly detailed, accurate ,large scale WW1 aircraft.Kits that are simple enough to be assembled by almost anyone at a reasonable price.
Don't even bother to ask if they will be producing kits in smaller scales anytime soon,as his belief is that 1/32 is the ideal scale for WW1 as they are already small in comparison to WW2 aircraft.While I have always admired the little jewels you can hold in the palm of your hand, they are somewhat of a niche market for the super patient. I believe that they do tend to turn off a lot of potential WW1 modelers who just can't handlel the small parts,especially the rigging.(which includes me)
What I especially like about this company is that it is a result of one mans passion for his lifelong hobby and not totally market driven.They produce only what a modeler himself would know about, and that is what does a modeler really want to see in a kit?For the builder of dioramas like myself they have actually supplied figures with their kits as an added incentive to help all the potential diorama builders out there.I believe that one day aircraft dioramas will evolve to a point much like the armor guys have,when figures will almost be a requirement for a static model.It is nice that they are the first to really recognize this coming trend and not just as a marketing afterthought.
We WW1 guys are truly blessed to finally having a passionate WW1 guy running the store!
As a builder and collector himself he knows what we want, highly detailed, accurate ,large scale WW1 aircraft.Kits that are simple enough to be assembled by almost anyone at a reasonable price.
Don't even bother to ask if they will be producing kits in smaller scales anytime soon,as his belief is that 1/32 is the ideal scale for WW1 as they are already small in comparison to WW2 aircraft.While I have always admired the little jewels you can hold in the palm of your hand, they are somewhat of a niche market for the super patient. I believe that they do tend to turn off a lot of potential WW1 modelers who just can't handlel the small parts,especially the rigging.(which includes me)
What I especially like about this company is that it is a result of one mans passion for his lifelong hobby and not totally market driven.They produce only what a modeler himself would know about, and that is what does a modeler really want to see in a kit?For the builder of dioramas like myself they have actually supplied figures with their kits as an added incentive to help all the potential diorama builders out there.I believe that one day aircraft dioramas will evolve to a point much like the armor guys have,when figures will almost be a requirement for a static model.It is nice that they are the first to really recognize this coming trend and not just as a marketing afterthought.
We WW1 guys are truly blessed to finally having a passionate WW1 guy running the store!
JohnReid
A Fixture
JohnReid
A Fixture
My mock-up comes to the rescue once again! I wouldn't now even attempted a model of the complexity without one.I just poured a little sand and all the landscaping problems just disappeared.I don't even have to change the fences along the property lines.Now all I have to do is build it in 1/16th scale.
JohnReid
A Fixture
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