Dioramas for displaying your figures..... (1 Viewer)

[Warrior]

I wanted to throw this out there for general discussion.

When I started in the business eight years ago, in the back of my mind I always felt in order to sell the soldiers, they needed to be set up in dramatic and exciting dioramas using trees, bushes, fences, buildings, bunkers, bridges, etc. The displays would help sell the soldiers was what I thought.

What has happened in a positive way is customers are wanting to buy the displays as well as the soldiers, so the soldiers are helping sell the displays and vice versa. I remember going to Chicago one year and seeing all the great displays Boyd Moore had in his room built by Brian Waeyart and thought how awesome K & C figures and vehicles looked on the displays.

Since matte finish figures have exploded onto the scene in recent years, I am finding more and more of my customers are asking for display pieces to go along with their figures. I have been preparing numerous displays for the big OTSN show which is about a month away and at this point, I have recieved countless emails and calls from customers asking what display pieces I will be bringing to the show as to get first dibs on certain items. I have never seen so many people looking for display items so early prior to Chicago, and it made me want to ask you guys how do you display your figures, ie, on shelves marching along, in mini dioramas on shelves or on larger displays.

I know Carlos, Fubar and Kevin have shown us all some pretty large and dramatic displays, so I was just wondering if this is becoming the trend now in the hobby. I have heard through the grapevine about quite a few newer dealers who will be attending OTSN, plus all the usual dealers as well, so competition will be fierce this year for the toy soldier dollars, so I have decided to go all out and come up with some kick butt displays to fill both of my rooms to the brim. I am painting like crazy and building unique items as well, plus I have come into a HUGE collection of B & T buildings, which are massive and look terrific with K & C and other manufacturers figures.

Just wanted to see what you all thought of this in general........

 

[Wraith]

George,
I guess you've probably already figured this, but I love 'em. Space is always a biggy for me (as I'm sure it is for many), so it's nice to be able to dust off the big pieces and do some nice, over the top, set ups - Churches (thanks again ), full size buildings etc, mess around with them and put them away before I get too many complaints.

On the flip side, I like smaller set ups for permanent display, which show off the figures / armour.

One of my favourite scenic pieces is the Figarti Iraq War urban battlefield piece used in the 'follow my leader' set up. Looks very cool.

Simon

 

[Capitolron]

George

I am a curio guy. So my displays are on the shelves in the Curio Case - usually I take up entire self for one scene and have lots of trees, ground clutter to make my displays come to life. Also, if the scene allows it - I have the diorama pieces from Dept 56 or K&C in there as well.

I think action dioramas make the collection "POP" when people come to my office or home - they go wow at all the detail. In a way its like telling a story with a display.

You do make great stuff - need more square inch room to get any more in

Ron

 

[Louis Badolato]

Glossy Toy Soldiers in Parade poses look great on their own on a shelf, without any diorama materials, but matt toy soldiers and glossy toy soldiers in action poses cry out to be displayed on dioramas, large or small. Bases, buildings, trees, walls, etc. really bring these figures to life.

 

[debrito]

I’m agree, that the quality of some figures talks for they self without any help, but when you add an appropriate diorama those characters came pretty much alive, specially K&C toy soldiers. I have been post some of my dio photos in this forum. I have a 10 feet long per 6 feet wide diorama in my baseman and this kind of match DIO + K&C soldiers is unbelievable.

So, if you have a space, I like better a big set up dio.

Cheers