How I build large scale dioramas! (4 Viewers)
- Thread starter JohnReid
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Artillery_crazy
2nd Lieutenant
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Hi John,
Welcome back!
Look forward to seeing some of your dioramas!
I am really interested in dioramas and all the fine details one adds to them so as to make as close to a reality as possible.
Cheers
Artillery_Crazy
Welcome back!
Look forward to seeing some of your dioramas!
I am really interested in dioramas and all the fine details one adds to them so as to make as close to a reality as possible.
Cheers
Artillery_Crazy
bradleyl30
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Welcome back! Would love more how-tos on diorama building
JohnReid
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Posted August 28, 2005 (edited)
Diorama Update:
(Yes,I have created my own little world but it is a far better place than any other world that I see out there.)
As most of you guys know by now,I really love dioramas.dioramas of all kinds aircraft,ships,cars etc... it really doesnt matter as long as it tells a story.Because of this love and in the interest of giving back to a hobby that has given me so much joy, I am trying to promote dioramas in any way I can.In addition to this thread i run another one as well on aircraft,two threads on ships and one on autos.
I have noticed a few differences in all three groups.The auto guys seem to be much more diorama orientated.I put this down to a lot of them being current or ex railroad guys who are use to building scenic type dioramas.But there is not a lot of the storyline diorama there.
The ship guys are sort of into telling stories but their work seems to often miss the human element.How many fully-rigged ship models have I seen sailing through rough seas with no hands on deck? Curious.
The aircraft guys are mostly looking for nice display bases for their aircraft, which is great but it is not a diorama.There are a few masters of the simple diorama,Stephen Lawson,is a good example of this.An airplane, a figure or two arranged in a creative composition ,and instant magic.
I tend to do long complicated dioramas but I am no expert .I have only done four dioramas in 35 years,one ship and three aircraft.But that is just my nature.Maybe I just like big impressive things or it may be the challange of the long term build.
Please dont think that all dioramas have to be like this.Anything that works to tell a story is what is important ,even if you use diecasts.Your viewer often does not even know the difference anyway.But,if you connect with him or her in an emotional way they will never be able to get your image of their mind.When they think model airplane your diorama will more than likely come up,especially if they can relate to your storyline(whether subtle or obvious)
I know that this is what got me into dioramas,a few images that I just couldnt get out of my mind.I simply built on what I saw,changed a few things,added or subtracted this or that and what do you know,I discovered some of the magic.And what the hell it is so much more fun than just a nice aircraft on a base or a ship missing its crew or a scenic railroad layout that requires a moving train to bring it to life.
Cheers! John. :bandhead2:
Edited August 29, 2005 by JohnReid
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Posted August 28, 2005 (edited)
Diorama Update:
(Yes,I have created my own little world but it is a far better place than any other world that I see out there.)
As most of you guys know by now,I really love dioramas.dioramas of all kinds aircraft,ships,cars etc... it really doesnt matter as long as it tells a story.Because of this love and in the interest of giving back to a hobby that has given me so much joy, I am trying to promote dioramas in any way I can.In addition to this thread i run another one as well on aircraft,two threads on ships and one on autos.
I have noticed a few differences in all three groups.The auto guys seem to be much more diorama orientated.I put this down to a lot of them being current or ex railroad guys who are use to building scenic type dioramas.But there is not a lot of the storyline diorama there.
The ship guys are sort of into telling stories but their work seems to often miss the human element.How many fully-rigged ship models have I seen sailing through rough seas with no hands on deck? Curious.
The aircraft guys are mostly looking for nice display bases for their aircraft, which is great but it is not a diorama.There are a few masters of the simple diorama,Stephen Lawson,is a good example of this.An airplane, a figure or two arranged in a creative composition ,and instant magic.
I tend to do long complicated dioramas but I am no expert .I have only done four dioramas in 35 years,one ship and three aircraft.But that is just my nature.Maybe I just like big impressive things or it may be the challange of the long term build.
Please dont think that all dioramas have to be like this.Anything that works to tell a story is what is important ,even if you use diecasts.Your viewer often does not even know the difference anyway.But,if you connect with him or her in an emotional way they will never be able to get your image of their mind.When they think model airplane your diorama will more than likely come up,especially if they can relate to your storyline(whether subtle or obvious)
I know that this is what got me into dioramas,a few images that I just couldnt get out of my mind.I simply built on what I saw,changed a few things,added or subtracted this or that and what do you know,I discovered some of the magic.And what the hell it is so much more fun than just a nice aircraft on a base or a ship missing its crew or a scenic railroad layout that requires a moving train to bring it to life.
Cheers! John. :bandhead2:
Edited August 29, 2005 by JohnReid
ivanmoe
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John, Photobucket appears to have betrayed you.
Do you have your pics backed-up somewhere else?-Moe
JohnReid
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JohnReid
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Posted August 29, 2005 (edited)
> Planning A Diorama:
> This is the most important but often overlooked part of diorama making.Designing a diorama is really not that hard but before you start you will have to evaluate the practicality of your ideas.
> Where do ideas come from? It could be an image that you saw in nature,in a book or even at a model show.Good dioramists often find underdeveloped but great ideas at the novice tables.There is nothing wrong with building on someone elses idea as long as it is not a direct copy.
> What do you want to show or tell or display in your diorama?Maybe something unusual ,something beauitful,something interesting?
> With this in mind,how do I go about developing my idea?Is it practical?Will your viewer get it? What audience are you trying to appeal to? Is your diorama destined for a museum of specific interest or is it to appeal to as large an audience as possible?
> Will it contain figures?What will the figures be doing?Do you want to keep things simple? or complex?
> Knowing your own personality, are you good for the long haul or are you the type of person who likes to keep it short and to the point?
> How can you catch your viewers eye? and keep him interested?
>
> These are just some of the questions that we must ask ourselves before we reach for the glue.It is not always easy but it is fun and isnt that what this is all about? to be cont.......... Cheers! John.
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Posted August 29, 2005 (edited)
> Planning A Diorama:
> This is the most important but often overlooked part of diorama making.Designing a diorama is really not that hard but before you start you will have to evaluate the practicality of your ideas.
> Where do ideas come from? It could be an image that you saw in nature,in a book or even at a model show.Good dioramists often find underdeveloped but great ideas at the novice tables.There is nothing wrong with building on someone elses idea as long as it is not a direct copy.
> What do you want to show or tell or display in your diorama?Maybe something unusual ,something beauitful,something interesting?
> With this in mind,how do I go about developing my idea?Is it practical?Will your viewer get it? What audience are you trying to appeal to? Is your diorama destined for a museum of specific interest or is it to appeal to as large an audience as possible?
> Will it contain figures?What will the figures be doing?Do you want to keep things simple? or complex?
> Knowing your own personality, are you good for the long haul or are you the type of person who likes to keep it short and to the point?
> How can you catch your viewers eye? and keep him interested?
>
> These are just some of the questions that we must ask ourselves before we reach for the glue.It is not always easy but it is fun and isnt that what this is all about? to be cont.......... Cheers! John.
JohnReid
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Although both of my diorama threads are similar I think what I will do is keep this thread mostly for how to's and the other thread mostly for pics of storyboard dioramas.There will be at times some overlap but in general this is what I am planning.
Artillery_crazy
2nd Lieutenant
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Hi John,
Will look forward to seeing the pics of the dios!
Cheers
Luiz
Will look forward to seeing the pics of the dios!
Cheers
Luiz
Although both of my diorama threads are similar I think what I will do is keep this thread mostly for how to's and the other thread mostly for pics of storyboard dioramas.There will be at times some overlap but in general this is what I am planning.
JohnReid
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Thanks, Mark good to be here.
JohnReid
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JohnReid
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Posted July 31, 2005
Weathering wood: I am presently working on the roof of the hangar of the "Memories of Flight School" Jenny diorama.I am trying to depict an old hangar of the type that existed at the Toronto flying club in the 20-30s.The roof has a checkerboard pattern for recognition by VFR pilots as well as old aviation gasoline sign.
The battens holding down the roof are made of wood.
My wood weathering technique is as follows.After I have prepared the raw wood (usually birchwood coffee stir stiks or tongue depressors)I brush on two thin washes of nimbus grey acrylic paint.Over that ,two thin washes of raw umber,leaving some of the color and pattern of the wood showing through.
When dry,I shade in and around the wood using pastels.Black,medium grey,and burnt sienna for the rust.The secret to pastels is in their very subtle use for shading.Usually I shade where dust and crud would build up such as corners and between the boards.
these battens are held down with pins which I paint using a dot of burnt umber gesso on each nail head,followed by a coat of burnt sienna and then shaded with burnt sienna pastels.Hope this makes sense ,Cheers! John.
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Location:Montreal.Canada.
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Posted July 31, 2005
Weathering wood: I am presently working on the roof of the hangar of the "Memories of Flight School" Jenny diorama.I am trying to depict an old hangar of the type that existed at the Toronto flying club in the 20-30s.The roof has a checkerboard pattern for recognition by VFR pilots as well as old aviation gasoline sign.
The battens holding down the roof are made of wood.
My wood weathering technique is as follows.After I have prepared the raw wood (usually birchwood coffee stir stiks or tongue depressors)I brush on two thin washes of nimbus grey acrylic paint.Over that ,two thin washes of raw umber,leaving some of the color and pattern of the wood showing through.
When dry,I shade in and around the wood using pastels.Black,medium grey,and burnt sienna for the rust.The secret to pastels is in their very subtle use for shading.Usually I shade where dust and crud would build up such as corners and between the boards.
these battens are held down with pins which I paint using a dot of burnt umber gesso on each nail head,followed by a coat of burnt sienna and then shaded with burnt sienna pastels.Hope this makes sense ,Cheers! John.
JohnReid
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Posted July 31, 2005
Weathering wood: I am presently working on the roof of the hangar of the "Memories of Flight School" Jenny diorama.I am trying to depict an old hangar of the type that existed at the Toronto flying club in the 20-30s.The roof has a checkerboard pattern for recognition by VFR pilots as well as old aviation gasoline sign.
The battens holding down the roof are made of wood.
My wood weathering technique is as follows.After I have prepared the raw wood (usually birchwood coffee stir stiks or tongue depressors)I brush on two thin washes of nimbus grey acrylic paint.Over that ,two thin washes of raw umber,leaving some of the color and pattern of the wood showing through.
When dry,I shade in and around the wood using pastels.Black,medium grey,and burnt sienna for the rust.The secret to pastels is in their very subtle use for shading.Usually I shade where dust and crud would build up such as corners and between the boards.
these battens are held down with pins which I paint using a dot of burnt umber gesso on each nail head,followed by a coat of burnt sienna and then shaded with burnt sienna pastels.Hope this makes sense ,Cheers! John.
Further to the above: Please disregard the two coats of this or that the important thing is that they be thin and watery .you can put on as many coats as you please but don't cover the underlying wood grain completely .
JohnReid
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JohnReid
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Posted August 10, 2005 (edited)
Here is my way of making tarps, rags ,cloths etc....
-use kleenex
-soak in a mix of white glue and water(very thin so it won't stick to the surface yet
-drap, place, and shape the item as required
-Air dry or speed up the process with a hair dryer
-repeat the above 3 steps as necessary
-paint or preferably spray the item with laquer
-paint as required(I use acrylics)
-place item and glue
Members
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Location:Montreal.Canada.
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Posted August 10, 2005 (edited)
Here is my way of making tarps, rags ,cloths etc....
-use kleenex
-soak in a mix of white glue and water(very thin so it won't stick to the surface yet
-drap, place, and shape the item as required
-Air dry or speed up the process with a hair dryer
-repeat the above 3 steps as necessary
-paint or preferably spray the item with laquer
-paint as required(I use acrylics)
-place item and glue