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Dioramas
Do you love dioramas & vignettes? We sure do.
Hosted by Darren Baker, Mario Matijasic
T-34/76 1941 Alcove Diorama
didiumus
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Utah, United States
Joined: March 18, 2003
KitMaker: 564 posts
Armorama: 312 posts
Posted: Monday, October 04, 2004 - 06:23 AM UTC
Many of you saw when a few of us did a "mini" build of Dragon T-34 kits on the armor forum a few months ago. I said I would post when it was finished, so here it is...











This is a diorama recently completed by myself and my partner, Ray Weber. (We are AKA the Visor Brothers)

The Diorama features a basswood base, a Dragon 1/35 T-34 tank, Friul tracks, Moskit metal exhausts, MV headlight lenses, Warriors Figures, metal Hedgehog figure , and scenery done with styrofoam/celluclay base with assorted products for trees, bushes, rocks, logs, trees, etc... Base painting for the scenery was Tamiya acrylics with enamel and oil weathering, shadowing, and highlighting. Heavy snow is thinned Lightweight Hydrocal, and the light snow is baking soda. One tree is Woodland scenics and the other two are made from Verlinden, Woodland Scenics, and floral materials. Logs are real wood.

We were fortunate enough to win a Gold Medal with this Diorama a few days ago at the IPMS SLC chapters annual contest, the Gathering, in Layton, Utah. We were also awarded with a special award for the "Most Detailed" entry.

Hope you like it. You can see more shots in my gallery.

Scott Gentry
jackhammer81
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Nebraska, United States
Joined: August 12, 2003
KitMaker: 2,394 posts
Armorama: 1,695 posts
Posted: Monday, October 04, 2004 - 08:51 AM UTC
Congrats to the "Visor Brothers" for a wonderful dio. Cheers Kevin
Logan
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British Columbia, Canada
Joined: September 30, 2004
KitMaker: 523 posts
Armorama: 400 posts
Posted: Monday, October 04, 2004 - 09:13 AM UTC
Hi Scott

Great weathering. Very realistic and not overly done.

I think you captured it very well indeed.

Tom

TsunamiBomb
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Arizona, United States
Joined: September 21, 2004
KitMaker: 1,447 posts
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Posted: Monday, October 04, 2004 - 09:47 AM UTC
AWESOME DIO! one thing thought... though I didnt know that flowers bloomed during the winter?
didiumus
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Utah, United States
Joined: March 18, 2003
KitMaker: 564 posts
Armorama: 312 posts
Posted: Monday, October 04, 2004 - 10:07 AM UTC

Quoted Text

AWESOME DIO! one thing thought... though I didnt know that flowers bloomed during the winter?


The diorama is set in early spring, after a late snow. We struggled with the time period based on the figures and the tank, and this made the most sense to us.

If it would have been deep winter then the snow would have been deep and everything muddy. We wanted the signs of spring, some blooming and green vegetation, and some signs of cold. Frozen ground, skiffs of a last snow, that kind of thing.

Hope this helps. Thanks for the comments.

Scott
Silantra
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Putrajaya, Malaysia
Joined: March 04, 2004
KitMaker: 2,511 posts
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Posted: Monday, October 04, 2004 - 10:38 AM UTC
Nice dio man!!! although the grass on the background doesnt scale with the dio

anyway i love the way u posed and painted Ivans. the leather jacket looks real. Can u tell the figure are from which company?

great work Scott!
didiumus
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Utah, United States
Joined: March 18, 2003
KitMaker: 564 posts
Armorama: 312 posts
Posted: Monday, October 04, 2004 - 11:15 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Nice dio man!!! although the grass on the background doesnt scale with the dio

anyway i love the way u posed and painted Ivans. the leather jacket looks real. Can u tell the figure are from which company?

great work Scott!


Thanks for the comments! You are right, that 1:1 scale grass has got to go!!! :-) :-)

The figures are very nice, they are actually one set, and they are made by Warriors. The two figures in the front are two of the nicest figures you can buy IMHO, although the third one is not quite as good, he needs a new head. (The one in the background in the leather)

Thanks again from me and my buddy Ray!

Scott
Hwa-Rang
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Kobenhavn, Denmark
Joined: June 29, 2004
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Posted: Monday, October 04, 2004 - 12:49 PM UTC
Congrats with a job well done. Great dio
philp
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Utah, United States
Joined: October 09, 2003
KitMaker: 122 posts
Armorama: 51 posts
Posted: Monday, October 04, 2004 - 01:06 PM UTC
Scott,
Saw your dio at the Gathering. Very nice. I took a pic of it and posted it on the IPMS/SLC site under the Gathering (473 other pics as well). I really like the pics you took. What kind of camera did you use?
shonen_red
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Metro Manila, Philippines
Joined: February 20, 2003
KitMaker: 5,762 posts
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Posted: Monday, October 04, 2004 - 06:03 PM UTC
Waw! Very nice! I loke the T-34!
Jurjen
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Groningen, Netherlands
Joined: September 21, 2003
KitMaker: 3,040 posts
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Posted: Monday, October 04, 2004 - 06:31 PM UTC
Wonderful dio guys, concrats with your prizes

I just fell in love with that T-34
Angela
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Visayas, Philippines
Joined: September 01, 2004
KitMaker: 853 posts
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Posted: Monday, October 04, 2004 - 07:01 PM UTC
That's a wonderful dio. I like the weathering on the T34 and the fur coat best.

Three minor things though:

1) The eyes of one figure is bulging out.

2) The long grass is off scale, I think. But that is easy to remedy since you'll just have to trim it off.

3) A part of the rear of the tank is off the base of the diorama. Personally, I prefer the whole scene enclosed in the base. But that's just me.

Overall, its an outstanding job. I like it very much.

Angela
slodder
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North Carolina, United States
Joined: February 22, 2002
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Posted: Monday, October 04, 2004 - 07:33 PM UTC
You know what stands out in my minds eye on this diorama - composition.
The entire diorama is cohesive and well put together. Even those who may not prefer certain elements are agreeing that overall this comes off as a great diorama.

Well done, deserves the medal it won.
didiumus
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Utah, United States
Joined: March 18, 2003
KitMaker: 564 posts
Armorama: 312 posts
Posted: Monday, October 04, 2004 - 10:02 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Scott,
Saw your dio at the Gathering. Very nice. I took a pic of it and posted it on the IPMS/SLC site under the Gathering (473 other pics as well). I really like the pics you took. What kind of camera did you use?


Phil,

Great to hear from you! My camera is an Olympus, 2.1 Megapixel, don't know the model offhand. It is pretty good. I think the key to model photography is using macro mode and lighting. I am hoping to get a nice Nikon Coolpix 4300 sometime soon. Those are great cameras. Thanks for the comments.

Scott
didiumus
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Utah, United States
Joined: March 18, 2003
KitMaker: 564 posts
Armorama: 312 posts
Posted: Monday, October 04, 2004 - 10:08 PM UTC
Shonen, Jurjen, Angela, Slodder,

Thanks for your comments...

Angela, the grass is meant to be that tall. Many of the photographs of these tanks were taken in Russia where you cannot see anything below the hull line due to the tall grass. It is something we intended to model that way.

Additionally, as Slodder mentioned, we spent a lot of time planning the layout of this piece, and on the end you refer to, we left the grass, dirt and tank hanging over the base on purpose. We wanted the viewer to get the feel of this diorama as almost "bursting out" of the scene, almost being bigger than the base it is contained on. The alcove is a refuge from the grasslands, the tankers are seeking a refuge, a place to take a break and discuss their next move... It is also meant to appear as though they have been there before.

I appreciate your comments, they are very good observations. Thanks to all for the kind comments.

Scott Gentry
mondo
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Mindanao, Philippines
Joined: July 04, 2003
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Posted: Monday, October 04, 2004 - 10:28 PM UTC
Nice work on the figures especially.
HILBERT
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Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: August 07, 2004
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Posted: Monday, October 04, 2004 - 10:30 PM UTC
Nothing to tell about it, looks great.

Hilbert
Bus
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Sao Paulo, Brazil
Joined: December 11, 2003
KitMaker: 846 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 12:02 AM UTC
Great Dio!Nice weathering effect on the T34!
Angela
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Visayas, Philippines
Joined: September 01, 2004
KitMaker: 853 posts
Armorama: 514 posts
Posted: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 03:56 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Shonen, Jurjen, Angela, Slodder,

Thanks for your comments...

Angela, the grass is meant to be that tall. Many of the photographs of these tanks were taken in Russia where you cannot see anything below the hull line due to the tall grass. It is something we intended to model that way.

Additionally, as Slodder mentioned, we spent a lot of time planning the layout of this piece, and on the end you refer to, we left the grass, dirt and tank hanging over the base on purpose. We wanted the viewer to get the feel of this diorama as almost "bursting out" of the scene, almost being bigger than the base it is contained on. The alcove is a refuge from the grasslands, the tankers are seeking a refuge, a place to take a break and discuss their next move... It is also meant to appear as though they have been there before.


Oh okay. Sorry about that. I was just stating a personal opinion.

Very nice dio.

Angela
didiumus
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Utah, United States
Joined: March 18, 2003
KitMaker: 564 posts
Armorama: 312 posts
Posted: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 11:11 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Shonen, Jurjen, Angela, Slodder,

Thanks for your comments...

Angela, the grass is meant to be that tall. Many of the photographs of these tanks were taken in Russia where you cannot see anything below the hull line due to the tall grass. It is something we intended to model that way.

Additionally, as Slodder mentioned, we spent a lot of time planning the layout of this piece, and on the end you refer to, we left the grass, dirt and tank hanging over the base on purpose. We wanted the viewer to get the feel of this diorama as almost "bursting out" of the scene, almost being bigger than the base it is contained on. The alcove is a refuge from the grasslands, the tankers are seeking a refuge, a place to take a break and discuss their next move... It is also meant to appear as though they have been there before.


Oh okay. Sorry about that. I was just stating a personal opinion.

Very nice dio.

Angela


Angela,

No apologies needed, I appreciated your comments, as much as I appreciated your compliments. I think that is the value of posting here, you get both types of comments....

Thanks again for looking and for posting your thoughts...

Scott Gentry
DaveCox
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England - South East, United Kingdom
Joined: January 11, 2003
KitMaker: 4,307 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 11:25 PM UTC
A spectacular piece of work. Ignoring minor details the whole scene works well and draws the viewer to look closer. When you do, you see more detail.
Even the 'bulging eyes' on one of the figures could be explained by the contents of the cup in his hand! :-)
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