Hey guys, I was brain storming today about a cool dio and I came up with this. Tell me what you think. It is the battle of foy. (I know there is the Ardennes Offensive but I dont think I could finish in time). It is a huge dio with the base going to measure at about 22 inches wide by 17 inches tall. It will be featuring from somewhere about 30 to 40 figures, 1 Tiger tank, 1 Halftrack (havent completely decided yet), a bombed out barn and a small house. This is taking place on Christmas Day 1944. The houses arent exactly in a city more like out in the country medows. Tell me what you guys think, also tell me how long you think it will take.

I think the idea is awesome, I think that it will take a long time, and I think that you should go for it. If you pull it off it could be a dio for the ages it's an undertaking I don't have the guts to try. Plus I am horrible at figures. If you do decide to do it tell us how you produce all those figures, and what roles the tiger and halftrack will play. can't wait to see this

thank you spectre, The first stuff I ever painted was figures. I started out with tamiya because they are simple, easy to build, and fun. They really taught me how to paint figures. It only took me about 30 figures and then i figured out what I wanted to do (which was dioramas). Go out, get some cheap figures you like and go for it! I have faith in you bro! It always takes practice.

That involves a whole LOT of work, Tsunamibomb, and it would certainly be awesome.

Personally, however, I wouldn't go into this kind of undertaking.

First, the scene is too big. Ther are too much of things to build, which means it will take a long time to build/paint each figure/vehicle/structure. Because of too much time involved, eventually, I get bored and the project. My first and probably the biggest dio is 16 X 24 inches with three vehicles, two trees, 20 figures and some accessories and the boredom is now trying to get me.I've worked on this dio since May 2004.

Second, the scene will likely have lots of "little stories within the main story." That means, the viewers' eyes will be distracted with the enormous amount of "little scenes" in the story. This will most likely make the dio a scene of utter confusion.

Thirdly, the logistics of the dio becomes a problem. The expense is great. The size becomes prohibitive.

However, that's just me. Maybe you have some other ideas that makes my points moot.

Angela

hey there, i have to agree with angela about it getting boring but if you are up to the challenge and are enthusiastic about it...go for it. i wouldnt determine the size of the base yet...you should figure that out once you have all your figures so that you dont end up have too much space to fill or have it too cramped. is it goin to be an action dio or a resting dio? also why would anyone bomb a barn? doesnt seem realistic to me. what figures have u been thinking about?
let me know cuz i wanna see this!!! dont let me discourage you...so just dive in....but dive carefully :-) :-)
ian

well first of all about the bombed out barn, Artillary was a big issue in the Ardennes Offensive. A random shot can take out a barn. Sorry I just think thats a horrible question. no offense. It is a resting scene of a whole bunch of guys sitting around and walking. I am going to be using mostly verlinden figures and some warrior figures.








[imghttp://www.greatmodels.com/inventory/images/Verlinden/vp1047.JPG[/img]







There are alot more but I would like to keep those as a surprise. Now that I read the posts I dont know if I want to do it anymore. Although the figures are so detailed and I love painting them I dont think I would get bored.

ouch....those figs are gonna be expensive...unless you have the bling bling for em!
ian

A large diorama does not need to be 'boring' or 'confusing'.. As with photographs, you have to grab the viewers attention with a striking subject, and then use various 'lines of interest' to drag the viewers eye around the diorama. I love a well executed large dio, there is always more to see/find.
For example if you have a Tiger in the right foreground, that will grab the attention. If you then create a road or path leading into the centre of the dio the eyes will be drawn there. In the centre you could have a crossroads, with figures, a signpost or vehicle pointing to another part of your dio. A AT gun barrel will automaticly draw the viewers eye to the direction it points!. Same with a vehicle or a colom of walking soldiers. Clever use of vegetation will highlight points of interest and gives an opportunity to 'hide' small scenes for the viewer to discover.
Most important to remember is that everything must have a sound reason to be in the position it is. If various figures or vehicles are just placed 'at random' the scene will not make sense, the dio will look confussing and cluttered, and the viewer will get distracted.
There is a large 1:35 dio of the landing at Juno Beach, with the Hotel on the beach in the Regimental museum in Salisbury ( Appologies, can't remember the regiment at the moment) It realy works, as you naturaly look from the landing craft, following the line of disembarking soldiers and vehicles, onto the beach and through the seawall. Along the view line you keep finding all the little details, forcing you to look back and forth.

It can be done, but needs serious planning and a story line.

Good luck
Henk

i dunno harrison, the bombed out building is becoming to be too common in dioramas and i think the barn would just make it look like any other diorama. i think an in tact barn would be more visually appealing and if i were a german, i would hang around an in tact barn rather than a bombed out one. just my few cents but you can think what you want. it was just my opinion.
cheers

I would love to see the Juno beach dio that Henk is talking about. Can someone post some pictures? Also who cares that alot of dios are in city settings?? Maybe alot of battles were in suburban areas? Ever thought of that? If you think I should change it, what do you suggest I do?? There are alot of dio's out there in open feilds. There are alot of dioramas out there period. Please dont think my dio is going to be bad because alot of people have done a somewhat similar idea.

Well I was searching the web and I found this dio on our site. It is somewhat what I would like to do. I might be able to do this in time for the ardennes offensive since I baught some figures.

Im not using as many figures and Im using different tanks, afvs, and putting a couple buildings maybe.