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Dioramas
Do you love dioramas & vignettes? We sure do.
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Dio Ideas We'll Never Build
sniper
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New York, United States
Joined: May 07, 2002
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Posted: Monday, August 26, 2002 - 02:54 AM UTC
Hi, don't know if this has been a topic before but I thought I'd give it a try.

What are some great (well maybe their not really great ) ideas for dioramas that you have that you will probably never attempt to build? This can be because of size, scope, cost, lack of ability, etc...

OK, my idea; I was thinking of a December 7, 1941 dio. Now, not a Pearl Harbor action scene, but inside a family house. Maybe in the midwest or something. There would be family members around the radio in the living room, it would be a cold evening with frosted windows, and you might have the son heading out the door to enlist in the Army or Navy with appropiate reactions from Mom (not wanting him to go) and Dad (pride), etc.

I don't know, maybe it's a dumb idea but I can picture a calendar with the date. Maybe Christmas decorations already up...

Now, I don't think I'll ever get around to this and my figures are bad anyway!

Anything out there you guys have come up with?

Steve
CaptainJack
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Luxembourg, Belgium
Joined: March 17, 2002
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Posted: Monday, August 26, 2002 - 03:06 AM UTC
One thing I've learned never to do......is say never. However it is doubtful I'll ever finish my evacuation ogf the U.S. Embassy in Saigon diorama. I measured the proprtions the other day, and it just would'nt be a realistic project. That doesn't mean I won't approach it differrently though.

Jacko

Pig N°4
Folgore
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Canada
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Posted: Monday, August 26, 2002 - 03:13 AM UTC
Kind of like your idea, Steve, except from the other side. Some Japanese soldiers praying at a pagoda in a beautiful garden or something. Maybe it wouldn't have to be that big, but I'd have to find the pagoda and properly positioned figures (I suck at reposing). I also don't think I'm that great with creating plants and stuff. Maybe someday, this idea won't seem as impossible.

I just came up with a grand idea that would be absolutely massive and would cost a fortune. A Japanese carrier in 1/32 scale loaded with Tamiya's 1/32 Zeros. Now that's an idea..........

Nic
sniper
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Posted: Monday, August 26, 2002 - 03:19 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Kind of like your idea, Steve, except from the other side. Some Japanese soldiers praying at a pagoda in a beautiful garden or something. Maybe it wouldn't have to be that big, but I'd have to find the pagoda and properly positioned figures (I suck at reposing). I also don't think I'm that great with creating plants and stuff. Maybe someday, this idea won't seem as impossible.


Sure, you could have the American reaction on one side, and the Japanese on the other.


Quoted Text

I just came up with a grand idea that would be absolutely massive and would cost a fortune. A Japanese carrier in 1/32 scale loaded with Tamiya's 1/32 Zeros. Now that's an idea..........

Nic


And you can display it in a new addition to your home!

Steve
GeneralFailure
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European Union
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Posted: Monday, August 26, 2002 - 03:22 AM UTC
Nic,
When I was much younger, my modeling friend and me started measuring how big the USS Nimitz would be on 1/32... We shelved our plans when we discovered we would never be able to park it anywhere in the neighborhood. Finally, we ended up making a "small" deck section with only 3 aircraft and plenty of staff. I still dream of a scratchbuilding a complete scale carrier though... Maybe when I'm retired ?
VoodooChild
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Gauteng, South Africa
Joined: July 03, 2002
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Posted: Monday, August 26, 2002 - 03:31 AM UTC
I'm thinking of doing a dio with the Academy 1/35 Blackhawk lifting a humvee. The blackhawk would be supported by the lifting cables attached to the humvee. The humvee will be at the point just before it leaves the ground, so its suspension will be fully extended. I want to adjust the blackhawk's undercarriage so that it is fully extended and I'll change the pitch and angle on the rotor blades so that it looks like it is taking weight. The three crewmen will be looking out at the load.

I kind of fluctuate between thinking this could be possible and wondering if I'm crazy. It all boils down to building the helicopter and seeing how much it weighs and from there I'll see if it's possible to get wire thats strong and stiff enough to to support it without bending too much, while still looking good in scale.
If that doesn't work, I'll just have the Blackhawk at the point of lift-off, so its undercarriage and rotors will be modified, but it will be supported by its wheels. Then I might do the humvee thing in 1/72.

Ed
godfather
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Canada
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Posted: Monday, August 26, 2002 - 05:03 AM UTC
never having built a diorama one idea that I do have which I think would be neat but not in my current abilities is a geramn tank/truck on an old road in Southern Italy with grape vines and olive trees near by. Also a rock hedge which is very common in Southern Italy. I have been may time so I might even have pictures of the farm land.
MLD
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Vermont, United States
Joined: July 21, 2002
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Posted: Monday, August 26, 2002 - 05:14 AM UTC
In one of the Concord IDF books there is a series of pics of and IDF LST (?) with about a dozen M113 APC's of different variants unloading on a beach in Lebanon...

I'd also love to do a fictional Sdkfz 251 UHU (IR battlefield illumination searchlight), 251 Falke APC, and Infra-Red equipped Panther diorama with the nachtjager troopies with the St44 and IR sights.. but at operational vehicle spacing, it would take up a room..

A flooded rice paddy and a scratchbuilt PACV hovercraft chasing fleeing VC would be cool too..
Envar
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Uusimaa, Finland
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Posted: Monday, August 26, 2002 - 06:04 AM UTC
Something that sounds quite impossible to do is a 1:35 C-47 unloading paratroopers, showing some ten guys out of the plane showing different phases of an opening parachute!
Ok ok it could be rigged inside a plastic box...

Something that has been in my head for some time now is a wide shot of a Winter War frontline showing shot-up forest and soldiers in their potholes fighting desperately a mass of charging Russians...maybe a 1 meter wide base would be enough to carry some 30 figures. I´m sure it would look as if there were a lot more .

Toni
TreadHead
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Posted: Monday, August 26, 2002 - 06:07 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I'm thinking of doing a dio with the Academy 1/35 Blackhawk lifting a humvee. The blackhawk would be supported by the lifting cables attached to the humvee. The humvee will be at the point just before it leaves the ground, so its suspension will be fully extended. I want to adjust the blackhawk's undercarriage so that it is fully extended and I'll change the pitch and angle on the rotor blades so that it looks like it is taking weight. The three crewmen will be looking out at the load.

I kind of fluctuate between thinking this could be possible and wondering if I'm crazy. It all boils down to building the helicopter and seeing how much it weighs and from there I'll see if it's possible to get wire thats strong and stiff enough to to support it without bending too much, while still looking good in scale.
If that doesn't work, I'll just have the Blackhawk at the point of lift-off, so its undercarriage and rotors will be modified, but it will be supported by its wheels. Then I might do the humvee thing in 1/72.

Ed


Howdy VooDooChild, or should I just call you Jimi?

First and foremost, allow me to welcome you to the best armour site on the web! You will find a plethora of bloke's here that are nothing less than the best, most helpful guys and gals there is out there!

To your dio idea. I like it! I especially like the way you've thought out the 'interactive dynamics' of the thing. Further, being an old 'big blade' jockey I especially like the fact that you picked up on the rotors angle grabbing for air inclusion. You've obviously thought your dio idea out. Good for you!

Question though, why are you using a Blackhawk to lift a HHMV? In other words, what is your situation and setting? Why haven't they called in a Sky Crane or something more suited to simple cargo duty?

Just curious.

Tread.

:-)
Plasticbattle
#003
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Donegal, Ireland
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Posted: Monday, August 26, 2002 - 07:08 AM UTC
Has anybody ever trie to build something like the Bovington or other tank museum? All models have an exact refernce. That cant be said for different divisions from different bttles. Maybe even a section from a museum. What about that for an idea for a dio? #:-)
BillyBishop
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 20, 2002
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Posted: Monday, August 26, 2002 - 07:15 AM UTC
I am curious if any of you have thought about scaling down the great dio ideas from 1/35 to 1/72 scale?

The quality of the armor and after market stuff in 1/72 scale has made me consider the possibility ...

MSW
drewgimpy
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Utah, United States
Joined: January 24, 2002
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Posted: Monday, August 26, 2002 - 03:23 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I'm thinking of doing a dio with the Academy 1/35 Blackhawk lifting a humvee.


I may have a picture of this. I am not sure if it is a blackhawk or something else, may have been bigger. If you would like I can find it and send it to you. Now that I think of it I also have a picture of a chopper carrying a F-15. That one is bigger than a blackhawk, a seaking I think. Anyway let me know if you would like me to find it.

for my dio (even though I have never done one) I would like to do a few different scenes of the battle of 73 easting (Desert Storm). I have been doing a lot of research on it and there was a lot of serious fighting going on, not just dropping bombs like we all saw on CNN. Taking say half a room and devoting it to that would be a dream for me.
Eagle
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Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
Joined: May 22, 2002
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Posted: Monday, August 26, 2002 - 03:35 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Something that sounds quite impossible to do is a 1:35 C-47 unloading paratroopers, showing some ten guys out of the plane showing different phases of an opening parachute!


Oohhhh Envar.....you must have read my mind....... water drips outta' my mouth thinking of such a dio.

Next dio that I would love to build is the Landing Zone with the different stages of landing........and all of that in light of operation Market Garden....

Ohhhh mama hold me tight......I'm going wild here.........
VoodooChild
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Gauteng, South Africa
Joined: July 03, 2002
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Posted: Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 04:02 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Question though, why are you using a Blackhawk to lift a HHMV? In other words, what is your situation and setting? Why haven't they called in a Sky Crane or something more suited to simple cargo duty?


Hi Tread

My inspiration for this idea came from a photo in the Squadron/Signal Blackhawk walkaround of a blackhawk lifting an Avenger humvee. You can also find this photo at:
http://www.sikorsky.com/details/1,,CLI1_DIV69_ETI561,00.html

If the Blackhawk was supporting a light infantry division, then as far as I can tell, it could be the only chopper in theatre capable of lifting the humvee (Please correct me if I'm wrong).

Finally the Blackhawk is the only large transport helicopter in 1/35 (says he, hoping this will change in the near future :-) ), although if I move it to 1/72, I might change the chopper (I'll probably also change the load, since I'm not sure if there's a humvee in 1/72).


Quoted Text

Has anybody ever trie to build something like the Bovington or other tank museum? All models have an exact refernce. That cant be said for different divisions from different bttles. Maybe even a section from a museum. What about that for an idea for a dio? #:-)


Hi Plasticbattle

I was thinking of doing something like this with a diorama of our engineering lab - we have a Mirage F1 on stands with its engine next to it that would make a nice project in 1/48.

So many ideas, so little time - SIGH.

Cheers
Ed
KFMagee
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Texas, United States
Joined: January 08, 2002
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Posted: Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 01:49 PM UTC
My "dream dio" that I *do* hope to someday build... about an 8 x 4 foot section of the seige at Bastiogne. during the Ardannes Offensive (B.O.B). Several streets, dozens and dozens of figures, and of course, about 300 pounds of rubble scattered through the destroyed buildings, each rendered in full 360-degree detail!

And of course by the time I get around to it, I'll have to post the 3D-halogram pics on the Armorma website!
Eagle
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Posted: Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 03:55 PM UTC

Quoted Text

And of course by the time I get around to it, I'll have to post the 3D-halogram pics on the Armorma website!


tht's a promis KFM !!

Beautiful dio idea by the way. I lust love to see you build this one !
BlueBear
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Idaho, United States
Joined: August 26, 2002
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Posted: Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 04:44 PM UTC
I've thought about doing a diorama of an accident we had aboard the Constellation in 1994 off Okinawa. An F-14D Super-Tomcat from VF-2 "Bounty Hunters" had just landed and blew their main brake cylinder as they cleared their hook to move forward to the Ordies safety/ de-arm area between the landing area and the six-packs. The pilot was jacking away like crazy on his emergency brake, swung hard around to the right and started rolling aft into the path of one of VFA-137 "Kestral's" Hornets that was in the groove, very short. The Tomcat driver whipped his nose around hard left to get clear of the out-of-bounds/ landing area to avoid a collision and speared one of his practice Sidewinders through the nose of a parked Hawkeye from VAW-116 "Sun Kings"!
There was no fire, the Tomcat driver did an emergency shut-down and pulled his fire bottles, but LOX started pouring out of the Hawkeye's ruptured LOX flasks onto the deck, and to top things off, the right propellor of the Hawkeye was hanging 1 foot over the top of the Tomcat's canopy, trapping the crew. They couldn't blow the miniture detonating cord in the canopy---flame from the blast plus LOX plus bled out brake fluid on the deck under a jet equals nightmare on the flight-deck. The fire crew stood by with their AFFF, and a tow tractor tried to pull the Tomcat back. The problem was the front fins of the Sidewinder had gone right through the Hawkeye's forward pressure bulkhead via the radar just like a harpoon and were hooked behind it, plus the Sidewinder was jammed back hard on the Tomcat's right glove pylon. One of VF-2's Ordie Chief's came running up with a sledge-hammer to beat on the rear-end of the inert missile to drive it deeper into the Hawkeye to get the Sidewinder mounting lugs forward to clear the mounting channels on the rail. It was an interesting evening---I can still see that chief hoisting up that hammer on the PLAT, wincing, and waiting for the rolling boom one deck up and across the flight-deck from down in VFA-137's AT shop. Fire! Fire! Fire! Fire on the Flight-Deck! #:-)
It might be possible to build, but putting in the island, a couple Hawkeyes, a Tomcat, an Oceanhawk, Tillie plus "the junkyard" behind the island is going to take up some serious real-estate even in 1/72.
matt
Staff MemberCampaigns Administrator
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Posted: Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 06:18 PM UTC
I'd build a 4' X 8' Vietnam era Firebase/Basecamp Complete w/ Multiple towers, bunkers & Artillery pits. Plenty of Mutts & Mules running all over Moving ammo from the Helipads. (saw We were Soldiers again last night)

Matt
MLD
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Posted: Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 07:43 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Has anybody ever trie to build something like the Bovington or other tank museum? All models have an exact refernce. That cant be said for different divisions from different bttles. Maybe even a section from a museum. What about that for an idea for a dio? #:-)


A friend did the "stealth tank" Aberdeen Proving Ground style.. 2 concrete slabs, a photoreduced sign, some grass and an invisible tank model..

Mike
YodaMan
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Posted: Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 11:16 PM UTC
The dio that I am going to build someday will be a scale replica of the Echo Base hangar on Hoth. (from The Empire Strikes Back) It'll have the Falcon, numerous X-wings and Snowspeeders, plenty of mechanics, pilots and base personnel. :-) The only question is, what scale? 1/72? 1/48? 1/35?

The dio that I won't build would be a representation of the ground battle of Endor. Reason? Ewok cuteness just wouldn't work when scaled down...

#:-)

...heh heh...

YodaMan
AJLaFleche
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Posted: Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 11:33 PM UTC
Was the Skycrane still in service when the Humvee went operational?
210cav
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Posted: Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 02:45 AM UTC
I go to sleep envisioning this magnificent diorama containing the M-26 DW hauling a burnt out Sherman to a maintenance collection point. At the collection point, arrayed in various poses are M-32 Sherman Recovery Vehicles, an ambulance, the SkyBow command car, and the M-20 Armored Car. Engine parts, tools, and figures enhance this wonderful scene. To cap it off, the result is that I am the toast of modeling magazines and talk shows.....ah, to dream!
DJ
m1garand
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Posted: Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 04:21 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Was the Skycrane still in service when the Humvee went operational?


I don't believe so. But was going to suggest the CH-47D chinook for that dio. If there's one made in the right scale.
AJLaFleche
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Posted: Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 07:18 AM UTC
I think one would be hard pressed to find a Chinook in 1/35! But if someone can scratchbuild a 1/32 B-52, there's hope.
 _GOTOTOP