I finished a figure a little while back with the contest in mind, but 4 out of 5 dentists agreed that a guy standing in some rubble isn't really a diorama.

So I was wondering if theres a dio contest part 2 on the books, so I can enter with a proper diorama.

well dude in the DSB club pages we have anouced our first campaign and contest, it should be fun for all involved and a dio is not needed but might help tell your story, we looking for most creative model or dio. and were giving away a new DML nashorn to the winner. there may be other prizes as we the members on DSB are donating prizes to the contest. we as of yet don't have a sponsor sorry. but it'll still be fun to see what's on your bench and imagination. stug

Yes - there WILL be a Spring '03 diorama contest.... and the prize is already sitting on my shelf... a Brand New Cordless Rotary Tool, complete with case, 50+ attachements, and a rechargable battery and charger!

The rules will be similar... there will be common theme, a limit on size, and a limit on the number of figures. I'm open to suggestion, but my first thoughts are:

At least one civilian
A fountain (or other source of water, ie firehydrant, creek, etc.)
No more than two soldiers
5 x 7 base limit!

But I am open to suggetions!

its kinda good idea but I never painted before wo2 so it will be a challenge and a defeat
but that doesnt matter and euh I prefer a ribbon or medal instead a real price

I was thinking about the idea for the next dio contest¨.
How about a gun emplacement.
Not really armour but at least there is some metal in there. Maybe three figures. They could be all dead. They could be firing the gun. They could be 2 attacking a lone soldier manning the gun, etc. Then the dio aspect. How do you make the emplacement! Sanbags! A dig_in! Camoflauged with branches or nets! A man made or natural proteced area! A street scene! A turret bunker! etc! The figures could even be setting up the gun emplacement.
Then for the fun part. I guess Keith should add the cost, size and secret element to get the brains whizzing! It would be unfair for me to influence that part!

Why I came up with this idea? I swapped the DML veitnam helicopter crew for a verlinden 75mm german infantry gun with resin and photo etch and Im dieing to build it! I have never used resin or photo etch before and this would be the perfect reason to use it!
What do you think of this idea?

Ok - Ok - I give up! I admit it I'm hooked.

After taking a deep breath after completing the 1st campaign I was going to try to finish up some other projects and lower the # of unfinished kits on the shelf. But after hearing some of these ideas I'm already thinking of jumping Again!

Ok - I'm crazy I admit it.

I like the fountain and two soldier idea ... but how about have it open to anytime period.

can we raise the size and figure limit please. i'd like to enter but would need a base of about 8x12, and about 4or 5 figures. i have a plan for a sherman and an out house. hehehehe that's all i'm saying

Ok, so you're open to suggestions ? Well how about this suggestion : "Execute the one above" because it has plenty of opportunituies and challenges in it.

Maybe the source of water could be optional like the snow in the wintercampaign. This opens up the campaign for the less experienced (like myself) and beginners to enter.

As for the initial idea you posted I'd say "Let's do it".

I can think of a couple names for it already... Class one download or Just another S**ty day

I like the fountain thing! good thinking keith

I made a promis to myself, to describe every move I make in the next Campaign. Figure painting, working with artificial grass, making water...whatever...I'll put everything down on (digital-) paper. I think this will make a beautiful reference for newcomers and a great way to improve my skills with the reactions given to the articles.

Water will be quite a challenge, it's the thing I avoid in my current ideas and plans...... probably as a lack of confidence..... Doing a dio for a campaign like this, really makes me want to try to do this right. I like the way these Campaigns stimulate my creativity and my will to finish it. As I can remember, finishing models wasn't my strongest point in my younger years..

Why do these campaigns stimulate me you ask...... ? It's the group thing in combination with the structure and the rules I think. I've seen group builds before. I didn't feel like joining, because I was afraid I couldn't hang in there and finish it. The first Campaign proved that I am able to do it..... it's something I'm pretty proud of you know....... That's why I'm eager to join the next one.....not to win, but to experience fun, friendship and the chance to finish another one....... something to be proud of !!

For now I'll stick to dio's with scenery, figures, small arms etc..... but who knows how far the Armorama Bandits will get me in time........ Keith got me pretty much addicted in the first one.... it only can get better (or worse according to my wife #:-) )

Eagle - If you tackle water as well as you crushed Snow then I see one hell of a fountain coming up. :-)

k. sounds cool. so I get into this one too. Some i didn;t exactly got it. Those were the rules or will u change them? I am sure i will not win but i like trying

The contest idea sounds cool to me. I think I'm going to like it. The civilians idea I love. But where can you get them? I used to have the partisan's kit from ESC, and I can't find it anymore. Does anybody know where I could buy it? This would be perfect for this contest, if not, I would just love to make it again.

Eagle, water is "easy" ... yeah right ... well, I'm currently doing another vignette and needed some mud/water. I bought Future Premium Floor Finish and it looks very promising. I think I can do a water effect with that. It may be hard to see on this picture .
When I progress, I will post some more.

Belgian

This contest idea seems to catch on, and I'm real happy about that !

At this point, I would like to call for some order, though.

Some of the other forums on this site organize contests too, and I think it is only fair to give them a chance as well. Having several contests here at the same time is not a wise idea. We'll end up with everyone doing their own thing, and splitting up the enthousiasm.

Currently the following projects are on the worktable / in the pipeline :

1) a Science Fiction Contest (just begun, ends 28 February). For details, I refer to the sci-fi forum.
2) a figures Campaign (just begun, ends 24 February). For details, I refer to the figures forum
3) an Armor forum. Though the details are not fully completed yet (unless I overlooked them), it will probably start on 1 March and take several weeks to complete.

I think the figures and sci-fi campaigns can co-exist, since they draw a very different crowd (pre-1900 versus future).
Though I don't know much of the Armor forum, I'm sure Rob & co will make this a Big hit ! This site is called Armorama for a reason.

Of all projects, I look forward to the new Diorama Contest most of all. But I would suggest we do that after the Armor forum, so we concentrate our efforts. If you want to start building your entry today already, I think that is just fine. Nobody can stop you there and I don't think anyone wins by making life difficult (e.g. by waiting to publish the contest rules until the week before the starting date). But the official contest date should be maintained till somewhere in April. Now those are only my 2 €cts, and you're welcome to disagree with me. What's your opinion on this ?

Here Here Jan. I agree. Let's let everyone have a shot!

Danny, I couldn't agree more !
Just one thing is missing here : I don't see a period quoted.
If I may make a suggestion here (since you all shoved WWII down my throat for the first dio campaign), I'd say make this any scene between 1990 and today; any country or nationality allowed (including e.g. UN controllers in Iraq, a scene in Tora Bora or Quantanamo, an FBI squad arresting the Washington sniper, Bosnia, Serbia, the Korean neutral zone, Russian soldiers in Chechnia, Drug barons in Columbia, ... anything you saw on the news since 1990.
What do you think ?





I think it's good to make water a fixed game of the campaign. it's the only thing some people don't feel comfortable with, and that's exactly why we need to keep it in. This will result in so much publishing, documenting and suggesting stuff that has to do with making water features, that we'll all be water experts by the time this is over. The appeal of Armorama is that it asks you to model exactly those things that make you stand on your toes. You can reach it, but it takes a little effort.

I know your Ardennes shed was your first real dio exercise, but look what you made ! Next time you want to scratch a building, make grass or add snow, you'll laugh at it. This water doesn't need to bother you.
I made several water dios before, but I'll try a new technique this time for sure. Maybe I'll mess up. Just to learn. And I'll watch with great interest what mess all the others make of this, too. But by the end of the contest, none of us (even newbies) will be scared of building water anymore.
Furthermore, by the end of all this, this diorama forum will be THE # 1 reference place on the internet for making diorama water features. Don't believe me ? Just watch this space !!!

Source of water thingy got me thinking. I'll need a base size limit of 24 feet by at least 70 feet. I want to model the English Channel in scale with two Germans and one French civilian prior to D-Day. If I have room, I may add a dog.

Let me know...

Jan,

You spoke words of true wisdom !! My compliments.

I like the >= 1990 setting. I have just the right SAS operation in mind to fit that....... and about that water......I amazed myself the first time, and it would be a real challenge to do that again.


It's an important thing too to coordinate the Campaign operations on this site. I posted something on that subject in the Figure Campaign post. I think it's fair that Rob has a go at it first. Let us do some research in the meantime.

I'll start this weekend to dive into that water thing. Start looking for whats on the market, what are cheaper methods etc. Like promissed before, I'll document every effort for future reference.

I like all of the criteria as it is, particularly modern era.

I am going to do this also. The guys at work all say nobody will believe I scratchbuilt the building in my contest entry. I wish that I had taken step by step photos. I will do this next time.

Patrick

I like the ideas guys... keep 'em coming! Seems the "water + soldiers and civilian" is a popular deal.

The idea of 1900's on is a-OK with me as well... does anyone have a justifiable objection?

As for the timing, I absolutely AGREE that we need to take a break and let the other contests run their course.... I think we could start in early March, and have it run till the end of May.... that gives people lots of time for other contests and to do some "free thinking" projects as well. We certainly don't want too many contests running at the same time. As the Moderator for this particular forum my job is to keep everyone coming back and contributing... glad to see the contest went over well.

I actually don't mind offering the prizes out of my own pocket... heck- so many of you buy my stuff that I think it is only fair to re-invest in the group - but if the majority feel that it puts unfair slants on things just let me know.... I could always give away the Rotary Tool to a "People's Choice" winner for the Winter Campaign, and then not offer future prizes, if that is how you think we should do it.

My thoughts were that since I "got to make the rules" the least I could do was reward everyone with a chance at adding to their enjoyment of the hobby with some free goodies... and to attract "newbies" who might really want to build their resources for better future models.

So what say - Prize or No Prize for the Spring Contest? And tell me WHY if you don't mind...

I agree with Keith on the content: water, soldier, civilian and 5x7 base limit.

Will there also be a cost limit? I kinda liked that. With a total cost of around $2.25 or rounded up to an even $3, I think I beat everyone in that category.

I'm not sure about the post 1990 idea, only because there is less on the market for that era. On the other hand Black Hawk Down has some awesome dio scenes ...

Regarding the prizes. To be honest, I'm not in it to win the prize. I'm in it to participate, learn and well... it is always nice to hear that someone likes your work too.

Oh more quick thing, I didn't get the ribbon everyone else got who participated in the Winter Dio Contest. Now I'll stop whining.

Thanks guys ... I'm enjoying this interaction.

Belgian... sorry about the ribbon.(or lack thereof!) .. we, uh, er.... we were waiting for another shipment to arrive! Yeah - that's it!

You should see your Winter Contest Campaign ribbon the next time you post a message!