introduction

After 24 months of intensive work to gather and organize the content, MrBlack Publications published the new book of Diorama series. As the first book, Diorama Modelling Volume.2 is again 100 pages with over 400 photos and associated text covering many historical periods, such as Ancient and Roman times, the 17th century, World War Two, as well as considering the many different and popular modelling scales of 1/35, 1/32 and 1/24 scale dioramas, to satisfy all modelers’ interests and to answer more questions on mind.
Unlike the one-author books, this one includes the works of eight talented modelers which gives reader a chance to see different approaches and learn different techniques to make their own creations. It covers almost all elements of a diorama from building armor, sculpting and converting figures , painting to making terrain and more.
The book is in A4 format with a matt laminated cover and a strong binding won’t let pages break up though reading or checking it many times.

inside the book

The book includes seven chapters with more than 400 color photos, many marked in numberical sequence and very well detailed associated texts are added. Different scale and time periods make the scenes and articles very attractive. The chapters are ;

Elephant Down! Zama, 202 BC - How to Build and Paint a Demanding Small Diorama into a Masterpiece Model by Christos Katselos : He explains how to build and paint Andrea Miniatures small diorama kit of Second Punic War. Assemblying the figures and elephant, preparing the base, painting all components with color codes of Vallejo Acrylics. The article is a perfect step-by-step with 110 in progress and 8 finished model photos.

Teutoburg Forest, 9 AD. - The Battle that Stopped Rome by Grigoris Marmaratakis : An article about a great scene made by many Pegaso Models vignettes and converted figure kits. Historical data supplied by Stelios Demiras, 25 final photos with a very well detailed text almost explaining painting of all figures, clothing and equipment one by one.

Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks to Sultan Mehmet IV of the Ottoman Empire -
How to Sculpt a Small Diorama for Commercial Casting by Igor Kordyukov : Inspired by Ilya Repin’s famous painting, he explains how he sculpted figures from metal armatures to finished ones using Magic Sculpt qand other putties and also making diorama accessories from plastic sheet and putty. Posing figures, making naked bodies, detailing clothing with folds and accessories are all mentioned in the article. Excellent one with 166 step-by-step photos and two photos of finished but unpainted scene of Cossacks which is already a commercial kit by Irbis Miniatures.

Landsknechte Players - Creating an Impressive Vignette by Combining a Scratch-built Setting & Commercial Figures by Sergey Popovichenko : He paints Tin Berlin’s colorful figures and creates a nice scene with a scratchbuilt wall section. 37 in progress photos and 4 photos of the final scene with a text describing painting, composition, entoruage making and diorama design.

Stalingrad - A Fight To The Last - How to Build a Super Diorama by Dan Capuano : He shares how he created an incredible detailed scene with numerous figures from different companies and rail section. Besides explaining the way he painted and weathered figures, he tells how he made a factory scene from Cell-u-Foam and adding a winter effect with snow and icicles. 30 photos and a text full of techniques, hints and tips.

Resting at Karachev - Combine Talents to Create a Peaceful Second World War Scene Using Commercial Parts and Lots of Imagination by Christos Panagiotopoulos (Figures) & Tolis Moustakas (Tank & Scenery) : A nice article showing how two modelers work in harmony and create a nice scene. 15 close-up photos of finished scene and they explain their building process in short notes.

The Grim Reality of War, Poland 1939 - How to Build a Diorama that Arouses Strong Emotions by Noel Petroni : A great article for a small diorama. Very useful information on making a scratchbuilt KIA figure displayed on tank turret and a walking female figure for diorama using armatures and putty, weathering a Pzkpfw I Ausf A using washes and pigments and making terrain. 57 step by step photos in numerical sequence and 5 photos of finished scene.

conclusion

Printing quality and sharpness in photos are very good as in all MrBlackpublications but I have to state that the content is extremely detailed, easy to understand, useful and applicable in this book. It covers both historical and World War II periods.
Absolutely a MUST to read for all modelers.

As mentioned in all reviews, MrBlack Publications really cares about the feedback and add new articles due to readers demand. So please send your opinions to Stelios Demiras by e-mail to [email protected] or visit at MrBlack Publications –Facebook

availability

Book can be directly ordered from MrBlack Publications and also available on the following online stores ;
Last Cavalry Hobbies - USA
SK Miniatures – UK
Historex Agents - UK
Bookworld Wholesale Ltd – UK
El Greco Miniatures – UK
Tuttostoria - Italy
Pegaso Models –Italy
Berliner Zinnfiguren – Germany
Colorado miniatures – USA
Michigan Toy Soldier Co – USA