discussion Showstopper Diorama

[Jack L]

Just for fun, I would love to know the Diorama people would build if Mojo, money, space, time (and skill) were not an issue. Can be anything. Pure fantasy and imagination, based on a photo or description, or a film ‘set’. No rules or anything, no ‘not technically a diorama’, just whats the scene you would love to build?

To set things off - I’d love to depict the ‘Giesson Defeat March’, where thousands of German POWs marched along the centre of the Autobahn, flanked by advancing American vehicles. All the limiting factors mentioned above prevent this becoming a reality, especially in 1/35 scale.
The actual photo:

And the great scene depicted by ‘Band of Brothers’:

 

[Neil Merryweather]

Sorry Jack, not quite on topic but the term 'Show-stopping Diorama' immediately made me think of the 5,000 1-35 figures in the Chunuk Bair Diorama commissioned by Peter Jackson
http://anzacdiorama.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-very-best-pics-of-massive-chunuk.html

 

[Jack L]

Exactly the sort of thing I want to see!!!!

 

[minitnkr]

'Little Omaha', "The Battle of the Horseshoe Wood", the Moselle crossing at Dornot by 23rd Armored Infantry & 11th Infantry, 8th-11 September 1944.


The crossing at Arnaville, downstream a bit from Dornot.

 

[Neil Merryweather]

'Little Omaha', "The Battle of the Horseshoe Wood", the Moselle crossing at Dornot by 23rd Armored Infantry & 11th Infantry, 8th-11 September 1944.


The crossing at Arnaville, downstream a bit from Dornot.

that's very niche, Paul- do you have a personal link?

 

[minitnkr]

A favorite uncle was decorated for valor at the Battle of the Horseshoe Wood. I visited the site back in 2017 and determined I'd have to break the larger dio ideas into smaller pieces even as I had partially modeled most of the vehicles involved. Even got to Fort Sommy. The French of Dornot, Jouy-oux-Arches, & Corny lay wreaths to commemorate the battle & preserve the sites.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Two come to mind, both from the Napoleonic wars…..
The capture of the Dutch fleet at Den Helder in 1795 is one, and the charge of the Scot’s greys at Waterloo is the other.

Both to be done with the correct number of figures, and at 1/32 scale to show the uniforms properly…..

The fleet capture was carried out by the 8th Hussars and the voltiguer company of the 15th line regiment across the ice while the ships were frozen in place, for those that don’t know that action…….what a sight, horses, infantry, and really big ships (there were six ships of the line there, and lots of other vessels).

As to the greys, well who wouldn’t want to look at about a thousand horsemen going at a charge….

 

[Jim R]

I think mine has already been done - Diorama Clervaux.
Just to whet your appetite ....

I have the books by Claude Joachim - inspirational.

 

[CarolsHusband]

I'd have to say the whole of "Clermont" or Vizinada, with the Tigers in the centre, Kelly & Oddball in the back streets, Cowboy up the bell tower and the rest of the squad coming into town.

Sadly the webcam of the centre has gone now. It always put a smile on my face when the bell rang on a Sunday morning.

 

[Guest]

View attachment 486013

I’ve been wanting to build this for over 30 years. It was possible back then in 1:72, but since about ten years or so, you could do it in 1:35, with the Trumpeter CH-47, which is ideally how I’d do it All I need is think of a way to firmly anchor the helicopter to the base, the determination to see the whole thing through, and about 1.5 m² to put the diorama …

(The photo is from pages 82–83 of Vietnam Tracks: Armor in Battle 1945–1975 by Simon Dunstan (London: Osprey, 1984; ISBN 0-85045-472-7), which is why there’s a big fold through the middle. I’ve never been able to find a scan of this picture online )

 

[Mini Me]

This has always been an area of interest to me but just no way to scale it or compress it small enough to make it work. I do like the equipment from that particular segment of the conflict.

 

[minitnkr]

Very cool idea. The tow straps in steel through the 113 is one way. Easier in 1/72 due to lighter weight of the CH-47.

 

[Gary MacKenzie]

I’ve been wanting to build this for over 30 years. It was possible back then in 1:72, but since about ten years or so, you could do it in 1:35, with the Trumpeter CH-47, which is ideally how I’d do it :smiling3: All I need is think of a way to firmly anchor the helicopter to the base, the determination to see the whole thing through, and about 1.5 m² to put the diorama …

(The photo is from pages 82–83 of Vietnam Tracks: Armor in Battle 1945–1975 by Simon Dunstan (London: Osprey, 1984; ISBN 0-85045-472-7), which is why there’s a big fold through the middle. I’ve never been able to find a scan of this picture online :sad: )

 

[Jack L]

I’ve been wanting to build this for over 30 years. It was possible back then in 1:72, but since about ten years or so, you could do it in 1:35, with the Trumpeter CH-47, which is ideally how I’d do it :smiling3: All I need is think of a way to firmly anchor the helicopter to the base, the determination to see the whole thing through, and about 1.5 m² to put the diorama …

(The photo is from pages 82–83 of Vietnam Tracks: Armor in Battle 1945–1975 by Simon Dunstan (London: Osprey, 1984; ISBN 0-85045-472-7), which is why there’s a big fold through the middle. I’ve never been able to find a scan of this picture online :sad: )

Might involve having to change the angles of them slightly, but replace the cables with as thin diameter metal rod as will support the weight. These then bolt to the underside of the base?

 

[Guest]

This has always been an area of interest to me but just no way to scale it or compress it small enough to make it work.

Doable fairly well in 1:300 or thereabouts …

Very cool idea. The tow straps in steel through the 113 is one way. Easier in 1/72 due to lighter weight of the CH-47.

My idea was also to use steel rods as the tow cables, going through the M113 and into the base, of course. However, even in 1:72, I think you would have to find a way to get the whole thing strong enough not to wobble, and you would have to reinforce how the helicopter sits on top of them so it won’t snap off at some point. In 1:35, it’ll be even trickier with the greatly increased mass but not that much thicker rods to support it all …

 

[spanner570]

No problem. My missus could chuck the thing!

 

[Mini Me]

Doable fairly well in 1:300 or thereabouts …


My idea was also to use steel rods as the tow cables, going through the M113 and into the base, of course. However, even in 1:72, I think you would have to find a way to get the whole thing strong enough not to wobble, and you would have to reinforce how the helicopter sits on top of them so it won’t snap off at some point. In 1:35, it’ll be even trickier with the greatly increased mass but not that much thicker rods to support it all …

Yes it probably would be doable......unfortunately and thankfully there is nothing available in that scale. I wouldn't be up to scratch building under a microscope either! :tears-of-joy: :tears-of-joy:

 

[CarolsHusband]

Doable fairly well in 1:300 or thereabouts …


My idea was also to use steel rods as the tow cables, going through the M113 and into the base, of course. However, even in 1:72, I think you would have to find a way to get the whole thing strong enough not to wobble, and you would have to reinforce how the helicopter sits on top of them so it won’t snap off at some point. In 1:35, it’ll be even trickier with the greatly increased mass but not that much thicker rods to support it all …

Build it in a clear plastic/ acrylic display case with the rotor tips ( or at least some of them) secured to the sides and lid ? Or in a dome ?

 

[minitnkr]

GHQ small enough Rick?

 

[Mini Me]

Last I checked they are a one piece white metal casting......not much to model there. :thumb2: