Dioramas

Michael Stockin

Michael Stockin

Lord
I have always wanted to do a diorama. Not a realistic one with scale models, but a warhammer one or a post apocalyptic one.
Maybe this is the year is the year?

I do have one in mind but I want it to be great, and that will require practice with terrain and what not but also converting of models as only maybe 2 of the required 12 or so are available commercially.

So until then I will practice, but what scenes would be good ones to start, maybe copy ones from White Dwarf of old, maybe some iconic scene from a classic Warhammer book, maybe recreate an illustration from WD.



Have any of you done any, and if so what?

Plus, what do you reckon would make for an easy but pleasing diorama?

Plus, should this be a challenge/badge?
 
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mm.. Define Diorama cause I have but they range in scale, I got one I really should get back to of a dwarf tavern which is a fair size, or I do ones like for my Skaven Dead-dead where it's just one figure on a 40mm base but designed as a diorama piece more then something to use in battle.

I think my Corpse one is kinda an easy build as it's one figure, on a base, with bits around it to just get the scene. If you want to practice terrain, things like Guy sitting under a tree well give some experience in making the tree, and maybe customising a figure to sit under it as most figures like to stand in battle.

Oh damn... I just had a nasty thought about doing a little drama featuring bananas... a Bananarama!
 
I've mocked together a bunch of temporary setups for photographic storytelling. I'm not sure if they truly count as dioramas, as they often rely on very controlled sight lines. All smoke and mirrors, theatre style. (Though I haven't literally used either smoke or mirrors . . . yet.) A good diorama could be fun, but I haven't done anything permanent as I would hate to tie things down like that. My collection is very much meant to be played with. I don't really want to glue down the furniture in my doll house, as it were. (You might always want the kitchen in a different room.) And I really don't want to glue down the dolls. (Hard to move Han to Trantor if he's permanently attached to the Enemy Mine on Gidei Prime.)
 
The old Golden Demon award books are a good source of lovely small dioramas. Personally very fond of seeing classic images converted into dioramas, but you do have to be quite into converting minis to do that of course.

I've done the odd little diorama over the years, but nothing more complicated than arranging a few choice models in some suitably heroic scene. I like Manic's idea of something like a figure under a tree.
 
To my mind, dioramas are the pinnacle of this hobby, and I've always found them fascinating.

I have also always aspired to make them, but have quailed at the skills.

Luckily I have accepted that the first few I do will be rubbish, but I will keep getting better, and this is the year I start.

How are you going to get going? I'm thinking of going back through White Dwarfs, looking at the art from my preferred era (WD 100 to 150), and trying to recreate the ones that grab me.
 
I am finishing my farm which is a sort of diorama of sorts, more a model than a simple wargames building.
Then I will ponder my first diorama.

My ultimate goal is a scene from Trollslayer, but that will be a big job.

So I think I will look through my models for interesting poses and models that I will never use in a game, and see what springs to mind.


It could be as simple as farmers cart with a broken wheel and the farmer working out what to do.

I like the idea of a gnarled tree with a mutant corpse nailed to it as a warning to passers by.

Maybe even Thrud on a pile o' bodies.


My first few will be practices on terrain, trees and water, these I think are things I need to perfect, though my water is not too bad tbf.
 
Like i said, I'll try to start small, find an old favourite from WD, and see if I can do that.

These days, it's a damn sight easier than back then.
 
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I love dioramas: my hobby career started with military modelling, therefore making dioramas is quite my primary goal and need.

I'll second what others have said: try to conceive a nice/funny idea and start with a small vignette. The old Fantasy Miniatures books and classic illustrations are your primary source of inspiration.

My current project - probably it's not obvious yet - is indeed a vignette, telling a little story.
Next big (for my pace) one will be, as well.
 
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I've always loved dioramas/vignettes. John Blanche's undead diorama always comes to mind as do those that appeared on the back of so many WDs. I've always loved the idea of doing some but have always been side tracked by trying to paint up my mass of bare lead. I did many years ago take a break from trying to paint my dwarf army to do a little vignette and recently found it in a dusty box so couldn't resist taking a photo or two.

bridge1.jpg

bridge2.jpg

bridge3.jpg


It came about from me trying to make up some cavalry for the army, but instead I the idea of a battle weary dwarf heading home from a distant war came to me and I just had to give it a go. I have recently thought about doing another and even started a topic for it. The plan being to recreate the picture of a Eldar dreadnought fighting a Orc dreadnought that appeared in this WHITE DWARF . However its not gone past finding the picture as of yet !
 
I really admire doing the broken bridge side so you can see the miniature more, really thoughtful touch. Love it. Idea and execution spot on.
 
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