Accuracy is a big word. Since we are modeling in a smaller scale I don’t hink we can ever be really accurate in representing the actual thing as the physical limitation in size would make it impossible to duplicate some items in scale.
Maybe we can go for historical correctness…
But for me I am not really looking for that…but I applaud those who do.
I just build…
Anyone into "situation modeling "? Pick a story and build around that story,doesnt necessarily have to be from actual history and have fun with it. Sure,some things have to and should be fact like Allied vehicles green or a desert colour,German early war grey,late a desert colour,you have to get some things right but unless someone wants a piece done accurately right down to the actual and proper ruksak on a figures back because he or she was there,not gonna happen,if it looks like a ruksak it is a ruksak and Ill use it. Modelling a situation allows for more freedom I think,plus the fact that all forces scrounged and coveted booty from either side makes situation modelling that much more fun.
“nuff said”
You mean my diorama concerning the T-72 in the lime-green and fluorescent purple camouflage that defended Hickam Field from the Germans during the Pearl Harbor bombing just won’t cut it?
[;)]
not important at its supposed to be fun not a bunch of work. but that is my opinion
Thats my problem, with working on my dio, I can’t seem to find any info on what numbers to use, what figures, etc. Where do you do research? tried google, but cant find hardly anything, and I want it to look real.
Depends on what your subject is. There are lots of books, websites and other referances out there. Also forums like this where you can ask questions is a good resource as well.
me personaly, i build em for the fun of it and for my own enjoyment, now if i was building a contest dio, thats a totally different ballgame there for me.
Well it depends on if you’re a beginner or an old pro and if you can afford to be accurate. Some people just getting into the hobby could get scared off by the “rivet counters”. Also some folks may not be able to afford the new Tiger Tank Early Production type with the Special Turret from Dragon…In order to create that dio scene from Italy or where ever. I’ve said it before, “This is a hobby.” Try to have fun and improve your skills, with time and experience you can work on being accurate. As for myself, I am at a finical point where I can go out and buy that Tiger Tank if I want, so for me getting the equipment for that “year” right, is a goal I strive for. And if I find I’m not having fun building a dio. I find it’s because I’m wasting too much time looking for references. Like you other guys said sometimes you have to “Just Build It”…[2c]…[soapbox]
Try to enjoy the hobby.
Very! Cheers! John.
Well for me, if it’s accurate, it’s accurate, if it’s not oh well, that’s the way she goes boys. I’ve seen contest winners in the dio category that have won, and yah, they’re probably not accuate by some peoples’ standards, but there’s probably a reason it won: It caught the peoples’ attention, and just had the “wow” factor. You could spend an eternity making every bootlace period correct, but in the end, if a dio just has something that the judges/people like, it’s gonna win no matter what. [2c]
Basic modeling skills are always first. Next, the story is judged. If the dio is depicting an actual event, D-Day, for example, it needs to be more accurate than a generic scene, e.g., no Pershing or Maus in the scene. Consistency is next. Does the scene tell a consistent story, e.g., if there’s combat in one corner, don’t have other guys sitting or walking casually, or will the next step a figure take trip him over a wall? “Wow factor?” That doesn’t come into play when I’m judging. I had a discussions with a top end, very well known scratchbuilder as well as a friend/regular co-judge at World Expo about a huge dio with a lot of “WOW factor”. We all agreed it while there was a lot of individually excellent work present, the story was seriously lacking in internal consistency and none of us would have given it overall high marks as a dioram. I had felt he same when I first saw it last fall but was over ruled by the rest of the team I was on on the level of award it would get.
As most everyone else said ,have fun and enjoy.Depends on your personal goals though.One of my goals is to finally build a model or dio that has (in my eyes) no mistakes.I’m not there yet and probably will never be.I do strive to make them historically correct.The right vehicles and weapons in the correct time frame and location.One thing however that I do strive to do right is the composition of the dio.One thing that kills a dio for me and makes it unrealistic is bad composition.A soldier who is throwing a grenade on one side of the dio and a soldier relaxing not far from him is probably not realistic.For the most part if your dio’s like mine due to space constraints are not that big everything in there needs to be reacting to the same moment in time.I don’t know if I’ve explained this very well ,hope this helps …Lonnie
I see where some of you guys are coming from. I know I will continue to make my dios as accurate as possible and not worry about the others.
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That is HILARIOUS! I love your sense of humor![(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][8-][tup]
[8D]
Accuracy = Credibility
When I was a kid, and competing in model contests, there was a dio of a German panzer column that was pro done. Fantastic piece. It didn’t win. When I asked one of the judges what was up, he pointed out that the infantry was wearing pink piping and the tank crews were wearing white piping, (or vice versa, I don’t do armor anymore). Completly wrong, and a little research, (just a little!), would have put the dio over the top, and it would have won the show.
Fast forward 25 years, I was competing in a contest 2 years ago and there was a dio of a 1/72 B-52 being serviced on the ramp. Great piece… for civilians, but, to a person that has been around B-52’s for 15 years, I can GUARANTEE that bombs would not be loading during refueling. No matter what the situation. (he didn’t grab 1st either). I was competing, so I didn’t judge dio’s.
When I judge dio’s, accuracy is the 1st thing I look at. It gives the piece credibility, then I look at building, painting, ect… The last thing I look for is how the scene is portrayed, ie: overall design and flow. If there are 30 different little stories going on everywhere, or if it’s dull and flat, it probably won’t get the high marks.
There are exeptions, (not for dull and flat), I am presently working on a dio with “Rommel’s Rod” as the central piece. The skeleton’s tattered uniforms will be very accurate, as well thier equipment, but of course, I’m using ALOT of artistic licsense on the vehicles that are in the scene. An example is the scatchbuilt 1/24 Cromwell tank that is half buried in the sand. When I built it, I used the “TLAR” method, (That Looks About Right). Accurate, no, comic bookish, yes.
Sorry about being so long winded
Accuracy = Credibility
Steve
Great topic!!!
I’am only going to say this, my diorama not yours.
Thats all.
ARTE ET MARTE
djw1
To me, accuracy is important, but also can’t prevent you from having a great time building!! Research, is often a very fun, knowledge filling, and an enjoyable part of a build. If you get tired of finding out the right colors for the patches on your figures, maybe it’s time to set down the books and pick up the brush.[:)]
Great discussion. I have never built a diorama, although I think it would be a great challenge to try. I think historical accuracy adds another dimension to modelling in general, not just dioramas. On the other hand, I think rivet-counters, as you call them, often think they have more complete knowledge than they really do. My limited knowledge suggests that while the broad facts may be fairly clearly established, the details are often highly disputable. Moreover, dealing with real-world conditions, especially in wartime, introduce huge amounts of variation. If one presents a diorama as a depiction of a particular time and place, I think it is important to get the broad facts straight. As has been pointed out, including equipment that simply was not in service at the time or place destroys the sense of verisimilitude, but minor “inaccuracies” don’t bother me so long as the scene taken as a whole is plausible. Plausibility seems to me to be the key.
when i build dios, i like the accuracy. models and dios, especially when used in museums and the like, tend to be most peoples way of seeing whaat the past looked like. therefore, inaccuracies can mislead people. this may sound like im not giving a lot of credit to society…which im not. from my experiences, i find that most people dont look into the history like we tend to, so they may just believe what they see. this is why i also have a problem with modern movies that skim off some accuracy to make a “cool” film.
on the other hand, sometimes i think you should just build something you like, maybe to try out new ideas and/or techniques, or just to relax. its that kind of building that really helps keep model building alive, people just going out and buying a couple kits and building them in a short tiem period, then doing it again. it keeps things going. but im going off on a tangent. to be direct: i prefer accuracy because im a perfectionist, a semi-rivet counter, and i like to be right.[:D]