After a little more than 838 hours spread over 248 actual days I have finished my Trafalgar 1805 diorama. It took about a year and a half to make because I was interrupted by two commission ships to build and a move to a different house and a new workshop to build. Even though I consider it finished, I can see myself adding a figure or two to some of the decks. At present it has 105 figures. When I first started this ambitious project, I had a vision of what I wanted or hoped it would be like. I think I accomplished what I had in mind. I have added 55 new photos to my website (www.guzmanshipmodels.com) for those who wish to see it. I added photos of the upper gun deck, the quarter deck and some showing the overall appearance. At 1/32 scale, it is a very large and heavy diorama and one that is pleasing to my eye.
I’d love to see it but I’m to lazy to go to the trouble of finding it…either post a hotlink in here or actual pics and I’ll give you my two cents…
I was gonna have this reponse at another site and require you to go to the link to read what I had written, but thought I’d save you the trouble and typed it directly in here…
Manstein, thanks for your comment. I built models as a teenager and did quite well in our local hometown contests. As time passed, I stopped building for about 20 years. Then being a Texas History teacher, I started thinking about building again and what kind of model could I build that I could use in the classroom. I thought, we study about Columbus and the explorers, perhaps I should try to make a ship model. I did and I was hooked on historical ships of sail. In the last few years I have expanded to also build wooden dioramas with a naval theme. When I look at the type of diorama models listed in this forum, I really stick out like a sore thumb, sinceI almost all concentrate on WW II armor, but to each their own.
WOW! My mouth dropped all the way to the floor. Amazing work on your ship. I agree with Manny… it was a worth effort to visit your website as long as there is a live link on the forum. It would be great if you can post some photos in Ship forms just like Manny said. I promise you that you will see more visitors to your website this way.
Hope to see more of this even tho I am not really into ships.
I bookmarked your website so I can go back when I have more time but just skimming over it - I am in awe. I love tall ships but they seem like a lot of work- still I think your results speak for themselves.
Raul, Amazing work! I remember your shadow box that you brought to The Austin show, was it last year or the year before. Any plans on attending the one this year? Would love to see it in person.
I didn’t go to the Austin show last year. I do hope to make it this year. I hope to take my diorama to Houston, Austin and Monterrey this year. My shadow box, “The Decision of the Admiralty Board” is at my home and it my mom’s favorite. I am finding that building dioramas is as much fun as building ships.
Well I know the show is several months away, and plans can change but I do plan on going this year and I hope to see you and the Victory there. BTW I hear ASMS is having their show in a new location this year, might want to look into it.