S.O.S Dioramas You would like to build

Swabbie,
Only a "ship or two!" :eek: I feel there are very few modellers these days who would want to make two of three merchant sailing ships that would each be around the 1,500 ton mark, with 17 or more yards in total, to go in a diorama. Here is a typical British passenger liner, and a "windjammer" of about the turn of the century - Sailing ships are relatively easy to build because they usually only have maindeck, poop and forecastle. Steamers are far more complicated because of all the decks, deck machinery, lifeboats, rails, ladders, windows, portholes etc - ...
Who said that the diorama had to be so large, or that the ships had to be built?

Nothing wrong with using small scale, simple plastic models of ships.
A diorama is about the diorama (the scene). The ship, and other parts, though they are important, are basically secondary. Of course a great model will enhance the scenic realm of the diorama. The scene of a diorama, especially if it is dramatic, steals the focus of the display. In doing so, the ships become seen but not seen (so to speak).
 
A large model never entered my mind, as I specialise in miniatures, but it would still be a daunting task to build a number of them alongside a pier, but I do know what you mean. The models would not need to be detailed, but in my case, I doubt if I could get out of the habit of fine detail after so long with miniatures. One like this takes about 60 or 70 hours to complete, spread over a few weeks. But in any case, most ship model builders really do not like building ships like this!
Bob
Donna Francisca in hand.jpg
 
A large model never entered my mind, as I specialise in miniatures, but it would still be a daunting task to build a number of them alongside a pier, but I do know what you mean. The models would not need to be detailed, but in my case, I doubt if I could get out of the habit of fine detail after so long with miniatures. One like this takes about 60 or 70 hours to complete, spread over a few weeks. But in any case, most ship model builders really do not like building ships like this!
Bob
View attachment 39482
Beautiful model.

Oh well, then it will take a longer time.
I am still working on my first diorama and have been nearly everyday. Have been on it for 18 months now, and will be a few more months before it is finished.
It is the nature of building models, it takes a long time, so why worry about it.
The thing is, if it is a model you would love to do, then it never becomes viewed as a chore. If you view a possible diorama as too challenging, then perhaps it won't become a love affair but a nightmare.
 
I can still do fairly detailed ones at 50 feet to 1 inch, so a 600-foot-long pier would only be 12 inches long, (Not too big) that could fit two large and two small sailing ships on one side, and maybe two medium size steamers and a couple of coastal steamers on the other side. Starting with making the pier and the water, and adding ships to it as I go along. It is something that I have often felt like doing, but never quite got round to it. This one is at 50 feet to 1 inch, and is fairly detailed, although it doesn't have ratlines. I remember when I first went to Australia in ealy 1961, we were on the side of a long pier at Port Melbourne that looked very similar to the image above. We were loading wool for Liverpool.
Bob
Berwick Law 50 feet to 1 inch (Medium).jpg
 
Looks great.

@shipbuilder , it is obvious you really want to have a go at a dock scene.
GO FOR IT my friend. You are more than capable to do a fantastic diorama of such a scene.
If you start a build log on this, please PM me to let me know. I will be keen to follow your progress.
 
MUozNcm.jpg
I think it would be funny to add a subtle ghost image, into the diorama, as there are several in the photograph.
Most of the people are standing still and looking at the photographer. I can imagine the photographer yelling repeatedly "Will you stand still for a minute, I am taking a photograph!"
 
It would require a good deal of patience, something that I am lacking. Also, as I have said before, my field of interest, Merchant ships (sail and steam) about 1850 to 1965 is rather unpopular on the shipmodelling scene, and I am practically a "lone ship modeller." My section here on SOS Maritime History Build Logs: 19th & 20th Century has very little activity. Although I am not a business, and do not take private commissions, I do sell the completed models, as we haven't the space to keep them. (Collectors love them, but a relatively large diorma would be risky to transport) Have built over 270 of them in the past 26 years. I build the models and display cases, whilst my wife paints the sea where applicable. This is a simple diorama of a steam whaling barque laid alongside an ice shelf. Esquimaux 1 (Large).JPGEsquimaux 2 (Large).JPGEsquimaux 2 (Large).JPG
Bob
 
G'day Peter and Uwe
I watch a show on TV about this, it was on Sunday on channel 7 about 2 years ago. (Sunday is a TV show on Sunday night in Australia for people who are not Ozzies.)
I agree it's kind of gruesome to watch.
Havagooday
Greg
Our family spent a month in your wonderful country. I loved the people, Morton bay bugs and the meat pies.
 
Quite funny, really. Trying to prise their ship upright again by hanging the crew and the galley stove on the end of a Heath Robinson contraption.:D Most difficult part would be getting the cartoon figures correct, but it is an orinal idea!:cool: Bob
 
Back
Top