Happy Medium Press

How To Build Better Dioramas

by  Barry Ford

Reviewed By  Phil Peterson, IPMS# 8739

MSRP: $23.95 ISBN: 978-0-9564306-0-1 Available from: Sci-fi & Fantasy Modeller Here is the first title in the Sci-fi & Fantasy Modeller “Master Modeller Library” from Happy Medium Press and a good start it is. Most diorama books seem to concentrate on military vehicles and figures. This is the first book that I have seen that looks at dioramas from the Sci-Fi point of view. This 128 page soft cover book is packed full of full color pictures highlighting building and painting techniques that complement each chapter. The only real problem, in my opinion, is that it ends too soon. I would have loved to see another one or two stories. The book starts with a small introduction featuring several pictures of figures but no notation on whether these builds were done by the author. The first chapter is a small diorama featuring the Bandai 1/35th scale Batman Forever Batmobile and a couple of figures in a city setting. He covers the kit build, which features lighting, Batman, the Joker, and the setting itself that he constructs mainly from Tamiya Brick sets. Personally I can think of easier and cheaper ways to make a brick wall but this is what can be done with on the shelf kits. Purists will have a problem with his choice of figures, as they don’t depict Batman from the film but an older look. Barry states in the introduction that he is not a rivet counter and while I would more likely try and match the movie, it still works for me. Next up is a small vignette featuring 1/9th scale figures of Legolas and Gimli from the Lord of the Rings movies. These are not kits but finished vinyl figures that he picked up. Not happy with the detail of the paint jobs, he repaints both, and then sets them in a small woodlands type setting, which shows how a small, scenic base can set off a model or figures. If you are a Thunderbirds fan (not the USAF Demonstration Team) you will like the next build. It features a 1/32nd scale FAB 1 driven by Parker with Lady Penelope in the back just leaving her humble abode. The build details the car, both figures and an impressive tree and park type fence. Again, full painting instructions are given and the landscaping bit is very useful. The fourth diorama is my favorite of the book and would be worth purchasing just for this one alone. I have seen several Dan Dare type dioramas in pictures from the Nationals at Telford and love the different take on the future. This build looks at what Dan Dare’s Dad may have gone through at the end of World War II. The showcase piece is the Pegasus 72nd scale Apollo 27. I can already hear those that know wondering how you work that into a 1940’s theme. The trick is you paint it in RAF camo colors, mount it on a launch platform made from two Revell Nike Hercules launchers, add a 48th scale Tamiya Spitfire, a couple of vehicles, some figures and a Bachman O gage airport building. Lost you yet? This one you've got read to believe. Barry mentions that he has not built an aircraft kit since he was younger and it does show with a few minor details not captured correctly but, hey, it is an alternate universe type build so who says they didn’t look like that there? He also borrows the interior of the Spit and puts it in the rocket to “scaleorama it up to fit”. He also doesn’t have the correct military colors so makes do with Liqutex and Games Workshop colors for the plane and the rocket. Again, I can hear the purists groaning already, but this one sparked my interest so much, I am considering picking up one of the Pegasus kits myself and making a US Point Defense fighter out of it. The last build is another figure vignette staring the Batman again, this time in the shape of the 1/5th scale resin kit from Dark Carnival Models. Bruce has removed his cape and cowl and hung them up so hat he can inspect the latest scars on his back using a mirror. The kit is very detailed and Barry does a great job painting it. Of course, that isn’t good enough for him so he adds a backdrop simulating the Batcave itself. I recommend this book to all diorama or figure modelers as the techniques can be applied to any form of modeling. Thanks to Happy Medium Press for providing the review sample.