Diorama, vignette or just the plain model?

[localjedi]

To all you modellers out there: It would be interesting to know if you prefer a particular option of presenting your finished models. Give us your personal opinion here.

Do you prefer to create a nice little VIGNETTE to display your pieces of work? Placing your model plane on a small section of tarmac, letting that Sherman tank rumble over some rubble in France or showing the German soldier in a short strip of trench... The idea behind this is certainly in most cases to display your model in its "natural" environment, but keeping the focus of attention on the model itself without distracting the viewer's eyes with too many objects.

Or do you like to go a bit bigger and arrange a whole DIORAMA around your model? Creating a more lively scenery by adding docks, hangars, broken buildings, foliage and other elements... The list of options here seems endless and the modelling industry offers a plethora of add-on parts to fulfill our deams . A well planned and carried out diorama is a feast for the eyes and adds a real atmosphere to a particular model. On the downside, a diorama can be a lot more expensive due to the greater number of elements it contains. The money that goes into model trees, vaccu buildings, etc. is money that one can't spend on another kit. Another aspect that might be a problem for some modellers is the simple fact that dioramas always take up more space in the man cave and/or glass cabinets.

This might be one reason for many modellers to build their MODELS and then line them up on a shelf WITH NO FRILLS whatsoever. No base, no scenery, no fancy bells and whistles... In addition to the aspect of using less space, another advantage of this variant is obviously that the focus will be on the model itself and nothing else. The viewer can appreciate all the effort the builder has put into his model: "Check out them PE parts!" "Wow, nice chipping there!" "This plane (tank/ship/etc.) really was a beauty, wasn't it?"

As a modeller, you have the freedom of choice when it comes to presenting your pieces of work. Do you prefer one over the other? Which other pros and cons do you see? Are there other options? Let's discuss and share our ideas in this thread.

[wappynutter]

Easy for me, i like my model to tell a story, show an action or portray an event.

To build "just the model" is ok, but i think they come alive when shown on a Vignette or Diorama..
Just my view, but also to follow the build of a landscape is nearly as interesting as following the kit build.

[UKscalemodeller]

Aircraft - just the model (maybe a base of grass, tarmac)

AFV - Usually a vignette but not always

I think armour just looks better with a scene

[ScaleModelling1105]

Vignette for me normally. I don't have space for a huge diorama but I always like to display my models on some sort of base.

[Panzermeister36]

Just like everything else in the hobby: 'it depends' on too many factors and opinions to find a definitive answer.

I only do armour (hope to change that soon though) and I buy a kit based on these factors:

1. Got a cool camo scheme for it (I rarely do a scheme given in the kit because they're always boring)
2. Got a cool diorama idea for it (often goes with 1.)
3. Great price! (irrelevant for this)

So if only 1.'s the reason why I bought and built the kit, it'll be just plain. But if it's 2. then it'll probably end up in a dio'. I like to give the plain model a little base sometimes but sometimes I just like 'em the way they are, like my cougar which I bought a base for. It somehow detracted from it because there was no contrast between the tank and the grass and bush material:

IMGP1117 (600x450).jpg

I find it looks best 'plain'; it draws more attention to the pre-shading that I'm really proud of

IMGP1392 (600x450).jpg

[Switcher]

Excuse my ignorance, what is the delta between a vignette and a diorama?

[Panzermeister36]

Excuse my ignorance, what is the delta between a vignette and a diorama?

Vignette, or base, is just a small piece of ground for the vehicle to sit on

DSCF2633 (400x300).jpg

Diorama tells a story, it usually larger and has figures (besides the main vehicle`s crew) and may have like a building etc.

r14 (400x270).jpg

[Switcher]

Merci beaucoup

[Panzermeister36]

Merci beaucoup

De rien baguettes fromage le vin mnnnn...

[localjedi]

Thanks to all of you for taking part in the discussion. Your contributions are interesting to read and are exactly what I was hoping for in this thread.

I have to say that I like AFV and other vehicles better, when they are presented on a vignette/base or in a diorama. This might not be such a big deal in 1/35 scale, but in smaller scales the models often just look like little toys to me when they do not have any base at all. I've seen quite a few models on exhibitions and fairs and I always like the ones with dioramas best.

Plus I absolutely argee with Andy: Building the landscape/buildings/etc. and going into the smaller details like foliage and what have you is as exciting and interesting for me as building the model itself.

[HamilkarBarkas]

I´d love to build a diorama for every model i make but thats not possible, it would consume too much space. However, i think a model can also stand alone without a basis. This applies especially for aircraft models and cars, in my personal opinion to tanks, too. Whenever i upload a video on YT of a tank model people always comment "this one deserves a diorama, you have to build one". No, i don´t have to, if i feel like doing so i might do it, but dioramas are not necessarily obligatory for a tank model.
A thing i see very often: Models put on a nice wooden board. I´m not sure what to think about this. I´d rather put the model on a shelf (as there is no difference to putting it on a board and then on a shelf) or use it as a base for a diorama. Displaying it on a show on such a board on the desk does not really make sense either. Maybe i´m just ignorant about this but so far i haven´t quite found out the benefit from putting a finished model on a board.

[Switcher]

*SNIP but in smaller scales the models often just look like little toys to me when they do not have any base at all.

Plus I absolutely argee with Andy: Building the landscape/buildings/etc. and going into the smaller details like foliage and what have you is as exciting and interesting for me as building the model itself.

Absolutley

[Switcher]

This has been an interesting convo I like the observation wrt placing models on a piece of wood (tanks) and have come to the conclusion it is not necessary. OTOH maritime models have for the most part always been placed on a wooden base. That being said since a ship is a she; she deserves a proper frame and the choice of wood should never be relegated to what one has on hand, but carefully selected in my opinion to enhance her beauty thus properly framing her.

I have a WWI MKI male tank that will need a vignette, now that I know what a vignette is because as previously stated it looks like a toy (1/76 or 72). The only reason I got it was because it is the #4 tank of all times, as I plan to build around a theme vice doing it helter skelter.

Something else I have observed in my perusals over the NET, not too many folks consider the "golden mean/triangle" (Fibonacci's sequence) when setting up there dioramas. This often overlooked rule can easily turn a stunning work of art into ohum, whilst observing the rule becomes aesthetically pleasing. 10 years ago I couldn't explain why I was captured by something or not (unrelated to this subject). Now I know why. I used to say it is not aesthetically pleasing but could not put my finger on it or explain why. A least now I can. Our whole universe is governed by the principle and hence when something is out of place we immediately see/ know it.

A good example of the rule being observed is Hamilkar's schwampwagen. Immediately upon seeing his vignette it popped raising the viewers curiosity. What is was suppose to do

[youtube]RdkyDB2oUcg[/youtube]

I watched his deliberations wrt building this project and support his final decision of not putting it in a swamp or similar terrain (everyone would probably do that). Without the figure, the presentation is bare, it is missing something. Of course we all knew it was missing something, figures. That being said, which one?

I mentioned curiosity, the vignette causes one to go WOW, you have captured the viewers attention causing him to investigate further. This is where your art is being deeply appreciated, right down to fading the posters etc... You captured his/her attention as a whole with the subject and maintained interest through the attention to detail, causing the viewer to look more closely. This is where IMHO we see folks who could spend hours on a piece while giving others a passing glance (to strong an observation, I know, but you catch my drift)

In metaphor, you can take a highly successful individual and dress him like a bum, he looks like a bum. Dress him properly and folks will study the subject right down to the Gucci shoes.

Now it remains to be seen if I can walk the walk with my upcoming Nigel Well's NA group build diorama. In closing I am sorry for the long post and I am completely cognizant of the talent out there I hope to aspire to. These observations are exactly what they are, observations and are not intended to discredit any ones work. Modelling has come a long way during my absence, I learn new techniques everyday. What a beautiful community

[localjedi]

...I learn new techniques everyday. What a beautiful community

Well said, mate!

[HamilkarBarkas]

I did not think about Fibonacci at all when i made this little diorama, i just arrange the pieces in a way i like. i don´t like large dioramas with emptiness or stuffed with all sorts of accessoires, it only confuses the eye and distracts. i prefer small and especially medium sized dioramas as they can show a lot despite their size and this is much more interesting. the "cut-away" look is very cool, although the scene is very limited in its dimensions the beholder is aware of the non-present things on the diorama that are indicated. my stalingrad station diorama is an example for that, the eye sees a completely destroyed station, but there are just some tracks, a water pump and debris present. i think thats what makes a diorama interesting, getting the imagination of the beholder involved is always good. an aesthetically nice arrangement of the components (or lets call it Fibonacci sequence) is also a key, but i don´t really do that deliberately. often its forced by the dimensions of the diorama.

[Switcher]

Ah good buddy you are much to humble, some people have an artistic flair and some don't, you Sir do and it shows in your work.

You Sir go by what was discussed "aesthetically pleasing" when building your pieces, whether we tag along Fibonacci's equation to it, is a moot point. That being said, for those who do not possess artistic flair they need a basis to develop it IMHO. Understanding proportions, not just scale will help the individual correct the inadequacies (too strong a word) of their presentation to make it more fluid for the lack of a better word.

Fibonacci's sequence manifest itself in every aspect of our lives whether we are conscience of its manifestation or not and these manifestations are not directed entirely at or within the artistic world. To you good buddy, you do it naturally as you have a proportional grasp. Hence no need to call it anything at all with the exception that indeed it is being manifested in your work

I hope this makes sense...

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

For me it depends of the model I'm making.
I like to display my tanks and big trucks on a base with some props around it.
Small vehicles I like to put in a diorama, and figures on vignettes.
And it depends how much space I've got left in my cabinet... lol

[localjedi]

...And it depends how much space I've got left in my cabinet... lol

Yeah, for most people (including me) limited space is probably the biggest problem when it comes to extensive and elaborate dioramas. That's one thing I like about smaller scales: The models don't use up that much space and it's easier to arrange 3 or 4 models on one dio.