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[For those with an eagle eye, I have voted on 3 of my own images... I started putting N/A next to them thinking well I'm not applicable but then I got worried I am voting 0 so I stopped, lol]

Lt. Coldfire wrote:This is really just glorious, and it doubles as a terrain piece! Very well done, sir.

Thanks man, I really appreciate your kind words.

kenshin620 wrote:Finally, a unique solo diorama. Possibly the only one man scene I have seen

Brilliant

Wow, thanks. In fact, after you said that I've done a bit of searching and I haven't been able to find anything either. I guess one man dioramas just aren't done that much. Sweet.

Great White wrote: Really cool diorama and wonderfully painted but I read the title thinking you meant the tv show

Haha. Funny you say that, I literally just finished watching all 6 seasons of LOST again. Maybe subconsciously I named it because of that. Dum dum dum...

Mr Nobody wrote:If I were that pilot, I would not look down that hole.

I swear I can even hear the model itself cursing me under it's breath.

Rogue Wolves wrote:fantastic work, highly filled with character, its AWSOME!

Thanks man, as I said previously I think the whole "less is more" approach seems to work in dioramas sometimes too.

Chapter_Master_Vlad wrote:I don't know if anyone asked this already, but what did you use for the mud? I'm really curious.

You are the first to ask. I made it by first mixing a DIY filler into a smooth creamy texture. I added a brown acrylic to the mix in case any filler chipped off over time. It was spread on the base and it has self-levelling properties so it all smoothed out to one big blog. Which is okay to start. At this very wet stage a dry mix consisting of filler, sand and ballast was generously sprinkled all over, creating a surface texture. I let it all dry a bit, making the filler much easier to sculpt and "churn" into more of a mud. Any big holes exposing the filler were lightly filled by a bit more dry mix and details (barrels, wheels etc) were pushed in. After everything dried solid over night it was undercoated black. Layers of Graveyard Earth, Scorched Brown and Desert Yellow were airbrushed on for natural tones. Using "Woodland Scenics Realistic Water" and a brown acrylic I made the water mix. This water was to be used on the tank tracks as it is a very deep brown. Once dry it looks like real water. The puddles were made in the exact same way, just with a much lighter shade of brown - to simulate that rain has just settled and mixed with the surface mud. Layering is the key. If you want to find out more visit my blog, detailing the making of: http://www.gearboxfilms.co.uk/rustyrobot

Jimsolo wrote:This diorama reminds me of a shallow grave soon to be filled with a dead hooker: because I'm diggin' it.

You've got a great eye for dioramas. Normally, I'm supremely picky when it comes to dioramas. This one seems like it's actually catches a moment from a cohesive story, rather than just looking like a couple of soldiers posing for a picture. Really, really good job. They should use this as one of the pictures to teach people what dioramas should ACTUALLY look like.

Haha, I love that opening line. I may stick up some of the reviews I'm getting here on my blog. You comment is going high up on that list. I'm touched. Thank you, Jimsolo.

Ver. Spot wrote:This is gorgeous... How did you make the muck?

Thanks! See just above for that.

Sanchez01 wrote:+1 man, Love it.

Wicked. Thanks mate. Appreciate!

Norn King wrote:Imagine an entire army like that!

An army of worn, oily and greasy Sentinels? If so that's all I can imagine.

Theofilos wrote:The atmosphere is great, grim, reminds me of post apocalyptic games and the whole schene is really how i imagine war etc. Amazing work mate!

Excellent to hear man. By trade I am a fiction filmmaker, so it's nice to know the atmosphere comes through here. That was of the upmost importance.

orkork wrote:When I first saw the post title with the word diorama in it, I was expecting a bunch of gaming miniatures, on gaming bases, on something that looks like a gaming map board. Most guys when they tend to post "diorama" often it's not. You sir, have a DIORAMA! And a very well thought out one too. Love the muddiness! And it's IN FOCUS!!! O...M... G... Job well done here, in case you haven't heard that already. One of the most important things about a successful diorama is that it tells a story, along with adding lots of little details and you've nailed both of them. Very good work!

I often found that too, orkork. I heavily researched previous dioramas for tips and ideas, but I was kinda shocked to find most of them were just gaming boards really - some with a printed 2D base! I'm not damning anyone's work, but it just wasn't what I knew as a diorama. Glad you dig it! Oh, photography... absolutely. Photography has to acutely display the details you've worked so hard on, right? I mean, if it is to live on online forums like this one, it has to be in focus! Or else all your hard work will be in vain. Thanks for the commenting.

The Dreadnote wrote:Excellent work! Can't fault you at all. Great choice of model as well!

Thanks, Dreadnote. I personally called Hasslefree Miniatures (a man a wife; who make the model) to tell them how good it is. Very happy with it's detail.

menziez wrote:I love this! Fething awesome!!!

I'm just so overwhelmed by the response. Thank you for being part of it.

Looks like a scene from a movie, just incredible!

Cyrax wrote:Looks like a scene from a movie, just incredible!

Being a filmmaker, that is fantastic to hear. Thank you.

fething fantastic piece of work.

Ratius wrote:fething fantastic piece of work.

I love how it changes to "fething". Thanks man.

You are most welcome. Just remember to pay the favour forward.

Sonophos wrote:You are most welcome. Just remember to pay the favour forward.

Absolutely. Thanks again.

Very Nice.

I've just realised...not only are there sentinel footprints...but footprints leading out of the bunker??

Absolutely amazing, I love the way this truly feels desolate and empty, the sort of seen you expect in either a war movie or a horror


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Oh, and could you give a tutorial on how you did the mud? Me and a friend intend to make a trench warfare gaming board, and mud like this would look awesome

MiniPainterDMan89 wrote:Very Nice.

Thanks!

LazzurusMan wrote:I've just realised...not only are there sentinel footprints...but footprints leading out of the bunker??

Absolutely amazing, I love the way this truly feels desolate and empty, the sort of seen you expect in either a war movie or a horror

Oh, and could you give a tutorial on how you did the mud? Me and a friend intend to make a trench warfare gaming board, and mud like this would look awesome

I was wondering when someone was going to notice them. You say leading out... but are they leading in?

I posted an entry about the making of the mud in my post at the top of Page 3. Alternatively, if you want a more exhaustive understanding of how I made it visit my blog here: http://www.gearboxfilms.co.uk/rustyrobot Thanks!

When I saw this I got a little bit panicked on your behalf, I saw this fantastic, well executed, evocative Diorama and thought you's lost it. The I realised I was being a muppet.

Your eye for a strong feeling narrative scene is istantly noticable, I look forward to seeing more of your work and hope that you start making epic scifi films

This is amazing! How did you get the mud to be so perfect?

This scene would be a great setup for a Warhammer FPS


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That is, the old style of FPS, rather like Half-Life or Doom; just you, one guy, all alone...

SpankHammer III wrote:When I saw this I got a little bit panicked on your behalf, I saw this fantastic, well executed, evocative Diorama and thought you's lost it. The I realised I was being a muppet.

Your eye for a strong feeling narrative scene is istantly noticable, I look forward to seeing more of your work and hope that you start making epic scifi films

That means a lot! Thank you. I will be sure to link you to some of my film work when I can.

Albeezie wrote:This is amazing! How did you get the mud to be so perfect?

Thanks Albeezie. Find out how I made the mud here: http://www.gearboxfilms.co.uk/rustyrobot - the secret would be layering and careful use of clear casting resin for the water!

Henners91 wrote:This scene would be a great setup for a Warhammer FPS


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That is, the old style of FPS, rather like Half-Life or Doom; just you, one guy, all alone...

That's a neat idea. I would love to play such a game. Calling all designers!

That means a lot! Thank you. I will be sure to link you to some of my film work when I can.

seriously man do, look forward to seeing your work. I'm a strong believer in British Cinema. Did/do you take part in the 48 hour film challenge?

SpankHammer III wrote:

That means a lot! Thank you. I will be sure to link you to some of my film work when I can.

seriously man do, look forward to seeing your work. I'm a strong believer in British Cinema. Did/do you take part in the 48 hour film challenge?

That's good to hear! I have a bunch of friends who took part in that last year, their film came 3rd. I am definitely eyeing it up for one of these days, but I'm a perfectionist and 48 hours isn't a challenge... it's almost impossible. Hah.

Yeah, my friend said it was rough.

They sort of cheated by having a basic story worked out, they had to just incorporate the "prop" and "line", they still had to work their arses off though.

SpankHammer III wrote:Yeah, my friend said it was rough.

They sort of cheated by having a basic story worked out, they had to just incorporate the "prop" and "line", they still had to work their arses off though.

Haha, yeah... I hear that's how it's done.

Great work, the colors come together nicely to create a tense and gritty atmosphere. The layout really helps build suspense as well. Who knows what's in that tunnel?

Great work on the mud, it really looks rather great.

comrade-k-rad wrote:Great work, the colors come together nicely to create a tense and gritty atmosphere. The layout really helps build suspense as well. Who knows what's in that tunnel?

Great work on the mud, it really looks rather great.

Thanks! The colours and the application were quite a nerve racking process for me. It was a "this is it" moment, especially using the airbrush as it was my first time.

Very nice model! Things like your work are the reason why i love dakka! It inspired me to do a diarama myself! Thanks!

MrMerlin wrote:Very nice model! Things like your work are the reason why i love dakka! It inspired me to do a diarama myself! Thanks!

That's awesome! I would love to see pictures when you are done. Thanks

Love the feel. There are two things that kind of break the illusion for me though; the grossly oversized barbed wire and the lower and right edge of the ground, where it becomes some sort of fabric. I don't know what it's supposed to be but it kind of looks like the entire scene is playing out on a giant tarp or something.

So; love the atmosphere, but stay precise in the details.

Should explain it! I have a strange feeling that he is going to checkout that bunker and run into something he'd regret.

TiB wrote:Love the feel. There are two things that kind of break the illusion for me though; the grossly oversized barbed wire and the lower and right edge of the ground, where it becomes some sort of fabric. I don't know what it's supposed to be but it kind of looks like the entire scene is playing out on a giant tarp or something.

So; love the atmosphere, but stay precise in the details.

Interesting notes. The barbed wire is oversized. It's a detail that I myself would improve on could I make it again. I'm not quite sure what you are referring to when you say "fabric" but I can only assume you are pointing to the folds near the edge of the base? That's the filler that didn't get coated with the dry mix. It's my first diorama so it's only going to get better from here. Thanks for your comments.

Imperial Renegade wrote: Should explain it! I have a strange feeling that he is going to checkout that bunker and run into something he'd regret.

I certainly know the story in my head, but it's up to you as the viewer about what happens.

Beautiful diorama, but on one of the pictures of the sentinel, It says something but what? (My eyesight is terrible!)

Korpral Killytoof wrote:Beautiful diorama, but on one of the pictures of the sentinel, It says something but what? (My eyesight is terrible!)

Thanks for your comments. The writing on the side of the sentinel says "death is your friend".

Very very very cool, seriously amazing! I really hope you post some more dioramas like that here!

Reminds me of fallout 3 in a very good way

jirc wrote:Very very very cool, seriously amazing! I really hope you post some more dioramas like that here!

I am already planning my next diorama. I just hope you guys will like it!

grishnaz wrote:Reminds me of fallout 3 in a very good way

I love that game, that's a big compliment.