The Ship Model Forum

Many thanks for your kind words Joe! :smallsmile: :cool_1: :smallsmile:

That is one of, if not the most impressive dioramas I've ever seen. Beautiful detail work (especially at 1/700!) and your painting skills are masterful.

Joe SMG

Sure did, already bookmarked the thread in the past but having something in print is much much better. Inspirational, as the Lexington diorama.

Started painting the 1/350 crew for my u-boot, which makes me appreciate your 1/700 work even more. figures at that scale are just insane. I have visors but it's still darn hard to see the details to paint :O

:big_grin: :big_grin: :big_grin:

I hope you enjoy the read Wouter!

Yup, I silently found it at the beginning of this month. And bought it :big_grin:

Many thanks guys!

Meanwhile, I published an article published on this diorama in this book:

https://ak-interactive.com/product/abandoned-little-treasures/

[img]https://ak-interactive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/AK287.jpg[/img]

It has been out for a couple of months now, but I forgot to advertise it. Sorry for that!

The article is quite long: 36 pages. Besides a focus on the construction and painting techniques for the abandoned wreck effect (theme of the book), that left some space for other aspects like the history, general painting and weathering, seascape and island, small ships, etc.

Mine is the only ship model in it. The other subjects in the book are AFV's, aircraft, civilian vehicles, buildings, Sfi-fi, ... Very varied, but always very interesting and very well done. Paper and printing quality is excellent, so I think the price is very competitive for a 136 page book.

Cheers,

Marijn

I've been away for a while and was lurking when you were just starting this diorama. Now I see it finished and all I can say is WOW!.

Congratulations on your contest win! That much work deserved to be rewarded.

Peerless. That's all.

Congrats on winning! Your little amazing Amagi certainly deserves that! :thumbs_up_1: :thumbs_up_1:

I have never done a complete diorama before, let alone any other effects like the smokes, so I don't know how it may turn out. Indeed it is better to leave them out, as doing it properly is quite impossible in the smaller scales, and it might ruin the perfect diorama! :thumbs_up_1:

Now I can't wait to see your next project's first post! No rush though! :heh: :woo_hoo:

Aop

Many thanks for the nice words everyone! :)

@ Bill: I agree! Weathering should be in function of the story: if the subject is heavily weathered, so should the model; but if the subject is clean the model should reflect that too. But whatever the goal, any kind of painting should always be done with the highest possible level of finesse. But of course this takes time and effort. We cannot expect to properly weather a model in a few hours, while it took us months to construct�

[quote="Mike C"]How did it do in the contest?[/quote]
It won a gold in its category and best ship model overall (out of 100+ ship models), so I can't complain! :)

[quote="Mike C"]I think the land areas could have used a little more variation and mottling in coloring. Unless they were tidal flats that were replenished on a regular basis with an even coat of silt, they looked too uniform to me.

The other thing is the texture of the water. Even in a light breeze, something that size would have calm spots on the leeward side and a slight chop over the broader surfaces. You have to remember that photos often don't capture the true surface texture. For example, photos taken of ships at Mare Island often have water surfaces that look almost glassy. It's not because the water was calm, but because the exposures were so long that the motion of the water averaged out.[/quote]
Many thanks Mike! It is too late now to apply this to this model, but I will certainly keep it in mind the next time. It is this kind of observations that enable me to push a little bit further every time! :)

[quote="JIM BAUMANN"] ....will we see it at Telford? in competition? --[/quote]
I'm affraid I won't be able to make it to Telford this year Jim� Three children at home limit the amount of modelling weekends I can take� :)
But maybe you should visit the continent sometimes too? :big_grin:
Thanks again for the rigging tips; they were most helpful!

Many thanks Milan! You know your Amagi was also a great inspiration for me! http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/cv/ijn/Amagi-700-mk/index.htm

Cheers,

Marijn

I was lucky to see this model at the Moson Model Show 2018 and I have to say that it is perfect. Precise details on the ship model as well as outstanding dioramas. Marijn it is fantastic work and great inspiration for me.

:thumbs_up_1:

Milan

Bravo Marijn!

The model has a great feeling of being all of a whole, not separate components on a single base .

The individual modelmaking highpoint of your considerable finesse og painting expertise, snsitvley scratch-built bomb and fire damage,
seamless water joining at the vessels, and the attendant small vessels all blend together beautifully.

I am also glad to see that you implemented successfully my rigging suggestions ! :big_grin: :thumbs_up_1:

all over-- most excellent :cool_2:

....will we see it at Telford? in competition? --

Best wishes

JIM B :wave_1:

Congratulations, Marijn, on another outstanding diorama. It was fun to see your project go from vision to fruition. How did it do in the contest?

Even though I don't have anywhere near the skills to pull off something like this, I'll still offer a few observations anyway. I think the land areas could have used a little more variation and mottling in coloring. Unless they were tidal flats that were replenished on a regular basis with an even coat of silt, they looked too uniform to me.

The other thing is the texture of the water. Even in a light breeze, something that size would have calm spots on the leeward side and a slight chop over the broader surfaces. You have to remember that photos often don't capture the true surface texture. For example, photos taken of ships at Mare Island often have water surfaces that look almost glassy. It's not because the water was calm, but because the exposures were so long that the motion of the water averaged out.

Despite my little nit pics, you should be proud at how well all your hard work came together. Thanks for sharing.

Are you absolutely sure it's 1/700 scale? Maybe 1/70?....1/7? :-)
This is a magnificent piece of work.......jaw-droppingly impressive

Bravo indeed, sir!

[quote="marijn van gils"]
Ay, then I have to disappoint you I'm affraid...
I have seen some smoke and fire effects look excellent on photograph (when not zoomed in too much), but so far I never, ever, seen any look good in the flesh. Maybe a matter of peronal style and taste, but since I want my models to look good in the flesh first and foremost, you will just have to imagine the fire and smoke... :big_grin:

Cheers,

Marijn[/quote]

I completely agree... I think it is because we are all used to seeing 'still' images in photos and can imagine the actual real scene when we see fire and flames on a diorama... although some still look fairly terrible, there a a small number of modellers who can achieve a pretty realistic effect that works quite well in a photograph.

But in real life, I have never, ever, seen a diorama with flames and smoke that looks anything other than an unrealistic mess... and I am sorry off that offends anyone.

Similarly with models weathered to suit other modellers or to be more accurate, photographs taken by modellers for modellers illustrating a weathering technique on a finished ship.

The models that look by far the most realistic are the ones done with some finesse (Martijns Amagi being a perfect example).

Heavily weathered is fine. To be realistic, or to match the weathering seen on the prototype, some ships need to be heavily weathered... but that isnt the same as heavy handed weathering... or 'weathering for modellers', which seems to be in fashion again now (remember all the grief Verlinden used to get...!).

I think this Amagi thread is one of the best master courses on weathering a ship model... or any model to be honest, that I have seen for quite some time.

And now I cant wait to see how you work through Victory at Trafalgar... that is going to be another masterclass... Its going to be a long, long project. But all the rest of us, those of us who aspire to become better modellers, will benefit so much from the experience of following your progress...

But back the point... it�s interesting that some modellers will work towards a model that works well when photographed and displayed online or in a print... but for models that are finished to work well in real life... fine, finessed and beautifully executed weathering - regardless of how heavy it is... is an absolute must... and this Amagi is a fantastic example of really high quality work. And in my opinion anyway, smoke and flames just don�t work... not in real life when you are viewing the model in real time... as opposed to a �frozen in time� moment you see in a photograph... and only then if it is done extremely well... and I have only ever seen a couple of examples that appealed.. and even they would look strange and unrealistic in real life...

...and so I am [i][b]so[/b][/i] relieved you wouldn't consider smoke and flames... :cool_2:

Many thanks guys! :) :) :)

[quote="SovereignHobbies"]I took digital colour samples of HMS Victory's supposedly accurate paintwork in February if it's of any interest to you Marijn?[/quote]
Absolutely! Please PM me.

[quote="Aop Aur"]I'm looking forward to seeing your techniques for the flames and smokes![/quote]
Ay, then I have to disappoint you I'm affraid...
I have seen some smoke and fire effects look excellent on photograph (when not zoomed in too much), but so far I never, ever, seen any look good in the flesh. Maybe a matter of peronal style and taste, but since I want my models to look good in the flesh first and foremost, you will just have to imagine the fire and smoke... :big_grin:

Cheers,

Marijn

Awesome, simply awesome... all the way through...

Marijn ... hard to say something ,I thought your Lex dio was unequalled , but now it has a good contender, simply the best dioramas I ever seen . I loved since the beginning, thank You for this valuable lesson in modelling.

Those sailing ships in battle scene will be impressive! I'm looking forward to seeing your techniques for the flames and smokes!

Congrats on the Amagi, too! :woo_hoo: :woo_hoo:

Aop