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War Of The Worlds Diorama


Phil R

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post-221-0-43290600-1308950980.jpgpost-221-0-89965700-1308951007.jpgpost-221-0-81013800-1308951056.jpgpost-221-0-91880000-1308951134.jpgpost-221-0-55447700-1308951195.jpgpost-221-0-44700000-1308951235.jpgpost-221-0-28879200-1308951268.jpgThose who have never seen a Martian can scarcely imagine the horror of its appearance. the peculiar V-shaped mouth with it's pointed upper lip, .....the Gorgon groups of tentacles....the immense eyes....vital, intense, inhuman, crippled and monstrous.

Suddenly there was a flash of light, and a quantity of luminous greenish smoke came out of the pit.......straight into the still air.

Their armored bodies glittered in the sun as they swept swiftly forward upon the guns.....and the ghostly, terrible Heat Ray I had already seen on Friday night smote toward Chertsey, and struck the town. H. G. Wells

The War of the Worlds diorama started out as a modest version of a Wally Wood design that Jim and I both liked. It kind of evolved from there to a sketch I sent Jim. After a number of adjustments Jim's version was ready for the diorama.

I had a learning curve in designing what I wanted to portray and how to accomplish it. I used a cutout piece of plywood,and added a flower planter base. When I used Bondo for texture, just before it set up I pulled apart the sections. I could ten break down the sections for transport and have a perfect almost invisible fit. I then proceed with the steps involving spray foam for contour, then adding trees and shrubbery, greenery and the painted 1890s soldiers and the gatling cannon. I sculpted the Martian and added a mid air Heat Ray, the green smoke and small fires. Although the parts of the Diorama may may happened at different times I used artistic license for effect. The tripod is 12" and the diorama is 32" at the widest.

Unfortunately, I can't seem to photograph it for full effect. As is usually the case three dimensional items look better in person.

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Excellent looking Diorama. I always love to see pics with the tripods at work. Would be cool to have a movie about the War of the Worlds but to have it made in the early days as they battle them with flintlocks or as in this Diorama with gatling gun. :)

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Really cool to see the progress shots. Nice job Jim and Phil!

Phil, where are you keeping all these dioramas you're making?

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Andy, the dioramas are here, there, some displayed and some packed away. I'd like to display them at a large toy show this November if they will allow it. And of course at Botstock next year even if it's at the new lodging venue Joe's working on. OOPS! I will probably make a shutterfly book like I have with my collection and the ray gun book I made.

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Looks great Phil! Great war machine. Nice touch with the death ray. Kudos to you both on another excellent diorama. -Steve

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All of your dioramas are just magnificent.

And, if you plan to display them at BS9, that's just one more reason it'll take a catastrophe of epic proportions to keep me from flying to PA or wherever Botstock 9 is held next year!

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