First Posted: 2/20/2015
1. How did you get started doing dioramas?
It probably began as a child. I started putting models together around 9 or 10 years old. Several family members served in the military. They shared stories and pictures and artifacts. I also had an interest in military history, not so much about the war. For me, it is more about the stories. I began again about 10 years ago. So, from the time I was 10 years old to 40 years old, I didn’t really do anything with this. About 10 years ago, I started building the dioramas again.
2. Why World War II?
I don’t fully know, but I think it’s because I had two grandfathers who served in World War II.
3. What kind of materials do you use?
I start out with plastic kits or resin model kits. Each piece has to be put together. Even all the men come in pieces that I put together. Then I have to paint each piece. There are some products I buy — grasses, stones. I use lots of things from my yard like tree roots and dirt. I use both manufactured and natural materials. I use a lot of Styrofoam, paints and a lot of paper mache.
4. What kinds of scenes do you create?
I do a variety of scenes. That’s part of fun, being creative. I get ideas from reading stories, researching or movies. I do land scenes, air scenes and ocean scenes. I like the variety. It feeds me and it helps those creative juices flowing. Everything I create is on a one to 35th scale. In other words, it would take 35 tanks to make one full-sized tank.
5. How long is the process?
It depends on size of the diorama. It can take as little as a few months up to almost two years. I work on it from a few hours a week to a few hours a day. It depends on family and church commitments. The good thing about it, it’s always there for me when I have the time.
6. What do you enjoy most about creating dioramas?
It’s multi-leveled. I love doing the research for each one. I try to make my dioramas as historically accurate as possible. Then, seeing it all come to fruition after I come up with the concept, after I sketch it out on paper and decide the number of vehicles and men. Just seeing it go from dream to conception to finished project, just seeing it all come together.
There’s never been a moment when I have been frustrated. Making the dioramas are therapeutic for me.
7. What’s the most challenging aspect of doing a diorama with this much detail?
Probably, the most challenging part is the concept, deciding on the concept and then finding the time. I have to work, so I can’t just do this all day. Barb, my wife, has been really supportive of my hobby.
8. What would surprise people about making dioramas?
It isn’t easy, but it is fulfilling. It draws out of me that creative and artistic side. If you are created that way and do something that draws that out, then you get to be who you were created to be. I love the fact that this never frustrates me. I do have complications at times, but I work through them and get a lot of satisfaction. Everyone who sees these always says, “I could never do that,” but it is so enjoyable.
