See, diorama Inspiration can be even created just by looking at some figures!

This is basically a scene that could happened during the later part of Second World War. I guess everyone should be familiar with German Ardennes Offensive, 1944?

The M5A1Stuart is from Tamiya & has been partially improved with Yanks Miniatures interior set.

Not surprisingly, I realised that many local modellers are still weak in diorama plannings even though they are exceptionally good in scratchbuildings, conversions and even technique applications. To many, they still think that a diorama is a tank on a big board with some figures with a big ruin as a background. Well, they are not totally wrong but there could be a lot more effective presentation if height is being used!

So, what do I really meant when I talked about height & depth on a diorama? Very simple, the next time you go to a modelling competition/event, observe how many dioramas are actually built on flat bases? Now imagine one simple diorama with height & depth added and sitting among the rest. What do you think? A normal plan or idea can suddenly brighten up with a simple ridge line or gentle slope.

Maybe you think that your diorama will not look very good with a height/depth within the diorama, have you actually think of using the thickest possible base presentation to create a false height impression?

With reference to the image seen here, look how the abandoned/damaged M5 Stuart "lumped" at an angle. How the turret is pointing at odd angle? This "stationary" impact cannot be illustrated if the height is not implemented. Once this height is established, the main group (the marking on the base) will just automatically classified the damaged tank as a background just like a backdrop in your normal drama theatre. Who say we always need a ruined building as backdrop? Right?

Followup on the emphasis for the main group of smokers puffing themselves away with Amercian cigarettes are the supporting "actors" , i.e. the MG gunner & the injured party of three. I would most likely put an additional captured US tank crewman smoking together with them increasing the viewers impact. See how a simple raised tank can mould everything together on a base. I have not even done any conversion yet to perfect the scene! This is how powerful a height can be!

This is just a simple illustration but I do hope that this can help you understand more about planning or laying out a good diorama spurring you to be a master yourself in the near future.