This book is about the art of displaying waterline models By their very nature ship models that do not show the full hull & are not mounted on an artificial stand cry out for a realistic setting At its most basic this can be just a representation of the sea itself but to give the model a context
- even to tell some sort of story
- is far more challenging This is the province of the diorama which at its most effective is a depiction of a scene or an event in which the ship model takes centre stage As with a painting the composition is a vital element & this book devotes much of its space to what works & what does not & illustrates with photographic examples why the best maritime dioramas have visual power & how to achieve that impact Individual chapters explore themes like having small craft in attendance on the main subject multiple-model scenarios dockyards & naval bases & the difficulties of replicating naval combat realistically It also looks at both extremes of modelmaking ambition the small single-ship exposition & the largest most ambitions projects of the kind meant for museum display The book concludes with some of the most advanced concepts
- how to create drama & the illusion of movement & how to manipulate perspective Illustrated throughout with colour photos the more abstract discussion is backed with practical 'how to' sections so anyone who builds waterline ship model will benefit from reading this book