DIORAMAS, WILD AND CREATIVE STYLISTIC COMPOSITIONS

What is a diorama? It is putting into perspective an item, a model or a toy by use of scenery (sets) suggesting a battle, a train, a movie sequence; in short, anything and everything, from the most naive to the most sophisticated. Devotees of model conventions will understand me... moreover kids love them!
Starting from movie scenes, the team of “Avec Passion” (a framing shop run by a bunch of girls nuts enough to go on such adventures) made most dioramas shown here, without pretense.

1) 20000 Leagues under the seas

This is a reenactment of the famous scene where the giant squid attacks the Nautilus. It uses a Japanese X-Plus; the squid (painted black for the occasion) comes from the “Sealife” shop near Disneyland Paris. Battery-powered spots can light the scene from below. Wooden stands, background of painted plaster, glass window: 30” x 11” x 7”.
The other small dioramas (squid on the Nautilus, the final scene with the Nautilus sinking) are 1) a Tokyo Disney Sea product, 2) A Hobby Kit product (under Disney license?)

This Disney Nautilus attacked by a giant squid – an iconic scene from the movie! - is in resin and sold through “Monsters in Motion,” probably under Disney license:

Dimensions: 19x8x4’’
USA,**

The same for this very well-known mural relief plaque:

Dimensions: 20x9’’
USA,*

2) Mysterious Island

I found this basic diorama at “Pleins Gaz,” Arnaud Mering’s shop in Paris. The scene shows the Nautilus trapped in its undersea grotto; the submarine is based on the Revell model showing the Hallmark version of the submersible, subsequently dressed up (see the section: “Other depictions of the Nautilus.” Wooden box, glass window. Set: painted cardboard and seashells... 18” x 10” x 7”. Harper Goff’s influence is felt on the depiction of the submarine with its spine and dented crest...

This next diorama once again evolved from the Revell miniature. Same dimensions, better finish, glueless assembly through clips. The background is cut from the box. It has been kept, an aquarium, plastic algae and octopuses from a bag were used, for a total of 6 euros (8 dollars), plus blue gravel! 

Dimensions: 13.5 x 9.5 x 6.5”. This Nautilus model can still be easily found on the Comet Miniatures website (ici lien); hurry up, prices are rising on Ebay!



3) It came from beneath the Sea

In this 1954 Robert Gordon film, with special effects by Ray Harryhausen (see bibliography), a giant octopus attacks the port of San Francisco. The diorama shows one of the final scenes where the nuclear submarine finally defeats the creature. The difficulty lies in making a gray, black and white diorama: I’ll have to install some strong lighting on the top, or ... face the eternal night of the depths.
Materials: an old aquarium scavenged from my garage; 4 pounds of charcoal gray sand; cardboard sheets painted in varying gray tones (to show the concrete foundations of the port); a 2-euro ($2-3) aquarium rock found in a pet shop; black model paint; a small, cheap Chinese submarine without its engine, rather close to the movie’s sub, which in turns imitates Al Rickover’s Nautilus (see the chapter on electrical toy submarines); a rubber octopus from “Sealife” I stole from my daughter; thick wire; the poster and pictures I got on the Internet. 16” x 8” x 10”.

4) Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea

This is the scene where the “Seaview” pursued by another submarine dives into the depths and is attacked by a giant octopus. Materials: the Seaview model made by Aurora/Polar Light, an octopus from a box of sea animals found at a discounter; painted paper background, battery spotlight, wooden box, removable glass window. 24” x 14” x 5”.

5) The Abyss

The funniest to conceive – this is pure extrapolation – and the d.....est pain to make and especially to transport! Materials: Wreck of an spanish Ranetta electrical submarine (see the appropriate chapter) playing the part of the USS Montana sunk at the beginning of the movie; the small exploration sub, here acting as the submersible transporting the divers, is what is left of an oxygen aquarium device. The exploration rover is a small Kinder Surprise rubber-band sub (see the chapter on prizes) once again stolen from my daughter on which I grafted a small battery spotlight. Chipboard stand, glass window, 6 pounds of sand, painter paper. 33” x 15” x 11”.

6) Other dioramas

- The Thunderbirds’ Stingray: a small commercial ceramics diorama sold by Comet Miniatures in England; UK **

- The other Thunderbirds-derived diorama shows the wreck of the X-craft, using a resin model and false aquarium plants.

UK **

- The Nautilus, cut paper view sold by Markle models, based on the blueprints of Hamurg’s Paper Museum. “Avec Passion” once again put it under glass; 150 hours of work were necessary to build and paint the model. The whole is 31” x 10” x 8”.

UK **

This diorama, made by Patrick Gauthier, could be christened: “How to recycle a model you received broken and missing pieces” (it happens).
 

This is a Comet Miniature model, in resin, that became “Urgent repairs on the Skydiver.” I am currently collecting old plane model pieces to complete it (a reactor, etc.).
Dimensions: 23.5 x 12 x 8.5”.
UK***

This limited edition from Red Rackham’s Treasure has folds and includes a few dioramas, among which the shark submarine in Calculus’ workshop:

This diorama showing the shark submarine in its workshop is made and distributed by Moulinsart. Very expensive like all similar products – this one is overpriced already – it is in lead and hand-painted:

- Lego designed this treasure-hunt picturing a mini-sub and divers attacked by rays; it cannot be found anymore.

DK ****

Rather than a diorama, this is a Sutcliffe advertising set issued in the late 60s.

In folding cardboard, it is 15 x 12 x 2.5” once unfolded. According to the dealer who sold it to Fabrice Mestrot, it is supposed to come straight from Margaret Sutcliffe’s personal collection.

There are several websites dedicated to dioramas, and an infinity of themes: from those sold at newsagents’ (French example: “Le Mas Provençal”), doll’s houses, military themes (the most numerous), electric trains of course... but aren’t Jules Verne and the Nautilus more dream-inductive?