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Michael replied 4 years, 7 months ago

Hi,

it’s a nice theme this year, but I’m unsure of what is considered a “diorama”. I found the following definition:

(Model) “built in depth with plastic objects in front of a painted or photographed background.”

I have some questions about this:
Is it necessary to have a painted or built background?
Is it possible to build an urban or industrial diorama – or are nature and landscapes necessary for a diorama?
Could I incorporate movable or motorized elements – or is a diorama always a still life?

A little more explanation of what counts as a diorama would help me.

Thanks.

MTM / Michael
- raised replied 4 years, 7 months ago
  
  Hi Micheal,
  
  Thanks for the questions. Just to clarify things a bit: For the last three years OcTRAINber has been a building challenge that both challenges and brings out the creativity. For this reason we on purpose stay vague on the rules, because we like to see exactly that creativity.
  
  For your first question: We on purpose called it ‘diorama’ and not ‘layout’. It’s always a bit shady difference between the two, but with layout it at least implies that some form of operations is possible, whereas a diorama can be totally static. However, as is the case with most layouts; if you just take a part of it, it becomes a diorama quite fast 😉 Your own models are a pretty good example of that, because they are in fact pretty good diorama’s!
  
  Google has the following definition: “a model representing a scene with three-dimensional figures, either in miniature or as a large-scale museum exhibit.” The scene part in this one is the most imporant, I’d say. So in that sense, yes, movement is allowed.
  
  Now, to the questions:
  Is it necessary to have a painted or built background?
  –> this is nowhere specified (and is definatly part of the whole creativity thing), so knock yourself out!
  Is it possible to build an urban or industrial diorama – or are nature and landscapes necessary for a diorama?
  –> this is nowhere specified (and will not be), so do as you like!
  Could I incorporate movable or motorized elements – or is a diorama always a still life?
  –> interesting question. Seeing the whole “scene” thing that a diorama tends to have, I’d say some form of movement is for sure allowed. Just don’t make it a continious layout and you should be fine 😉
  
  Happy building!

Brick Model Railroader

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