The Garden Of Remembrance

[Spence]

Everyone has a project that they know will be a challenge from start to finish, but they have a go at it anyway. This diorama was just one of those projects. Replicating the famous Panther G that sits in a garden in Houffalize Belgium, this complex diorama became real trial and error set-piece that used a bunch of new techniques to complete the finished piece. The Panther was rebuilt to replicate the dilapidated vehicle seen in Houffalize; the stonework had to be mapped in a computer and then laser-cut to recreate the pattern of the bricks under the Panther; the concrete walls had to be mastered (three different sizes, two of each one) and then cast by VP as did the individual flower pots; all furniture had to be scratchbuilt; and finally all of the flowers had to be painted and the 'planted' one by one – several thousand in the pots used on the diorama, a job that took almost 30 hours to complete! Never again!!!

I've included a couple of shots of the actual scene to give you an idea of what I was aiming for.

Before I go I would like to thank a few people who helped with this project: Haris Ali who cut the stonework (twice after we realized that the Panther sat in a recessed 'pit' rather than on top of the stones), Rudi Mier who travelled across Belgium to photograph details for me, Staf Snyers who took me to the actual site for me to take final shots of the scene, Francois Verlinden who cast the parts I needed (at very short notice...) and the guys at KMK who helped me settle on a final layout for the scene. Thank you all!

Here's "The Garden Of Remembrance" - I hope you like it!

Spencer

Edited September 29, 2011 by Spence

[AndyC]

Good grief, Spence

That surpasses all of your previous dioramas I've seen. Absolutely stunning, and i mean stunning!

Superb

Andy

[Shar2]

That is amazing, your attention to detail is really impressive.

[SaintsPhil]

Fantastic! Looks so life like!

What's the grass made from?

Phil

[CPNGROATS]

wonderful work, you have captured the look of the actual thing...!!

Cheers,

ggc

[jenko]

Fantastic.......I'm totally speachless.

The best has just got better !!!

Hope you have writen an artical about the build Spencer.

[JonP]

That is quite amazing; great piece of work.

Jon

[Basosz]

That is spectacular. Bloody well done !! It's extremely realistic. Love the little touches like the dog and the bird and the half empty water bottle Absolutely cracking!

[BigReg]

wow

[Mike]

Very nice Spence... no-one dioramas quite like you do

[Colin @ Freightdog Models]

Brilliant Spence, that glass looks just like my sad old lawn today!

Colin

[sunshine coast]

Quality...................just pure Quality................

Regards Trevor ..

[kev67]

Now that is bloody brilliant (sorry for swearing)

[mireson]

very nice,

well done,

malc.

[Iain Ogilvie]

Ever thought of taking up modelling Spence? You might be quite good at it!

Brilliant!!

Iain

[Mark]

Cannot think of enough superlatives to describe this. So, Spence, just pick up a thesaurus or dictionary and pick any you like along the lines of 'incredible' 'amazing' or 'brilliant' etc...

[keefr22]

Incredible.....

K

[jimbuna]

Absolutely stunning!!

[Diesel Gypsy]

My flabber is well & truly gasted.

[Max Headroom]

Totally left field, totally brilliant

Trevor

[Digital Genocide]

This is on another level - its incredible!

[Murdo]

MAN!!!!

[Yorkshirepud]

That is just SO good mate !!

Great attention to detail, in a very unusual, but brilliant diorama. Compared to the actual photos, it is very well done !!

Top marks Spencer !!

[Irishgreek]

Like so many others have already said, but I wanted to add my bit too...

The whole setting is awesome! You captured the setting wonderfully. The little leaves around the cobbles, the flowers, etc.

Again

John

[dieselweasel]

Absolutely brilliant Spence, the detail is amazing, you really should take up modelling you would be brilliant at it

Jim