Diorama Advice/Help Thread

[ApexOversteer]

Last year TomyTec released these in N-Scale (1:150)... "Buildings Under Demolition"... there are two styles... a highrise and an apartment building... perfect for buildings affected by "interaction with Kaiju"...




I've added them to my display, using some shale chips (1/4" to 1/2" chips) to simulate "rubble" and they look fantastic, even with the slightly out-of-scale 25cm figures...

[canofhumdingers]

Those are too cool. They look great in your display. The shale chips work wonderfully. You can also get all different types, sizes, and colors of ballast and rubble from model railroading to use as debris. You could mix and match different types and colors for even more realistic rubble.

As for scale, yeah the 25cm kaiju are technically too small for N scale (though they still look just fine). If you put some 30cm Showa Kaiju, they’d be spot on as any 50m monster done in 30cm is the same scale as N scale models.

[Destorogoji]

Anyone knows a good site where I can download free buildings and stuff in 1:350 scale?

Download templates or download 3d models?

Templates.

[ApexOversteer]

Those are too cool. They look great in your display. The shale chips work wonderfully. You can also get all different types, sizes, and colors of ballast and rubble from model railroading to use as debris. You could mix and match different types and colors for even more realistic rubble.

As for scale, yeah the 25cm kaiju are technically too small for N scale (though they still look just fine). If you put some 30cm Showa Kaiju, they’d be spot on as any 50m monster done in 30cm is the same scale as N scale models.

I'm going to be painting some of the shale to match elements of the buildings. I need to be able to take the buildings off the shelf to use for photography with a sky backdrop, so I like this size of "rubble" because its easily picked up and placed back down.

I've got the old X-Plus polystone Mothra '64, which is 30cm scale-ish and I've got the 30cm Favorite Sculptors '64 Mosu-Goji preordered, and I plan on a few photos with them and the city...

Added in 12 minutes 57 seconds:
Edit: I just did the math... a 25cm/9 inch tall figure scales out to 112 feet tall in N-Scale...

[canofhumdingers]

Close. Not sure how you did the math but N scale is either 1:148 or 1:160 scale depending on the source. 25cm x 148 = 3700cm or 37m which is about 121ft. 25cm x 160 = 4000cm or 40m which is about 131ft. So they're actally even a little closer to proper scale than you calculated.

If you want the actual scale, 25cm = 0.25m. 50m/0.25m = 200 or 1:200 scale. It's not terribly difficult to find 1:200 scale stuff these days between gaming miniatures and architectural model supplies and places like shapeways, but probably the easiest to find and most prolific stuff close to that scale is z scale model railroad supplies.

But of course it can't be that easy! Z scale is 1:220 which would make a 25cm Showa Kaiju slightly oversized at a scaled 55 meters or 180ft (btw 50 m is 164ft)

So, if you want the easiest to find and largest selection of buildings and accessories to go with 25cm monsters, you have to decide if you want them to be a little short or a little tall. Personally, I'd go with your choice of a little short because n scale stuff is more plentiful, easier to find, and often cheaper than z scale. Plus you can use n scale with both 25cm (just a little out of scale) and 30cm (perfectly in scale) monsters no problem so it's more versatile.

[Destorogoji]

I just found this page where you can download and make your own papercraft maser cannon; I don't remember the scale, but I printed it at 50% to make it in-scale with 6 in Showa/Millenium figures: http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~sf-papercraft/sf/Maser.html

[DirektorSplennic]

Anyone knows a good site where I can download free buildings and stuff in 1:350 scale?

Download templates or download 3d models?

Templates.

Like this?
https://www.facebook.com/pg/AtomicVinyl ... tn__=-UC-R

[Destorogoji]

Download templates or download 3d models?

Templates.

Like this?
https://www.facebook.com/pg/AtomicVinyl ... tn__=-UC-R

Just like that! Thank you

[DirektorSplennic]

Templates.

Like this?
https://www.facebook.com/pg/AtomicVinyl ... tn__=-UC-R

Just like that! Thank you

Printed some for myself while I was at it. Got this new printer for Christmas that finishes in like 2 seconds.

[ApexOversteer]

Close. Not sure how you did the math but N scale is either 1:148 or 1:160 scale depending on the source. 25cm x 148 = 3700cm or 37m which is about 121ft. 25cm x 160 = 4000cm or 40m which is about 131ft. So they're actally even a little closer to proper scale than you calculated.

If you want the actual scale, 25cm = 0.25m. 50m/0.25m = 200 or 1:200 scale. It's not terribly difficult to find 1:200 scale stuff these days between gaming miniatures and architectural model supplies and places like shapeways, but probably the easiest to find and most prolific stuff close to that scale is z scale model railroad supplies.

But of course it can't be that easy! Z scale is 1:220 which would make a 25cm Showa Kaiju slightly oversized at a scaled 55 meters or 180ft (btw 50 m is 164ft)

So, if you want the easiest to find and largest selection of buildings and accessories to go with 25cm monsters, you have to decide if you want them to be a little short or a little tall. Personally, I'd go with your choice of a little short because n scale stuff is more plentiful, easier to find, and often cheaper than z scale. Plus you can use n scale with both 25cm (just a little out of scale) and 30cm (perfectly in scale) monsters no problem so it's more versatile.

Japanese N-Scale is 1:150... 9 x 150 is 1350, divided by 12 is 112.5...

I went with Japanese N-scale for two reasons, Japanese architecture, and they scale perfectly with 30cm figures for Showa Gojis. That they'll work with the 25cm figures is a bonus, but not priority.

The one that kinda blows my mind... the 25cm Shin Form 2, the 30cm Form 3 and the Gigantic Shin are all in N-Scale-ish...

[canofhumdingers]

Ah, I thought there was a third n scale... scale. But my hasty google search only turned up the two. But I did the math for 1:150 (which is insanely close to the 1:148 I already calculated) and came up with 0.25m x 150 = 37.5m or 123ft.

Then I figured out why our numbers aren’t matching. You’re using 9 inches while I’m using 25cm. 25cm is 9.843 inches. If you want to use a round number of inches, 10 would be a more accurate approximation (though using metric will be more accurate). Of course, that all assumes that X-plus’s 25 and 30cm measurements are correct for all their figures, which in reality we know they aren’t exact. If you want to get super accurate you’d have to measure each individual figure...

But it doesn’t really matter since we both agree that N scale is the most sensible option for either 25 or 30cm figures! Of course, there’s a whole other can of worms when you start looking for things in scale with X-plus figures of monsters that are more than 50m tall....

[ApexOversteer]

Ah, I thought there was a third n scale... scale. But my hasty google search only turned up the two. But I did the math for 1:150 (which is insanely close to the 1:148 I already calculated) and came up with 0.25m x 150 = 37.5m or 123ft.

Then I figured out why our numbers aren’t matching. You’re using 9 inches while I’m using 25cm. 25cm is 9.843 inches. If you want to use a round number of inches, 10 would be a more accurate approximation (though using metric will be more accurate). Of course, that all assumes that X-plus’s 25 and 30cm measurements are correct for all their figures, which in reality we know they aren’t exact. If you want to get super accurate you’d have to measure each individual figure...

But it doesn’t really matter since we both agree that N scale is the most sensible option for either 25 or 30cm figures! Of course, there’s a whole other can of worms when you start looking for things in scale with X-plus figures of monsters that are more than 50m tall....

Well, I measured the specific figure I had in the display at the time, the '65 Disenso-Goji...

But yeah, we agree, N-scale is perfect fit for 30cm Showa (and most of the Millennium series) Gojis, and a "Good 'nuff" fit for the 25cm range of everything.

In other news... the JSDF HAS ARRIVED! Tonight the part of the JSDF will be played by Soviet T-54 tanks from the USSR, North Korea and North Viet Nam. The logic there is, you put an Abrams down and everybody knows it an Abrams. You put the JDSF's current Type-90 tank down and everybody thinks it's an Abrams, they're very similar. I wanted classic, archetypal tanks, that evoked the Showa era a little bit, and I think the T-54 does that. I got these from Trainz.com for less than $5 each...

[canofhumdingers]

The tanks look superb! It made me curious to go look up just what kind of tanks actually are in the Showa movies. I think I found “the one”. The iconic tank that you see in the most famous Showa tank battles (Mothra vs Godzilla, Monster Zero, etc.). The JSDF type 61:



Definitely not as economical as the tanks you picked up, but a quick eBay search turned up a few choices of 1:144 scale (a common modeling and candy toy scale that is widely considered compatible with N scale since it’s so close) type 61 tanks for around $12-$15 after shipping.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Takara-1-144-W ... SwnVZawGvZ

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Takara-1-144-W ... Sw9LxbsWs5

[ApexOversteer]

The tanks look superb! It made me curious to go look up just what kind of tanks actually are in the Showa movies. I think I found “the one”. The iconic tank that you see in the most famous Showa tank battles (Mothra vs Godzilla, Monster Zero, etc.). The JSDF type 61:



Definitely not as economical as the tanks you picked up, but a quick eBay search turned up a few choices of 1:144 scale (a common modeling and candy toy scale that is widely considered compatible with N scale since it’s so close) type 61 tanks for around $12-$15 after shipping.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Takara-1-144-W ... SwnVZawGvZ

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Takara-1-144-W ... Sw9LxbsWs5

Yeah, looked at WTM tanks too, and 1/144 kits... starting to look at 1/144 aircraft, helis and planes... a couple F86 Sabers would be cool, keep the 50's Showa flavor thing...

I'll be using the buildings to photograph Gunpla as well, so I'm familiar with 1/144 scale too...

[canofhumdingers]

Haven’t had time to actually build any of my buildings, but I did dig out all my n scale cars that I bought like 10 years ago on a trip to Japan.

I really love these, vintage Showa “period appropriate” sedans


Various trucks


Forgive my display, I haven’t had time to re-arrange after Christmas and stuff is just kinda crammed wherever it fit. Not as clean and organized as I want it to be.







Is it just me, or does the semi truck behind G’54’s foot look like a bigger scale than the rest of the vehicles? I bought it at a hobby shop here stateside and I’m almost certain it’s Kato N scale, but it just looks so much bigger than the others. Maybe it’s just because it’s a modern day transport and I’m pretty sure even the box of trucks I bought in Japan are vintage styles, though I’m not sure what year(s) theyre supposed to be from.

[ApexOversteer]

I'm looking to get some cars... the semi-rig looks right to me...

No apologies for the display, its awesome man!

[Godzilla Vinyl Mania]

Decided on trying my hands out on some papercraft in 1:450 scale. Had 3 copies of this set printed on 120lb card stock for under $15. I'll try building some this weekend and see if I can get a few good diorama pics going.

[ArchdukeCaligula]

Anyone know how much assembly is required on the Tomytec N scale buildings ? I'm looking to get the one pictured below but I'm not confident in my assembly ability.

I saw someone had this specific one earlier in the thread, actually.

[canofhumdingers]

Anyone know how much assembly is required on the Tomytec N scale buildings ? I'm looking to get the one pictured below but I'm not confident in my assembly ability.

I saw someone had this specific one earlier in the thread, actually.

Based on the ones I have (that I’ve yet to build) they are mostly typical styrene models that need to be built with glue, painted, and have decals applied. Some (such as more modern “glass” buildings) come more like a prepainted candy toy that that just need the major components snapped together.

I’ve been enjoying this thread so much I just started googling and came across a bunch of fun stuff at hobbysearch. This is just a handful of the things I found most interesting, but there’s a whole lot more out there at this and other websites,

JSDF vehicles
https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10553698
https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10346736

Fire trucks and firemen
https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10472902
https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10508922

Damaged buildings
https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10402476
https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10402474
https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10513041

Showa era looking shops
https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10472924

Showa era people
https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10372926

My personal favorite: a film crew!
https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10421237

I also stumbled upon this brand called Outland Models (mostly on eBay) that makes a variety of damaged buildings

[ApexOversteer]

Anyone know how much assembly is required on the Tomytec N scale buildings ? I'm looking to get the one pictured below but I'm not confident in my assembly ability.

I saw someone had this specific one earlier in the thread, actually.

I built this specific building.

The build was simple, the main part of the building with the windows is pre-built, and the stairway section (the grey section in back), together they snap into the base. You do have to glue the top of the stairwell, the stairs to the roof, and the water tank, but that's it. The kit is fully pre-painted and detailed.

The most involved builds of my whole set up were the "Under Demolition" buildings, which have to be fully assembled, but were super simple.

The Kato and Tomix builds come pretty much fully assembled, at most you have to pop the bottoms off, to the detail inside the windows, and add outside signage.