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| View Poll Results: How do Forum members feel about including figures on ship models? | |||
| A - I think that figures add scale or life to a model. |
  
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61 | 63.54% |
| B - I don't think that figures add scale or life to a model. |
  
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17 | 17.71% |
| A - I think the addition of figures turns a model into a diorama. |
  
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27 | 28.13% |
| B - I don't think the addition of figures turns a model into a diorama. |
  
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25 | 26.04% |
| Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 96. You may not vote on this poll | |||
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04-17-2007, 09:11 PM
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Re: figures on ship models
Static models can get away with no figures, but radio guided models? And if you have a waterliner can you get away with it without it looking like a ghost ship since it's supposed to be underway in most cases (obviously you can in the case of a 1/700 scale battleship!)
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06-24-2007, 11:38 PM
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Re: figures on ship models
I come to ship modeling via model railroading and figure painting. It is my experience that well painted and posed figures can add a touh of completeness and scale to a finished model. Improperly done figures however will detract from a model faster than anything else the modeler can do.
We are all intimately familiar with the human form and what it should look like. We will quickly spot errors of proportion, pose, colour etc. As ship modelers we have trained our eyes to be sensitive to these characteristics in ships as well, but even a young child can look at a human figure and say "the head is too big" while not noticing that the mast of the boat the figure is placed on is to short, too thin, and raked at the wrong angle. I have seen many otherwise excellent railroad and military models ruined by what I call the "shiny happy people" syndrome. Into a scene in which every detail has beenmeticulously crafted to scale, weathered and finished to exactly the right sheen intrude human figures painted in gloss finished, bright garrish colours. This destroys any hope of realism. For ship models it is better to leave the figures off entirely if they do not contribute to the overall appearance of the model. The long tradition of displaying ships with no crew means that in both models and paintings we are quite comfortable seeing ships with no visible crew. Painting and modeling figures is a hobby (or several) of its own.
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06-25-2007, 11:33 AM
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Re: figures on ship models
Hello Dave,welcome aboard!I agree with your point view that the painting of figures is in itself a hobby of its own.I personally would not use them because of my talent level.Here are a few examples where they look great IMO.Some of these are dioramas.Thankyou for your imput
 ,Walter http://www.guzmanshipmodels.com/ http://homepage3.nifty.com/shiphome...lert-page1.html http://shipmodeling.net/photopost/s...ery.php?cat=597 (open in a blank window)
------------Members' Signature------------
Row men Row!!!!!!!
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06-26-2007, 10:25 AM
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Re: figures on ship models
I got to the point where I'm ready to place my model in a case but I can't decide if I want to go the extra step of placing figures on it. Since my time is very limited I don't have the luxury of making my own figures and what is available is also limited. If its not done just right I'm afraid it will look too "toyish" and undignified. I feel that it should either be a diorama or not with no middle ground.
I believe what walter said, if you have the time and talent to make it look good then by all means do it. As for me I can make a beautiful model up to the point of adding figures, then it gets laughable. Dave
------------Members' Signature------------
"With the knowledge of hindsight, they were a piratical-looking crew." C. Alexander
Currently: MS USS Constitution Finished: MS Bluenose 1921, AL Clara May, AL Open Hull HMAV Bounty My pipe dream: Graduate to scratch building
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07-10-2007, 05:37 PM
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Re: figures on ship models
For some reason, I have always felt that adding figures severely detracts from the model itself; especially if the hobbyist hasn't painted the figures correctly. (flat acrylics, washes, inks, etc).
I think there is a huge danger of viewers looking at a model which may have taken a builder years to complete as if it is some kind of toy when it has figures on it (even if they HAVE been painted correctly). |
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07-22-2007, 09:32 AM
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Re: figures on ship models
I think the real benefit of figures is to give the model perspective to the size of the real thing. I have seen a few models that seem to have a complete crew(including the skipper). Although it did not seem really correct to me it did give me a real sense of the busyness of the deck.
It does make the model more like a diorama to me. That said unless the model is sitting in the water it looks ...awkward in my opinion. But like everything concerned with our hobby it's a matter of personal preference. As long as the builder is satisfied the mission is properly complete. Whether or not I would do it takes nothing away from the appreciation I have for the effort involved in painting up and securing to the deck a crew. Of the models I've seen with figures on the deck I could never say any of them looked bad. |
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08-12-2007, 01:33 PM
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Re: figures on ship models
Speaking for myself
 Figures add reality to the diorama, Unfortunately the level or ability to create figures leaves a lot to be desired.landlubber7 |
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06-03-2008, 10:55 PM
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Re: figures on ship models
coming from plastic modeling, I am used to figures as a matter of course.
I would love to have figures for some of these wooden kits. My first is a 1/48 scale so I can use figures. I want to set up a diorama with a tall ship {like the Pilgrim or Spirit of Dana Point} either could go with a few 1/48 scale cars that are available. A BMW convertible comes with a small dog and a female in a dress, there will also be figures for O scale railroading that might work out on the other hand if the ship model is on a pedestal stand with no or furled sails no peeps needed, if the ship is under full sail then.... |
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06-03-2008, 11:34 PM
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Re: figures on ship models
The issue of figures is quite interesting to me while the idea of a diorama holds relatively little interest.
First off, I think a figure or two does a lot to help the viewer understand the model; especially those of us not used to the sea or tall ships. On real ships, doors, rails and cabins may be quite different in scale from those we land bound sailors know and understand. Done correctly, little will scale a model better than a figure because we have a near universal understanding of human form and size. A somewhat related problem is the sad number of out of scale items included in many kits. I would also raise the related topic of sails. What is my model doing there far from the water, on a stand, crewless and with a full set of sails? Again in the vein of helping the viewer understand my work, I look to add a figure and with luck some representation of water before I'm done. We all tell stories with our work, lives and models.... this is just my way of telling mine but I realize there are many ways... Keep the tough questions coming. Jim
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06-09-2008, 07:38 PM
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Re: figures on ship models
Jim,
I never was a proponent of figures on models. Years ago I painted 54MM figures as a hobby and rather enjoyed it but work got in the way. After starting wooden ships, I found that figures were a distraction from the ship however I have seen some models here on the forum that used figures in action and were quite impressive. I share your comment of “the idea of a diorama holds relatively little interest” but you have me thinking about using figures. My problem would be scale and action positions, just more food for thought. Charlie
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