Book Review
From Last Cavalry, an online hobby shop, I just received this paperback book that probably belongs on every model railroader's bookshelf. Why? Because as an NMRA and RPM clinic I have delivered multiple time points out, our model railroads are about story telling. Granted, we can sometimes lose track of that simple proposition with basement empires whose emphasis is on operations. And let's get one thing out of the way early on, don't be put off by its ungainly title nor by the unfortunate skull and crossbones illustration on the cover - an illustration I might add that may put off a few potential purchasers.
Gils' book delivers exactly what it promises - to provide insights into storytelling, composition, and planning for model dioramas. And yes, most of the dioramas depicted within its pages are military in nature but civilian subjects also make their appearance between these covers. What should interest all model railroaders is that these insights are directly applicable to our layouts at large and to the individual scenes that compose a model railroad. Tony Koester has coined the phrase Layout Design Element (LDE) to describe these various scenes on a model railroad. Think of Gils as taking the Koester concept further or at least a bit more detailed.
In his 240 pages, Gil delivers even more than instruction to model railroaders. His book is a visual delight with as many as seven color photographs on each page. The list of contributors to this book run into the dozens. Photographs of both his dioramas and those of others are crisp. Though this reviewer considers himself a student of dioramas, all be it a neophyte at that, most of the photos of dioramas were new to him. Your reviewer was pleased, however, to encounter an old "friend" Olav Lund - one of the world's diorama modeling greats. Even if the impossible happened and you took away not one useful technique after perusing these pages, you would inevitably be inspired to get to your workbench or layout to get going on some project.
If this reviewer were pressed to summarize this book in one word - it would be "thorough". No topic gets a mere passing exposition. Readers will find detailed guidance on every topic covered. Here are the chapters you will encounter between its covers: Most readers will probably react to this book by thinking "I wish I had this book when I first started my modeling odyssey".
1. Introduction; 2. Stories and Ideas; 3. Composition; 4. Composing (With) Each Element of the Image 5. Working from Existing Images; 6. Composing Box Dioramas; 7. Single Figures Can Tell a Story Too; 8. Even a Single Vehicle Can Tell a Story 9. Conclusion.
In Chapter One, Gils sets the stage for the balance of his book by covering three topics: "Telling Stories with Models", "Composition", and that his book is more than just about the "how" of modeling but reaching the "why" of doing as he instructs.
Let's look at Chapter 2 as an example of Gils' thorough approach. He begins at the most elemental level when he tells us "Every model is based on an idea, no matter how trivial, and a model needs an idea to tell a story". In this chapter he goes on to cover the topics of: emotion, interaction, plot, symbolism, subject matter, ideas; working around a favorite subject; working around a certain story or event; evaluating your idea; and inspiration. Every point he makes is made crystal clear by multiple color photographs of examples.
The bulk of Gils' book is contained in Chapters 3 Composition and 4. Composing (With) Each Element of the Image. Chapter 3 covers such topics as "atmosphere", "how to make it visually pleasing" and "3D designing in practice". He even covers the subject of "Composing (With) Vegetation" in section 4.3.2. I do not think I have ever read a model railroad author who has covered as thoroughly the topic of "composing with accessories" as Gil does with both text and photos in his Section 4.4 on pages 201 - 202. Candidly, a thorough review of all that is included in this book that relates to model railroading would necessitate a book review that was as long as the book itself.
Not quite sure whether this book featuring the work of 83 of the world's finest modelers relates to you? Think about Chapter 5. Working From Existing Images. Model railroaders do this all the time. Gils both inspires and gives guidance in this short chapter.
Chapter 6 Composing Box Dioramas may be of more interest to those of us - usually outside the United States who are building exhibition layouts (though I have seen such layouts exhibited at a Narrow Gauge Convention in Denver, so they are not unknown on this side of the Atlantic). By a box diorama Gill refers to those dioramas where the viewing angle is limited - as distinct from those dioramas where viewers are free to walk around and view the model from all angles.
Discussions in both Chapters 7 and 8 regarding single figures and vehicles also are helpful to model railroaders, particularly those working in the larger scales such as O and G.
Though his conclusion contained in Chapter 9 is but a single page, it offers an excellent summary of what a model railroad should seek to accomplish and why our task - though seemingly herculean at times - is easier than that poses by music or the stage.
About The Author
Born in 1977, Marjin Van Gils lives with his wife and three children in Leuven, Belgium. His dioramas have won many awards such as Best of Shows at Euromilitaire. His modeling efforts began at the age of six and grew into diorama modeling by his teenage years. A prolific author in the modeling world, his day job is as an archeologist.
About The Publisher
AK Interactive is a Spanish company that produces a wide range of models, modeling paints, accessories, scenery materials, publications and more. Be aware that their publications are available in multiple languages. Orders can be placed through their web site or through dealers in the United States.
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