In this article, HPM Member Robert shares his passion of blending figures, modeling, history and war gaming.

In this brief article I am going to look at the connection between war gaming, dioramas, modeling and how they relate to each other. War gaming and diorama construction are closely related, with assembled war gaming setups often doubling as intricate dioramas. Both practices rely on meticulously crafted models and displaying them provides an excellent showcase of skill and attention to detail. In war gaming, after setting up a game, it can function as a diorama, and both activities involve the use of models.

Quality and Handling of Models

Models designed solely for display tend to be of higher quality compared to those meant for war gaming, as gaming pieces undergo frequent handling and movement. Because high-end models can be easily damaged during gameplay, it’s
wise to favor simpler designs for war gaming purposes.

Choosing the Appropriate Scale

Look for companies that make figures and vehicles for your game or diorama.  There are many companies available with varying quality and price. Scale selection should be based on your available space. War gaming miniatures typically range in size from 10mm to 60mm, with popular gaming scales falling between 1/72 and 28mm. Display models for dioramas are often crafted at a 1/35 scale.

Selecting a Theme

After determining the appropriate scale, select a specific time period, event, or battle to focus on. Use the internet to research and compile references; creating a Word document with supporting photos can be a helpful exercise.

Finding Manufacturers and Maintaining Consistency

Numerous companies offer figures and vehicles suitable for both gaming and dioramas, each varying in quality and price. Consistency in scale across all the pieces is essential; keeping in mind that even similarly labeled scales may differ slightly between manufacturers.

Material Selection for Figures

Figures are produced from metal, soft plastic, resin, and hard plastic. Metal and hard plastic are preferred for painting, as soft plastic may bend and cause paint to chip, and resin figures are delicate and prone to breakage. Modifying figures is generally easier with hard plastic than metal. Here skills acquired building standard models can be applied with few differences in technique.

Enhancing Terrain and Detailing

Kits and 3D-printed terrain can be found at a variety of price points. Supplementary materials for ground cover, trees, water features, and garden elements are readily available to enhance the realism of your diorama or war gaming setup. I enjoy the challenge of creating realistic scenes. As you can see models by themselves are nice but when you add terrain, it becomes a diorama, and when you go crazy and add a whole bunch of figures and terrain you have a wargame. 

Advice for Modelers

Whatever your objective, whether creating models, dioramas or game pieces never rush it. If it gets frustrating stop, take a break and come back later with a fresh frame of mind. You can’t ruin a piece; you can just simply turn it into battle damage.