What is a Diorama?

Dioramas are three-dimensional scenic displays which depicts historical or non-historical events. The subject matters vary, it could be a Christmas display under the tree, to a Seascape, from the Dinosaurs to Outer Space, from the Siege of Troy to the Gulf War. The point is: there is no limit. In all of my Dioramas hours of research and construction have gone into it’s making to assure accuracy down to the smallest detail. Landscapes, buildings, structures and foliage are created completely by scratch to re-create events in history into believable works of art. All figures, vehicles, planes, boats, etc. are in 1:35 scale, 1:43 scale and 1:87 scales. Some are hand molded, all are hand painted.

My dioramas are on display at the Cradle of Aviation Museum, the American Airpower Museum, the Vanderbilt Museum and the Nassau County Firefighters Museum.

1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race

The Vanderbilt Cup Race was held on Long Island, N.Y. in 1906. This 28” X 48” Diorama depicts the Grandstand Area and the VIP/Press Box. 235 spectators await the signal as the racecar start to come into view: “Car Coming”. The Grandstand and VIP/Press Box area are handmade from balsa wood, the 235 figures costumes are all hand made from duct tape and masking tape folded in layers, all are hand painted. The diorama is 1:35 scale and was created using 15 period photo’s to show what it actually looked like over 100 years ago.

Christmas

This Diorama was placed under the tree. It measured: 3’ x 4’. The figures are fully animated, for example: The ice skaters move around the ice skating ring. It is also electrified, all the street lights work, house’s light up, Christmas lights blink and chase, etc.

Fire Department: High-Rise Fire

Depiction of a “High Rise” City fire taken from actual photos on a fire scene in Queens, N.Y. All apparatus, equipment and figures are custom made… This diorama is fully illuminated. Flames and smoke bellow out of windows. The scale is 1:87 and is on permanent display at the Nassau County Firefighters Museum located at “Museum Row”, Uniondale, N.Y.

Fire Base: LZ Pony, Vietnam 1967

This is a very personal Diorama, for it depicts exactly what I witnessed in Vietnam 42 years ago. The date was: December 24, 1967 (Christmas Eve Night). The firebase was named: “LZ Pony”. The depiction was just before the Viet-Cong hit us from all sides of the wire. This Diorama is on permanent display in the AIRPOWER MUSEUM, located at Republic Airport, Farmingdale, N.Y.

Auto Museum, Long Island

Auto museum in Southampton L.I. N.Y. Circa 1956 to 1959

World War One

Long Island Motor Parkway, Garden City

ENTRANCE Long Island Motor Parkway from the Garden City toll bridge circa 1928.

Over the Top: Battle of Amiens, 1918

The Battle of Amiens-8 August 1918-On the Somme River, Northwestern France The opening phase of the Allied assault, which came to be known as the Hundred Days Offensive, is the first major action against the Germans to utilize both tanks and air power in direct support of the infantry.This history making battle ultimately led to the defeat of Germany and the end of the war. Depicted in this diorama is the 33rd Division "going over the top" of the Allied trenches with Renault M-1917 tanks in direct support of their British commrades. Above their heads German Albatross begin straffing and dropping bombs on the Allied troops below, while American and French airplanes dogfight with German Acein his Fokker Dr-1 for control of the skies.

Hot LZ: Vietnam, 1967

“Hot LZ” ( Landing Zone)….. This diorama is an depiction of a eye witness account by the artist… Vietnam , 1967- Troopers from the 1st of the 7th - 1st Car Cavalry Division landing onto a hot LZ (LZ X-Ray). While fanning out to set up a defensive perimeter, the troopers are ambushed by VC (Viet Cong) & NVA ( North Vietnamese Army) members and start taking causalities. Depicted in the center is the American commander calling in artillery and air strikes on the enemies position while a trooper pops “Yellow Smoke” from a smoke grenade to warn incoming Huey helicopters of the “Hot LZ” status.. A Huey lands and troopers jump off, and the bodies of dead soldiers (in body bags) are placed on that Huey, while the wounded are cared for, an arriving Huey is hit by a RPG (Rocket Powered Grenade) explodes, killing all aboard…….