"Apocanav" - 1/288ème scale

Diorama model depicting a space shuttle emerging from a grassy hill, with a figure in the foreground


Abandoned space shuttle overgrown with rocks; a lone rider in the foreground beneath a gray sky

Will there be a future, or won't there?

Today's visions of a climate apocalypse have replaced the fear of atomic communism and flying saucers of yesteryear…

For 200 years, we’ve been playing at being sorcerer’s apprentices, and our children have inherited this devastating “progress”…

Thought-provoking dioramas are few and far between, so this was an opportunity to create something original based on a drawing by Yuri SHWEDOFF—themes that are currently popping up all over the internet and proving to be big hits in movies and video games…

 

 

 

 

 

Here, the 1/288-scale model of the James Bond car from *Moonraker* served as the basis...

This is the Doyusha brand, which was released in 1995...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assembling the model is extremely simple...

 

Metal structure being assembled with a space shuttle model, glue, and model-making toolsThe firing range is made from items from the surplus bin...

Light gray space shuttle model standing on its launch pad with walkwaysThe kit is almost finished...

Model of a space shuttle on a launch pad with a rock diorama, currently under constructionNext, we move on to creating the scenery. Sculpted pieces of extruded polystyrene will serve as the rocks...

Model of a space shuttle on its launch pad, incorporated into a diorama

 

Applying the plaster.

A strip of plaster is used to secure the launch pad and the shuttle with its fuel tanks. Then, a more liquid plaster is used for the surrounding area and the rocks. Finally, a firmer plaster is used to create the “mesa” formed by the sediments accumulated around the rocket...

Model of a rocket emerging from a white mountain on a triangular wooden baseView from the back. The plaster is carved with a utility knife in some places and then smoothed with water...

Model of a space shuttle with boosters on a diorama of light-colored rocky terrainOverview...

Unassembled model parts: gray horse and beige resin rider figureThe Rider.

He switched from the initial 1/100 scale to 1/72 scale, which allows him to be in the foreground to enhance the scene...

Unpainted figurine of a horseman holding a lance on a gray horseThe rider and his steed have been modified to more closely resemble the original model...

Figurine of a horseman holding a lance, mounted on a gray horse, currently being sculptedThey are smoothed with a very thin finishing coat to eliminate imperfections and seams...

Various flocking materials are added and glued on with wood glue...

Model of a space shuttle with boosters emerging from a sandy landscape on a rusted metal baseWe finish by gluing on some plumber's twine to represent the various grasses and vines...

Painting

Space shuttle model displayed on a rocky diorama with a wooden frameThe background is painted with Liquitex acrylic paint from a tube, based on the lighting in the original drawing...

Model diorama featuring a space shuttle emerging from a rocky mountain and a rider in the foregroundThe shuttle is painted with Humbrol 186, 147, and white. The main fuel tank has been treated with the rust-simulating product used here...

 

The Background Set

A painting of a dramatic, cloudy sky with a veiled moon hovering over a dark landscape on the horizonThe background is painted with acrylic paint on a wooden panel and attached to the back of the set...

Model of a space shuttle emerging from a diorama that extends into a painted backdropWe pour green- and blue-tinted resin onto the floor of the set as a finishing touch...

Model-making diorama featuring a space shuttle on a rock, with a 2D painted background extended by a 3D backdrop

Model of a space shuttle on a launch pad in a snowy landscape under a cloudy sky

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