Making small models look large

[grabula]

Hey all, I'm working on a couple of small diorams involving mecha. The models themselves are only about 4" tall or so and I'm looking for ways to make them look like they're supposed to be huge. Part of the effort will go into the base of the diorama but I'm hoping to find ways to make the models themselves give the appearance of huge machines. Any advice?

[kenlilly106]

Make the base/diorama/etc. items smaller than usual, that will make the mech look bigger by comparison.

Ex-

Say the mech is 1/100 scale, make the other items in the diorama to 1/144 or smaller scale.

Ken

[Ace Airspeed]

Avoid using too many gloss colors / finishes. The sheen is way out of scale even for some larger models. I like to use satin finishes to represent gloss...flat for most work.

[Just Plain Al]

When weathering, try make dust streaks, oil smears, etc. smaller than you normally would. It should give the appearance of a normal stain on a larger surface.

[grabula]

not a bad idea going with a base that's slightly out of scale. Mostly what I'm looking for is if there are painting or other techniques to make the models themselves look like they should be huge, in a vacuum - without the base.

[CaptBillD]

Lighten your mil. flat colors for scale distance. Use camo grey for white, and gray down black w/ lt. brown. Drop the intensity of hues for other colors with a drop or two of their color wheel opposite- haze down the palette as if viewing the scene from a distance. There is an IPMS scale for adding white to aircraft and armor models.

Oops, just saw the bit about vacuum- that doesn't work. There is no atmospheric haze in space. Visual cues we are used to on Earth aren't there in space, and judging scale and distance just don't work the way our eyes and brains evolved. You need objects that are a known size to establish scale then, like troop figures.

[Fokker Ace]

I'd second the tips about flat finishes and lightening colors for scale. Very important things to make models seem like more than tiny objects.

[Mr. Badwrench]

There may not be any atmospheric haze in space, but I would disregard that. If you are looking to add visual cues for scale, tamping down bright colors by greying or bluing them down is a good trick. Sometimes artistic license is better than strict adherence to realism.

[Mad-Modeler]

Adding to what was said about the weathering damages also add small details and paint fine details, etc.

Maintenance markings, etc also help give a sense of size.

While not quiet the same look at scale-modelers(like Bike models) as many that are shot close-up will look like the real thing.
Just as detailed, etc.

[oliver_s]

"Making small models look large"

Can't you move closer, instanltly looks bigger

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[TER-OR]

NO black, NO white. Shading instead of harsher drybrushing. Remember, the smaller the model scale the farther the viewer is from the subject.

[naoto]

Now if only one could do a "reverse-transform" of "tilt-shift"...
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/11 ... otography/