1:64 Scale Miniature Figures – American Diorama FEATURETTE
"Does always a good figure..."
Figures from American Diorama: Everyone knows them, everyone loves them (we hope so xD). Actually, we've only been familiar with these for a few years, around 2019 or a bit later. Before that, we all just focused on collecting model cars and displaying them in the showcase. Only little by little the thoughts came up to present the models adequately in dioramas, because some manufacturers brought fantastic buildings and motives on the market. But actually something was missing though!
The model vehicles were beautifully staged, but the scenery seemed rather lifeless and lonely. Especially with a skillful look through the lens of a photo camera or smartphones, one realized when photographing for the next Instagram picture: Aaaand that's where American Diorama came to the rescue!
From Car Meets and Events...
The hand-polished and hand-painted figures were particularly noticeable on a true-to-scale car park, which was modelled as a look alike from Japan. Each Amercian Diorama set contains around 6 figure elements. These can be either 6 individual figures, but also single pieces such as a cooler or even a dog! Typical "Car Meet" sets published American Diorama in different variations, which have been numbered individually such as "Car Meet 1", "Car Meet 2" and so on. The different gestures and poses of the individual figures are very varied and provide a lively subject for photo scenes like this.
For example, there are emotionally charged figures but also typical car spotters and car photographers. There's even a character on a scooter, how cool is that?! The use of diecast metal makes the figures very robust by the way. So you don't have to panic if you accidentally knock a figure over or drop it from a certain height. In contrast to the figures made of resin, where the head is already cut off at the slightest fall, the figures from American Diorama lose at most a little of their colour but thats all.
Working 9 to 5...
A common use for our dioramas is with the mechanics. These are available in numerous variants with different expressions in different overall colours. Depending on the motif and the garage, either orange, blue or red uniforms fit perfectly into the picture. Of course, jacks or toolboxes must not be missing in certain sets.
Thanks to collaborations with Tarmacworks, American Diorama was even able to print figures with real brands. The best examples are the BRE Datsun racing drivers and Mooneyes craftsmen. Of course, they fit perfectly to vehicles with the Mooneyes sponsor, including the Datsun 510 Wagon from Tarmacworks itself.
"Lookalike..."
Sponsorship or exact copies of the figure itself are mostly a matter of licensing or budget. So it is usually enough with a few splashes of colour and unmistakable gestures for the viewer to know immediately which figure it is. Like, for example, Michael Schumacher in his racing overalls at the time of his world championship victories from 2000 to 2004 at Ferrari or, of course, Dom Toretto alias Vin Diesel from the Fast and Furious films. The white tank top immediately gives away the Fast and Furious star!
Other figures are simply made to visually tell a story when you look at them. For example, enthusiastic glances at a car dealership with heaps of dream cars or flirting attempts with a sports car owner. This is what makes the whole thing so interesting: In interaction with vehicles, the environment and the use of the figures, very creative stories can be told pictorially! By the way, this is also how we designed the typical thumbnails in the header on our website.
Of course, the figurene sets have their price of around 20$ on average, but you have to keep in mind that the figures have to go through a number of process steps during production, to get them in such a good condition. This includes moulding, polishing, checking on details and of course testing every single figure to see if they can stand on their own without outside help. The hand-painting also takes some time, of course! American Diorama even added motorbikes with matching figures! From rednecks, gardeners, construction workers, campers, winter sportsmen, policemen to racing drivers from days gone by: there is certainly something for everyone here!
