Hooper & Co Diorama

[peekay]

Fantastic diorama and the photography is top notch. I have some of these models and it's great to see them in an appropriate environment.

[Anglia105E]

Thanks a lot for your comments, Peter...... I am discovering ways to photograph the 1:43 scale models, which can appear just as realistic as the 1:24 scale models if they are carefully positioned in the right lighting. I agree, it is so much more satisfying to see the model cars in a realistic diorama setting than to see them in display cases or on glass shelves..... even worse, still in their original boxes, sealed and unopened!

David

[Anglia105E]

The following photos show the white Ford Transit van on a street corner, with the driver getting ready for his early morning deliveries.

David

[Eric Macleod]

On 9/15/2019 at 8:20 PM, Anglia105E said:

Thanks a lot for your comments, Peter...... I am discovering ways to photograph the 1:43 scale models, which can appear just as realistic as the 1:24 scale models if they are carefully positioned in the right lighting. I agree, it is so much more satisfying to see the model cars in a realistic diorama setting than to see them in display cases or on glass shelves..... even worse, still in their original boxes, sealed and unopened!

David

I agree 100%. I would like to devote more time to work like this...if life will allow it. I guess I can live vicariously through your models.

[Anglia105E]

Eric, I just looked up the meaning of ' vicariously ' ........ and I see what you mean. Certainly, this type of work can be very time consuming, and we are not all fortunate enough to be able to organise our precious free time as we would wish. I shall try to keep this topic interesting, and I am always on the lookout for fresh ideas. Currently I am engaged in a loft conversion, as my serious hobby has demanded more floor space than my small house can provide. The property is what we refer to as a Grade II listed Arkwright cottage built in 1886 by Sir Richard Arkwright, for the workers of the first water powered cotton mill in the world. The walls are 2 feet thick granite stone and the pitch of the roof is quite low, so that I can only stand up in the centre of what will become an extra room. I guess however much space you have, it will soon fill up with more scale model cars!

David

[Anglia105E]

Here we see the number 294 bus waiting at the bus stop, and just to the right there are some long shadows..... one of which is a gentleman in a bowler hat, who is about to take the bus into the city for his day at the office. This is the 1:43 scale diorama, and the AEC Regent RT London bus is by IXO.

David

[Anglia105E]

This particular photo shoot shows the ground floor showroom of the Hooper & Co building, where the managing director and chief draughtsman Osmond Rivers is admiring a 1938 Rolls-Royce Phantom III....... it is late afternoon during Winter, and the portable heater has been brought out to maintain the showroom at a more comfortable temperature, both for the magnificent motor car and also the visiting customers. This is the 1:24 scale Hooper & Co diorama, the scale model car is a Danbury Mint diecast model and the figure is a 3D printed figure by Shapeways.

David

[Gramps46]

The photos are very engaging, congratulations.

[Anglia105E]

Thank you, Gary........ having got to the stage where the Victorian terraced houses diorama in 1:43 scale is nearly completed, and work has not yet begun on the Acton factory diorama in 1:43 scale, I thought it was high time that I took a fresh look at the 1:24 scale diorama and try out a few new ideas in photography. The three Rolls-Royce Phantom III motor cars were given a gentle dusting and the scene was set....

David

[olsbooks]

As one who tuned out the world for well over 6 months, I must say the quality of your work, lighting, and photography has gone from "good" to "outstanding". It is as if that elusive corner we all seek has been turned.  Granted I am partial to B&W and an arrogant/ignorant Yank, but in some of your most recent pix, I half expect to see Winston Churchill or develop a hunger for a Hitchcock film...two very enjoyable things.

[Anglia105E]

Thank you very much, JC for your words of appreciation....... I did wonder where you had got to over the past 6 months or more. Pleased to see that you are still producing outstanding diorama work. Having done a lot of work in 1:43 scale recently, I thought it would be refreshing to take a fresh look at my 1:24 scale diorama setting. More and more, I am finding that B&W photography does suit my 1950's period scenes better than full colour. For someone who pays a great deal of attention to specific colours, especially where cars are concerned, the resulting photos are many shades of grey of course. (no pun intended ).

David

[Anglia105E]

Here we see that it is quite late in the day at Hooper & Co.......... a gentleman is standing beside the office desk, waiting to speak to Mr Rivers regarding the Rolls-Royce Phantom III that is just visible to the right. The exquisite Tiffany lampshade is casting long shadows across the ceiling from the soft light. Later, Mr Rivers enters the room and the two men discuss this fine motor car, standing on the plush crimson carpet. Perhaps Mr Rivers will offer the gentleman a box of cigars, from which to select a complimentary smoke. They have no need to hurry this conversation........ the right decision can be made at their leisure.

David

[landman]

?

[Anglia105E]

Cheers, Pat........

David

[olsbooks]

At first the red washed pic didn't trick my trigger but after reading the storyline and revisiting the pic a few days later, I could easily imagine an after hours deal going on. The table lamp lighting level is just enough. Imo,  emphasis goes on trying to make out details on the characters and the car. Strange how that works.

Keep it up. 

Edited October 4, 2019 by olsbooks

[Anglia105E]

58 minutes ago, olsbooks said:

At first the red washed pic didn't trick my trigger but after reading the storyline and revisiting the pic a few days later, I could easily imagine an after hours deal going on. The table lamp lighting level is just enough. Imo,  emphasis goes on trying to make out details on the characters and the car. Strange how that works.

Keep it up. 

Thank you, JC...... there were many shots taken in this most recent photo shoot, and using different combinations of lighting. The red washed pic has only the  table lamp inside the 1:24 scale building and the overhead light in my study room, which is a low energy bulb. Normally the overhead light would be switched off while I use 100 watt daylight bulbs mainly.

David

[QbanFam]

As always, outstanding work. You are a Master, Sir.

[Anglia105E]

1 hour ago, QbanFam said:

As always, outstanding work. You are a Master, Sir.

Thanks, Yordan...... I am following your work closely, because grass and water have not featured in my dioramas so far. You clearly have a feel for those diorama features, which I can learn from by observing.

David

[Anglia105E]

Here are a few photos, after a lengthy period of inactivity on the diorama front at least, showing a second Jaguar MK V motor car in 1:43 scale. This one is a soft top finished in black and I think it compliments the hard top version finished in brown quite nicely. Also, there is a Rolls-Royce 25/30 HP Thrupp & Maberley which is finished in burgundy, and this has been photographed alongside a Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn, which is finished in black and maroon. These two cars are similar in many ways, but there are some subtle differences between the two.

David

[tbill]

Consider my mind blown......

been looking at this on and off for a long time, and I’m always impressed, be it the subject matter, the actual building of the subject matter, or the photography of the whole she-bang, it’s all stunning......, it motivates and depresses me at the same time , lol. Fantastic work and photography!

[landman]

Aaaahhhh!!! the Mark V.

[Anglia105E]

19 hours ago, tbill said:

Consider my mind blown......

been looking at this on and off for a long time, and I’m always impressed, be it the subject matter, the actual building of the subject matter, or the photography of the whole she-bang, it’s all stunning......, it motivates and depresses me at the same time , lol. Fantastic work and photography!

Pleased to hear that you like what is going on here, Tom...... this is the 1:43 scale Victorian Houses diorama, which is more or less completed, The one previous to this is the 1:43 scale Hooper & Co coachbuilders showrooms diorama, which has been sold to a gentleman from Paris, France and the very first one that I built is a 1:24 scale Hooper & Co coachbuilders showrooms diorama. Sometime between now and June 2020 the fourth diorama will be built hopefully, which is going to be a 1:43 scale diorama of the Hooper factory as it was in 1959, located at Western Avenue, Park Royal, Acton, London.

I am trying to keep the photography interesting, and more model cars are being bought and built, in both scales, 1:24 and 1:43.

David

[Anglia105E]

41 minutes ago, landman said:

Aaaahhhh!!! the Mark V.

I presume that you like the Jaguar MK V, Pat ?  There is something about the car that appeals to me, and so I wanted to have a soft top version as well as the hardtop. As you know, the early 1950's period is of particular interest to me, for the Jaguar, Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars.

David

[Anglia105E]

I have painted and assembled a 3D printed Hexagonal Tree Bench in 1:24 scale, which fits nicely around the base of the tree for the 1:24 Hooper & Co diorama.

Here are a few photos to show the tree bench, just across the street from the Hooper & Co building, on Bennett Street. The motor car in these photos is a 1938 Rolls-Royce Phantom III, which is a diecast model by Danbury Mint and hand painted by myself in pale blue and light grey Revell Aqua Color acrylic.

David

[Gramps46]

Nice addition and looking good.