Ken Hamilton Book

[Dr. Cranky]

Great, hope you enjoy it. It will give you lots of irresistible ideas.

[crazyjim]

If there's any info on making my builds rusty, I'll just skip them. SHINE on.

[Dr. Cranky]

No, this is mostly about building bases, scenes, and small dioramas for your models. Believe me, you will find something in it you will want to build . . .

[crazyjim]

Must be me because I'm not really impressed with the book. It might be going up on emodelcars or ebay pretty soon.

[Dr. Cranky]

Well, if you sell it, you'll probably get a good price for it. Lots of people looking for that one.

[GTMust]

Must be me because I'm not really impressed with the book. It might be going up on emodelcars or ebay pretty soon.

I've had mine for years... probably since it was first published. Maybe because I've flipped through it so often while the commercials on the TV, that I must admit it fails to interest me anymore. Pretty much everything in there seems like "second nature" and pretty simplistic. I believe I've gained more knowledge about building dios by watching the diorama sections of both this and other forums, than I gained from Ken's book. Most of the information and techniques have been covered extensively in both model railway and military modelling magazines and books which are available for a lot less money!

It may be of use to those who've never built dios before though........ but there's no way, in my mind, that it justifies the ridiculous prices currently being asked on Ebay.

But I'll hang on to mine anyway...... just for nostalgia reasons.

[MikeMc]

It was originally. I decided to delete it, less hassle this way. he said I could password protect the album, but I deleted instead. Just easier I thought. Sorry guys.

Thats too bad....it is a great reference..wish I'd printed it out

I did use the lean to that was in the book.

[Greg Wann]

Ken should just update it and send it to the printer or make it available as a EBOOK online.

[Chuck Doan]

It is a basic introductory book written (pre-internet) for car modelers who may have never strayed from that realm and need help on how to get started. It covers (all in one place) most of the planning, materials and details one could use to create a nice setting for model cars. It is still totally relevant, especially for the car builder who does not want to become a diorama specialist. More advance diorama builders should already be familiar with the material in this book.

If interested, I agree you should search for a reasonably priced edition.

Edited November 21, 2011 by Chuck Doan

[Jim B]

Chuck. Yes, I'm still looking. And, yes, "reasonably priced" is the key phrase!

[Chuck Doan]

Yeah, that is a very subjective thing. Hope you can find one!

[ronr]

I have had Ken`s book for years andI never get tired of going through it. It has been a lot of help with my Dio`s along with Ken`s personal suggestions. Excellent Book, Outstanding person.

[Big Daddy]

Received just now my copy of kens book looking forward to reading it this weekend

[Dr. Cranky]

Enjoy it, Daryl. Lots of great tips and ideas there . . . Ken is always pushing the envelope with his build. Here are a couple of pics of a new work in progress, in case a few of you have not seen it:

Ken is gifted building both vehicles AND structures . . . this is from THE ARCADE (WIP):

Here are a few more pics:

[Chuck Doan]

I agree, that lumber stacker and the diorama was outstandingly great. A neat, unique concept and beautiful modelling too.

[KHamilton]

I just ran across this thread and wanted to jump in with a few comments about the diorama book.....

As Chuck Doan said, it's a "pre-internet", entry-level diorama book that's now 10-years old (a lifetime by internet standards). As I look through it now, much of the information looks really dated and if I were going to update book, most of what's in there wouldn't make the new cut. I'm glad, though, that some of you are still able to get ideas from it.

Happy Building,

Ken Hamilton

PS: Don't blame me for the ridiculously high prices. I wouldn't spend that much for it either.

[scalenut]

Hi Ken , since specialty press have recently released the other classics like pat covert's,bill coulter's and terry jessee's work, could you speak to them or give the go ahead if necessary, to release your book(s) as well ?

pre internet or not ...it's a classic and informative part of the hobby

Edited December 27, 2011 by scalenut

[Jim B]

Ken,

Thanks for chiming in on this. I appreciate it.

[KHamilton]

Cranky posted a couple of in-progress photos of the Playland Arcade diorama back on page 2.

Since they were taken, I finished the brick gutter and the asphalt (plaster) pavement:

The whole in-progress series of photos is in this Fotki album:

http://public.fotki....d_penny_arcade/

Thanks for looking.

Ken

[GTMust]

Ken.......

If you have read this whole thread, you may have come across my comments about your book. Whatever I said about the basic entry level content.... as related to the prices now being asked on Ebay, I hope you weren't offended. From your recent input, you have certainly indicated the reasons, and a similar feeling to those that I expressed. I regret that I omitted to clarify that, as an introduction to diarama building, it does cover a lot of ground and ideas for entry level builders in a very positive and helpful way.

As I stated, I keep my copy beside my "television watching chair" and frequently flip through it when the commercials come on.

The other thing I omitted to add was the level and quality of the diaramas that you produce. They are definitely an inspiration, both in quality, presentation and construction. That is why I still refer to ideas in it today, even having owned it since it was first published.

But those Ebay prices (that are not of your doing). That I still can't justify.

Regards,

Tony

[KHamilton]

No offense taken, Tony. Advances in building methods over the last 10+ years, and the rapid fllow of that information over the internet, has indeed made much of the book's information obsolete, so I can't blame anybody who's disappointed after spending a ton of money to get a copy.

Thanks for the kind words...........

Ken

[Danno]

Ken Hamilton's dioramas: timeless.

Ken Hamilton's MSG dioramas: priceless.

Long live Ken Hamilton's imagination.

PS: I heard he was contemplating a new MSG diorama but couldn't afford enough 'modeling material!'

LOL. I crack me up.

[Harry P.]

LOL. I crack me up.

Well, somebody has to...

[Danno]

[Erik Smith]

Ken - I just thumbed through your Fotki album. I have more than a book's worth of questions. Outstanding work. I really like the mirror trick for the inside of the building.

I am completely new to diorama building but I am going to start my first attempt soon - looking at your photos will certainly help.

Thanks for joining this thread and sharing your input.