¹⁄32

Decision of the Admiralty Board

"MSW crew-mate Raul Guzman Jr. treats us to something decidedly different, although definitely related, to our ship-building genre, with this magnificent diorama in this MSW Photo Feature!"

The story line...

Back in the time when ships were made of wood and sail and when the British ruled the seas, the admiralty board was very influential in determining which ships entered the Royal navy.

A ship builder was required to submit his plans for a proposed ship along with a ship model. The admiralty board would then study the plans and ship model to determine if they were going to fund the building of the new vessel. In my diorama I am trying to show that process.

The build...

In my version there are 2 ship models in the board room, one being examined and discussed on the large table by the admiralty board, the other being examined by a manservant, taking a break from his duties. The other manservant is on duty offering wine to a board member. In addition to the board studying the ship model, they are looking at the plans for the ship.

If one looks closely at my diorama, you can see that there are two dogs in the board room and looking out the windows, one can see the adjacent building next door. The clock like device in the back is an instrument that showed the direction of the wind. It was connected to a wind vane on the roof and knowing which way the wind was coming from, would aid the board in knowing when to launch their fleet.

This diorama was completed in 153 hours and 18 minutes. The board room was scratch built. That includes the windows, books, book cases, globes, door, fireplace, pillars, capitals, floor planks, all 3 table tops, one of the dogs and the shadow box.

The 1/32 scale figures I ordered from John Eden Studios in England and I painted them in 7 days. I strategically placed 6 mini light bulbs to light up the scene in the shadow box. Photos #2, 3 and 4 are taken with just the light from the scene, others were taken with additional lighting.