Pla Editions

Dioramag Vol. 18

PLA Editions is a Spanish publisher based in Valencia, Spain. They are most likely best known for their line of Abrams Squad magazines, which are very well regarded.

The subject of this review is Volume 18 of their cleverly named Dioramag magazine, which as the name would imply, focuses on diorama work. This is a substantial publication, measuring 8.25” x 11.75”, and 96 high gloss pages. All text and photo captions are in English. Unless otherwise noted, all article subjects are 1/35 scale.

What’s inside the Cover

Above left is the magazines table of contents

Above - The news segment of this issue is three pages long, featuring looks at new diorama related products.

The “White Bricks” article is a six page treatment on building a small urban diorama using 3d printed structure components and sheet cork for the sidewalk and asphalt roadway. Small-ish but effective diorama with an interesting choice of color on the structure.

“The Americans” is a stunning creation, and the cover feature of this issue (for good reason). It is set during the Italian campaign, and features three vehicles, quite a few figures ( Axis and Allied ) and some quite well described, outstanding structure work.

This “The Americans” article includes text / photos on the building and painting of the Dragon Sturmpanzer, the Italeri Fiat staff car, and the AFV Club M5A1 Stuart tank. A good description of how the Italian farmhouse was constructed from foam and balsa wood is accompanied by crisp and clear photographs.

Above - Next, we see a gallery of five selected works from the same builder, each work examined on two pages of photographs. Each of the five works are shown in a full page sized overview image, followed by a page containing several in-detail looks at the work.

The next article is a study on landscaping on a smaller sized base, with an emphasis on recreating a natural looking landscape, a using an impressively detailed bicycle as a focal point. This article is eight pages long, containing many great photographs.

The Race to the Rhine article features another really impressive diorama featuring the venerable Italeri Dodge WC 54 ambulance, several figures, and a gorgeous scratch built structure. 

The Race to the Rhine article provides excellent information on sculpting figures as well as the techniques used for the structure. As with the other articles, there are very good descriptions and clear photos of the techniques used by the author.

The next article features 144th scale inflatable assault boats, and contains lots of well presented techniques on the use of construction foam as a base, and then the creation of convincing water and beach areas.

Above - the “Size Matters” article uses the fine AFV Club Churchill AVRE Mark III kit and a scratch built Normandy area bunker built from foam material and textured with modeling paste and Tamiya putty.  An excellent tutorial on the building of the bunker is well illustrated by accompanying photographs. This outstanding article also discusses / shows the process of modifying stock figures, as well as sculpting them.

The next article is of a rather unusual subject, and non-military, an atmospheric look at London during the Plague of the 17th century. 

The issue’s final article is a two page quickie, showing nature reclaiming an abandoned work shop of some sort. Very interesting idea and approach, very well executed!

Conclusions

This magazine is good stuff from cover to cover, with no advertising or “filler” type material. 

So what exactly is covered in this magazine? Hopefully the above review will provide an idea, but I’ll list the highlights here; making bases / groundwork from foam board, buildings and bunkers from foam, 3d prints and balsa wood. Water effects from resin, detailed assembly and modifications on the vehicles seen in these dioramas, figure sculpting and modifications, foliage work….and on and on. There are so many terrific, specific techniques very well explained and pictured in these articles that they are hard to list. 

The text is clearly written and accompanied by great photographs. This is quality publication in all aspects, and it’s packed full of useful tips and techniques that can be applied to your next diorama.

Highly Recommended! 

Thanks to David Doyle Books for the review copy

Reviewed by Chuck Aleshire, AMPS Chicagoland

AMPS 2nd Vice President, Midwest Region

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