IMHO a house kit or ruin should complete a requirement so that it can interest a possible buyer: that the piece has some characteristics that make attractive that piece and that its construction is beyond this buyer's possibilities. These characteristics should be among other, fidelity to the style of a concrete type (field, city, industrial area... and geográfic zone (Normandia, Rusia, Irak..) A atractive volumetric dessing and professional finish of the details and the textures. In a conscious or unconscious way the clients of this product type look for this. Carlos

In the past I have bought a few plaster dio accessories and they arrived and I had them in my hand I always felt a bit foolish because I do think I can make them just as well. Also I can never find the right use for them. When putting together a Diorama I start with the vehicles or figures and bits of styrene or wood to represent the groundwork and buildings. When I decide on the layout I design and buikld the buildings - that way I build the buildings to fit the dio and not design the dio to fit the buildings. I do like Miniart buildings and dio bases as I consider them models in themselves that I can customise and improve on as mich as I can an Italeri Sherman. As for anyone like this my reply would be " so what have you built lately?" As for expense - well it's relative, If someone can afford to pay for a nimix kit and likes it then that's fine by me. I can buy two 12 kilo bags of casting plaster and a cup of coffee for 29 Euro. (And when I buy the coffee I take lots of those wooden stirrers to use as the wood work in my buildings )

It's the whole microwave dinner philosophy again isn't it? If a microwave dinner was cheaper was cost less than the price of making the same dinner from scratch (okay, these days they almost are), and it taste as good or better - wouldn't you opt for the microwave dinner? As I said, you pay for the convenience. I personally have nothing against buying something like this. Quite honestly I don't have the time many others do for scratchbuilding - be it sculpting or making something like this. I have tonnes of respect for those of you that can make it and do have the time - but hey, my present situation doesn't afford me the same. Also, I've seen some stunning reproductions of these kitted dio building (be it plaster, plastic or resin) once they're done up. I'm curious though.... why don't we hear the same sort of comments when MiniArt or Verlinden/VLS or one of the other manufacturers release something similar?

Microwave theory - love it Rudi I have to bolster the notion that there is absolutely a market for this kind of thing in all the various flavors (simple to complex). I have prescribed to the economics factor on a couple of 'required' projects where it did make sence to buy a $20 building to meet a deadline rather than loose 3 hours of sleep staying up late. If there weren't a market for this then Veliden and CD and others never would have paved the way.

probably because the building itself is certainly one of the lamest to have been presented here in recent months. it's completely generic and can fit anywhere in Europe, anyplace and therefore lacks any interest whatsoever. On the contrary, Miniart buildings usually have a lot of character, and though you won't see me dead buying one, I can still reckon when a job is well done. a *deadline*? What is a deadline when it's essentially a question of creating something or even (erm) "having fun"? my only deadline is when i am dead, that is my way of considering this hobby. And when i die, i want the people to say "he did 10 dioramas, but those were GOOD ones" Like i said it's all a question of the way you consider your hobby, if you want to allow microwave bits in it, you won't get the same respect as if you don't. Ask Paine, Olav Lund, van Gils et al if they want to use miniart buildings in their dioramas And remember that I come from the country of French cuisine, we are invited tonight at some friends, God may have pity of us if we turn up with a dessert to be microwaved

I envey your total freedom jba. I don't get that all the time. That's why "Sparrow" was so much fun - total freedom, no deadlines. This is nothing at all against NIMIX, these discussions pop up from time to time as new members show up or older ones leave. I remember a similar one about MiniArt when they started putting out thier vignette bases that fall in this same "easy to replicate" arena. I know other ones have come up regarding other things like scratch building trees vs. purchasing trees. I believe it's just timing and situation. Some people may be looking at thier wallets a little closer right now.

I agree with you 100% JB. ...you have no idea how much I laughed when I read this! What a great approach! Cheers, Chas

Hi guys. First to address Pats news .......... Pat spends alot of time bringing us these updates, [ time he could spend modelling ] whether or not we approve of the items. Secondly I am in the camp of those that think this particular item is not worth the price. After looking at the parts breakdown it's rather bland for the bucks. Now to adress the two camps. I could never understand how someone could model a jaw dropping kit with p.e. etc. and claim it's not their forte to scratch bases, trees, buildings etc. , givin the abundance of how tos on this site alone. See BigJons - Bocage, one post below I believe. These folks model with the central focus being the tank, vehicle, fig. etc. and the rest mere watercress or parsley. [ pre made buildings etc. ]. That's their style and there's nothing wrong with it. The other camp to me is more ................. how can I put this ........ artsy ? They build the kit to the nines but scratch all their own watercress........ Now coming from me who has never really finished anything but gets his modelling fix just by building and scratching stuff for my own way of relaxing...... this may not sit well ....... but I still know enough to like and admire what I see from both styles. To me though there is a greater degree of self satisfaction [ and modelling skills learning ] for those that scratch their " watercress ". See JBA's works, who scratches everything from old plastic bits, home - made p.e. , bird poop found in the garden and parts from a junkyard Volvo. Claude - who is building an entire village - scratch - except for the Duce an 1/2 Carlos - who creates masterpieces from old fruit boxes, cardboard and cork. Nuff said. Jean can you imagine if I made Shrimp Etouffee or red beans and rice with andouille and crawfish jambalaya ............... from boil in bags instead of scratch ? I wouldn't make it out the front door without getting hit with all of it !!!!! So all in all it's just a matter of taste, [ no pun intended ] preference, and wallet. Glenn

Again, basically it comes down to time & money & what you like to spend either on. Some guys love to scratch build original creations. Some are very, very good at it. Others may have to spend a whole weekend scratching a simple building and in addition to not really enjoying it, may end up with mediocre results. Guys like that are glad there is a miriad of nicely done, almost rtr diorama kits. It just depends what you like to do. Some here seem to be implying there is a "right" or a "wrong" way to enjoy the hobby. That some ways are "more pure" than others. Let's get real here, most hobbies are just a glorified way of goofing off. I think it's wrong to say one way is "better" than the other. That one can only be a "real" modeler if he scratch builds everything right down to the barbed wire. In any case, have fun, and try to keep in mind that different people have different ways of enoying their leisure time. Cheers! Randy Pepprock Dioramas Plus