The September Modeler spotlight is Mr. Diorama, Dave Hoddinott. Dave resides in St. John’s and has had a career as an architectural illustrator. He is a well-known artist where his paintings are in demand and teaches painting classes to innumerable students. Dave was chosen for the spotlight this month for his amazing dioramas that he loves doing and for his figure painting techniques. Dave has given many instructional classes to his modelling peers in how to paint miniature figures. Below is the transcript of his interview along with photos of his incredible work.
How long have I been modeling?
Almost 25 years, presently – but in my early teens I discovered Aurora figure kits. I had a dozen or more of them I built and painted plus the odd plane or car model. It was a favourite hobby for me then and still is now.
What genres do you prefer to work on?
When I got back into the hobby years ago, my first kit was a Revell Leopard 11 tank. I can remember how impressed I was with the quality of the kit and how well it went together, I was hooked.
Over the years I have built many WW 2 vehicles being, British, Canadian, American, German, and Russian. I like placing vehicles in dioramas with figures which I think lends scale and interest to the models in 1:35 ,1:48 and 1:72 scales. I have built a few airplane and science fiction kits. I am a great fan of Star Trek, Star Wars and Batman so I have built kits from all these movies and stories.
I also like building and painting single figure plastic and resin kits and have built several Dragon and Tamiya 1/16 scale figure kits, - mostly WW 2 subjects.
You can say there are not many types of models that I haven’t built and I still like a variety of different subjects, but the one constant is having figures with the models. I find building a variety of different subjects keeps my interest and skill level up.
Are there any specific techniques that you employ or any new ones you’ve started using?
I certainly employ a lot of different techniques as do most modelers. All the models that I build are intended to be placed in a Diorama with figures. I have learned a lot of techniques for doing groundwork from building dioramas. Lately I have been using packaged grass tufts, flowers and leaves from Army Painter and Vallejo. I find they add a new level of realism to the Dioramas and there is such a wide variety, from dead grass in a winter scene to lush green grass for meadows and jungles.
Can you give us a brief History of your modeling career and any noteworthy things you’ve done.
As noted, I have been modeling presently for approximately 25 years, building a wide number of subjects. I have been a member of the IPMS Club (St. John’s) for over 20 years. Through the advice and help from many of the members over the years I have become a better modeller. I was also a member of IHG (Island Hobby Group) for 8 to 10 years where we would organize Hobby Shows for those 10 years, featuring plastic models, Warhammer, remote control vehicles and vendors held at several different venues in the St. John’s and surrounding area.
Our St. John’s IPMS Chapter has taken on a similar type of show since the I.H.G. stopped their shows and they have been very special with great excitement and participation. I have been involved in many of these shows as a Judge for our model competitions, which I have enjoyed immensely.
In 2007 myself and Ray Welshman a friend and fellow modeller carried 3 models each (figures on bases) to Chicago to attend and exhibit our pieces in the “Military Miniature Society of Illinois”. It was a highlight to see all the incredible models from all over the world, meet Shep Paine and visit his home, visit the museum where the German WW 2 U-Boat 505 is housed and got to walk through it - a modellers dream. I won a Bronze Medal for one of my models and having it presented by Shep Paine at the closing dinner was amazing.
All in all, I still very much enjoy the hobby and hope to keep building for many years.
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