Evening star., 1935-09-08

is a true representation of what the
finished product will be, enables the
artist to work out many of the me-
chanical problems in advance, and to
get the exact comparative size which
various objects in the diorama should
have. 1t Is also possible to try out
colors and lights in advance by this
method.
There are a few limitations which
must be observed. Chief Of these Is
that any action must be from side to
side rather than from front to back.
For example, a train running from
front to back of model. or vice versa,
would have to change size as it moved
in order to retain its relation to the
nearer or more distant trees and
houses which it would be passing. A
train can move from one side to the
other. however, without encountering
this difficulty.
Action must be exact enough not to
appear ludicrous. thus causing the
spectators to question the sincerity OF
the entire model. In the case of the
subsistence homesteader hoeing his
garden, the Interior Department staff
hesitated to use the animation because
it was possible only to move the hoe
and the mans arm, whereas man
hoeing actually moves his whole body
with each stroke of the tool. They
tried it, however. and found that the
action was accurate enough that the
public did not object, but was at
tracted by it.
Mr.. Plastow'S staff goes to a great
deal of trouble to get desired effects.
A brick house is only a wooden model
with tiny grooves to show the joints
but a pile of bricks is pile of actual
tiny brick-shsped wooden pieces fast
ened together with glue and pins.
1t was found that really lifelike
trees can be made only by the ap-
plication of several thousand separate
leaves to especially selected natural
branches. Out of necessity the crew
developed method of its own for
making quarter-inch leaves in large
lots.
A Government writing pad half an
inch thick was nailed to board and
rows of leaves drawn on the top
sheet of paper. These were then
cut out. board and all, with a jig
saw. Next, wire of the required
length and shape was glued to each
row of leaves, so that one tip Of
each leaf was fastened to the wire and
the other hung free. When the glue
dried the whole branch" thus made
was dipped in green wax of the proper
shade. Then the wire was bent into
the desired shape and fastened to the
branch which was to serve as the
trunk of the diorama tree.
A large variety of everyday articles
provides the raw material for the
Interior Departments dioramas. Wood
of several kinds is the most i'm
portant. Various modelling mediums
are used extensively and paper Is
necessary. Wire screening over q
wooden frame makes mountain
when one is needed. Human figures
are modelled in the studio, the larger
ones are dressed in clothes of real
clotn ana tne smaller ones IN CloLneS
painted on the models.
Small bushes, hedges and grass are
made of moss and lichen painted
the proper color. Furniture Is made
of wood or cardboard and is con-
structed In the studio. All kinds Of
electrical equipment go into model.
both for lighting and for any ami
nation 1t may contain.
One last particular sets this sbusi-
ness apart from others which occupy
the time Of the wage earnsrs OF 1es5.
The field Is not overcrowdsA. On sne
other hand, Mr.. Plastow sAN wnAn
Q big fair is in progress Of prspasasion
II Is impossible To get experienced 60
rama workers.