Open-Diorama a Spectical in Scale

At its core ArcOpen is a gathering for miniature hobby enthusiasts that challenges them to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation. That’s why the event continues to evolve so it offers the widest opportunities for expression - so the introduction of a new category for 2024 - the Open-Diorama category.

Introduced for this year’s event, this category invites participants to unleash their imaginations without constraints, allowing their creativity to run wild on the canvas of a diorama. This new category delivered as a showcase of imagination, talent and skill.

Gold Medalists

Trent Denison's Neon Knights was a montage of cyberpunk characters, from its sprawling techno cityscape and intricate layers that housed three vignettes, each featuring three 75mm figures. The diversity of modeling skills on display, of the scratch built components of the diorama, coupled with the futuristic ambiance, earned Denison not only a Gold Medal but garnered sufficient votes to also win the coveted People's Choice Award, a testament to the impact of his creation on participants and event visitors alike.

Liam Howell's Dante vs the Swarm transported viewers to the heart of battle in the 41st Millennium, with Blood Angels’ Commander Dante facing off against a giant Tyranid Norn Emissary amidst a swirling swarm of gaunts. The dramatic lighting, with Dante framed by the sun's rays busting through the clouds, created a striking visual contrast that captivates the viewer from every angle, earning Liam a well-deserved Gold Medal.

Bronze Medalists: Tim Dunford and Ben Layton

Tim Dunford's MoonFace offered a glimpse into a moody and otherworldly realm, with Veiled Lamp's Moonface bust modeled to be hovering over an oriental themed village and a serene lake. The ethereal atmosphere, coupled with the detailing, evoked a sense of mystery and wonder, earning Tim a Bronze Medal for his evocative creation.

Ben Layton's The Last of Us brought the world of television and video games to life in a dynamic and immersive diorama. With two sides depicting scenes inspired by TV show Ben's creation showcased his storytelling prowess and attention to detail, and despite the dark theme an additional hint of whimsy with a tiny Grogu hidden on the opposite side to Pedro - all of these details earning Ben a Bronze Medal for his captivating work.

Trent Denison's second entry, Snow Dwarfs, depicted a serene winter scene with two dwarfs one mounted on a boar, standing beside a ice encrusted tree, as if they had stopped to take stock of their bearings. A wolf stays hidden at the back of the piece. This scenic diorama tells a tale and captures a moment of tranquility in the snowy landscape, earning Trent another Medal this time a Bronze for his skillful craftsmanship.

A Showcase of Creativity and Skill

The Open-Diorama Category at ArcOpen proved to be a melting pot of creativity and skill, with participants pushing the boundaries of imagination to create breathtaking scenes that transport viewers to worlds both familiar and fantastical.

As we celebrate the achievements of the Medalists, we look forward to witnessing the continued evolution of the Open-Diorama Category at future events.

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Special Thanks need to go out to our imaging team for 2024 - Rory Beeforth and Imsay (Imran Asssad) - taking all of the amazing photography that allows us to present people’s display pieces in the most amazing ways possible. Also, huge thanks to Rob for treating every miniature with care as he wrangled them between photography station and into the Displays.

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We would also like to thank our sponsors for making this year’s event easier to run and rewarding not just for our champions but the widest group of participants. They include Addikted to Ink, Let’s Play Games, Artis Opus, Taro Model Maker, and Stone Beard Miniatures.