1:35 Ruined Factory chimney

Ruined Factory chimney in 1:35 scale

A diorama element from the production of the German brand RT-Diorama in 1:35 scale depicting a collapsed factory chimney. It is not a model of equipment or a figure but an architectural accessory for a scene. A chimney has a special role in a diorama: it is the one element that can create height in a small area, and thereby break the flatness of a scene in which everything otherwise lies at the level of the terrain.

What the subject represents

Brick factory chimneys were part of the typical silhouette of European industrial districts from the end of the nineteenth century. In wartime scenes they are a rewarding subject precisely because they collapse characteristically: the masonry breaks along rings, the outer shell is stripped away layer by layer and reveals the inner lining. The ruin of a chimney thus tells by itself what happened in the place, without the scene needing any further explanation. The subject suits fighting in industrial conurbations, whether that means Stalingrad, the Ruhr or any other built-up area hit in the years 1943 to 1945.

Placing it in the scene

A tall element is usually not placed in the middle of a composition: shifted toward the edge it leaves free space for the main action while framing the view. It also pays to work out which way the notional direction of the fall points, and to arrange the rubble around it accordingly. Equipment and infantry in 1:35 work well with the element, and that is the most widespread scale for these subjects.

Who it is for

• Modelers who build scenes of fighting in industrial areas
• Anyone interested in diorama architecture and the subject of ruins
• Competition modelers looking for a striking tall element for a composition
• Collectors who are extending an existing diorama assembly in 1:35