Peter Herfen, along his son, Paul, and friends, Försti, Fritz, Schmitty, create some epic dioramas based on The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. With locations as massive as Pelennor Fields and Dunharrow, it’s almost difficult for me to think of them only taking up a small surface, but somehow Herfen and Co. do a magnificent job realizing these places in miniature form. I had the opportunity to speak with Peter and learn more about the work that goes into creating the dioramas.

What materials do you use?

For the main ones, we use plastic figures and a smaller group of tin figures. For waggons and houses, we use wooden pieces and Styrodur, and to paint we use acrylics. Most of the plastic figures are conversions. Since the dioramas are static, it becomes more alive with tiny materials such as sand, coffee, and different herbs. Why? A small plastic bag of green litter costs 5€ for 150g. We need 50 to 200 kg for the different dioramas.

On average, how long does it take you to complete an entire diorama?

From the plan to the exhibition, it takes approximately 3 years; if it grows, 5-6 years (on our Historic Dio Gettysburg Pickett’s charge, we worked for 11 years).

The preparation of an exhibition then takes several weeks. The build on average takes 1-2 days all in addition to family and work.

What dioramas have you already completed? Do you have a favorite?

Only LOTR dioramas.

50000 Orks (from this diorama our project gets its name)

For the Honor of the Horse-lords

Leitho I phillin…Pendraid (it is elvish for arrows go and ladders at Helms deep)

The battle of Taurdal (a homage to the Born of Hope film)

The Muster of Rohan (in the Harrowdale)

Durbatuluk (first Ork Dio the Orks on the March to Osgiliath)

To the mountain (First Hobbit Dio)

My favorite is Rohan, but that is an extra story!

What are your future plans with your work? Any scene you would like to do next?

This is difficult! It has been our experience that it is better to promote our future projects just before completion and then only with single figures. The surprise is a good ally. Suffice it to say, our heart beats for Rohan.

Share and Enjoy

Author: Myla Malinalda^[1] After being dragged to see The Fellowship of the Ring back in 2001 with her dad, Myla fell head-over-hobbit-feet in love with Middle-earth. Myla would love nothing more than to be able to live peacefully in the Shire and go on the occasional adventure with Bilbo. She has a habit of becoming too attached to fictional characters and buying too many copies of the same book. Myla enjoys creating art whenever she can and collecting all things relating to Tolkien.

References

1. ^{^} Posts by Myla Malinalda (middleearthnews.com)