The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms

[billn53]

Before there was Godzilla, there was . . . The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms ! ! !

 

I remember watching this movie on an old black & white television when I was a child. Scared the bejeezus out of me! Perhaps the most famous scene is when the Rhedosaurus destroyed a lighthouse:

 

 

 

 

I've been wanting to build a diorama of this for a long time, and now X-Plus Models has released a kit in 1/72 scale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

X-Plus's base is on the small side and I wanted this to be a bigger, more complete diorama. Details of my build are in the WIP, here:

 

 

 

 

On to the photos!

 

First, the 'Beast' and its victim, the lighthouse:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

The two lighthouse tenders have managed to escape the destruction, and are racing to their pickup truck (well, one is racing, the other is hobbling along as best he can...)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Their objective: a 1948 Ford truck (obviously not well maintained, so let's hope it starts!)

 

   

 

 

When not running away from angry dinosaurs (rudely awakened by an atomic blast), the lighthouse tenders need a place to hang out. Like the truck, their house shows a bit of neglect!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A rowboat, for off-hours recreation:

 

    

 

 

In the movie, the 'Beast' destroys the lighthouse during a stormy night. To recreate this, I used two-part resin to model heavy waves crashing against the rocky cliffs. I'd never tried anything like this before, so it was a learning experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few more random details:

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

The LED lights are from Evans Designs, and the one at the top of the lighthouse ramps up and down in brightness to simulate a rotating beacon. Power is from a 9-volt battery hidden under the roof of the house:

 

 

 

 

Here is a wide-angle view of the entire diorama:

 

 

 

 

And, a couple of videos showing the lighting effects in action (click image to play):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for viewing! It was a fun, three-month project during which I learned a number of new techniques for making dioramas. I already have my next one planned out . . . Anyone familiar with the movie, "Them!" ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[providence]

Great diorama ! you can feel the fear ! I like the way you did the sea and the cliff.

If I may, perhaps you should add some footprint close to the monster et and smash the grass around its feet.

 

Regards

 

Providence

[billn53]

1 minute ago, providence said:

Great diorama ! you can feel the fear ! I like the way you did the sea and the cliff.

If I may, perhaps you should add some footprint close to the monster et and smash the grass around its feet.

 

Regards

 

Providence

Thank you for your kind comments and suggestions! Presently, the ‘beast’ is just temporarily in place while I decide on a more secure (but removable) mounting method. When I get that figured out, I’ll work on the grass to give the beast more of a weighty appearance. 
 

Bill

[chauncy]

Them ants were no joke! Great job, but I’d say if there was anything to really comment on would be maybe sink the creatures feet into the ground to create a sense of weight. 
Otherwise, it’s super cool. Thanks for sharing.

[Gimme Shelter]

An absolute new diorama build favourites of mine you have there - I think it is brilliant.

 

Tip top - and an inspiration for me to get on and finish painting my RHH Sinbad Cyclops model which I think is also from the same X Plus people.

[billn53]

2 hours ago, Gimme Shelter said:

An absolute new diorama build favourites of mine you have there - I think it is brilliant.

 

Tip top - and an inspiration for me to get on and finish painting my RHH Sinbad Cyclops model which I think is also from the same X Plus people.

 

I’d love to see your Cyclops when finished.  A small diorama with Cyclops on the beach, fighting Sinbad and the sailors, would be perfect!
 

 

 

[Gimme Shelter]

2 hours ago, billn53 said:

 

I’d love to see your Cyclops when finished.  A small diorama with Cyclops on the beach, fighting Sinbad and the sailors, would be perfect!
 

I'll give it a try - I am not very good at painting figures though. I've bought all the bits for the above scene as a diorama - hardest part was buying figures of the pirate looking type in a scale that will look acceptable. I initially started using some oil paints for Mr Cyclops but they took days to dry so it will have to acrylics to complete him. 

 

 

[AlxBNE]

I love everything about this diorama.

Lovely work, great details, all round brilliant.

[billn53]

39 minutes ago, AlxBNE said:

I love everything about this diorama.

Lovely work, great details, all round brilliant.

Thank you! I’ve already started assembling pieceparts for my THEM! project, but it likely won’t be nearly as dramatic as this one. 
Bill