While at the NEC, Jeff Wayne was handed a folder by one of the many fans that came to see Jeff over the two day event. The folder and disc contains some stunning images of a 'diorama' model built by Stephen John Graham who has painstakingly created a scene from The War Of The Worlds of one of the Martian Fighting Machines as it looms over a small country cottage.
Excellent work Stephen and thank you for sharing the images with us.
Jon (H_C)
Dear Jeff Wayne
Ever since I first heard the voice of Richard Burton with the opening bars of The Eve Of The War I have been a massive fan of your musical The War Of The Worlds. I bought the album as soon as it was released. I never tired of hearing the album and the artwork has been a great inspiration to me. I still have my vinyl and double CD ( and soon the 7 disc Collector's Edition version)
About 8-10 years ago I was suprised to see a Comet Miniatures kit version in a model shop which I purchased straight away. I always thought wouldn't it be great to have a model of Jeff Wayne's version of the Fighting Machine. In my minds eye I could picture the Fighting Machine appearing over a timber framed cottage, together with trees and Red Weed.
For years I searched for such a building. When 'Hornby' released one about 2 years ago I started my project. I began by using a cake stand for the base, so that the model can be turned. Over the years I gathered items such as the trees, the outside toilet, the greenhouse and the barrels. I modified the Fighting Machine to look more like the one on the album cover. I added more detail such as wires coming from the legs and re-shaped the eyes to make them look larger. Instead of having the hull (hood) smooth, which didn't look right I made additions to the details, for example circular cut-outs on the top of the legs and top of the hull (hood).
I have supplied some images of my diorama, which you may use. The photographs have been taken using a Canon 300D Digital Camera which has a quality of 6 million pixels.
Yours truly
Steve Graham
Model & Photographs By Stephen John Graham
Excellent shot turned into 'sepia' effect.
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