Things tell stories: Miniarts amazing “Field Workshop” in scale 1:48!

‘I was wondering whether anyone would actually buy it' was the comment I got from my trusted modelling dealer about my spontaneous decision to buy. He went on to explain that adding Miniart's ‘Field Workshop' to the assortment would only have been an experiment to see how - and if at all - such an unusual item would be received by his customers. He could have bet that the box would have been a shop keeper, he told me with a smile, sharing in his joy as I paid...

For me, this ‘field workshop' was a chance find, but one that I immediately took to the till with great joy and without any hesitation. Even without knowing the exact contents and after just a quick, orientating glance at the beautifully crafted graphic on the box lid, one thing was immediately clear to me: I'm going to be able to use this very well!
Before I explain why this collection of countless hammers, saws, workbenches and anvils was able to inspire me as an aircraft modeller without any diorama ambitions, I would like to take a look at the contents of the box with the reader.

The kit contents
The six sprues and two small etched part boards, which fill Miniart's usual tightly tailored box, contain the components for two tables, two chairs, just as many stools and a large stepladder. There are also four 200 litre barrels, which include a hand pump and a corresponding tap. The hoses for this system as well as those for the four oxygen and acetylene cylinders included must be added by the builder. The most complex component is the transport trolley for two of the pressurised gas cylinders, which can also be fitted with well-made pressure gauges. I particularly liked the collection of smaller, quite finely detailed tools, the design of which is complemented by the contents of the etched parts : a short (and not complete) list ranges from two anvils to oil cans, buckets and - particularly nice - a closed and an open toolbox to a variety of hammers, spanners and saws and a number of different shovels.

I was impressed by the high quality of the detailing. The near-perfect moulding is also extremely pleasing, as it virtually eliminates the need for any trimming, deflashing or other preparatory work. Even without this, you can achieve beautifully shaped reproductions of the objects mentioned.
As usual with Miniart, instructions for painting these can be found on the box lids, with the colour codes of Vallejo, Mr. Color, AK RC, Mission Models, Ammo and Tamiya listed. However, it is worth noting that a welcome feature of projects such as these is that for once you are not strictly bound to a predetermined colour canon and can therefore approach things more playfully and freely.
This workshop set is part of Miniart's ‘Accessories Series' and contains parts that have already been seen in other combinations as part of this series

Things tell stories
So where does my pleasure in all these objects come from? Of course, I readily admit that the well-made miniaturised reproduction of an object can be an eye-catcher and a pleasure in itself. But I probably wouldn't have bought this set for that reason alone: there is also the fact that the objects in the ‘Field Workshop' can be used to tell very different stories! The photographs of completed aeroplane models are all about staging them as vividly as possible and making them clear and impressive for the viewer to experience. With requisites such as this tools, you have a whole bundle of possibilities at your fingertips to create this visual narrative and enhance its effect.I would like to share a few thoughts on this, which I will number for the sake of clarity.

1. the addition of requisites can provide information about the size relationship of the aircraft depicted, or, even more excitingly, 2. about its spatial dimensions: if a recognisable object is placed in front of and preferably also immediately behind the aircraft, the depth of space occupied by the wingspan or fuselage length of the aircraft will be easier for the viewer to classify.
   3: Another attractive way of using props is to define important compositional references in the picture through their considered positioning. In this way, the viewer's gaze can be guided in a planned way and the intended effect of the picture can be consciously reinforced.
   4 The objects can be used to control the lighting in the picture. For example, well-lit objects can mark the foremost level of the room, while other, shaded and dark objects mark the rearmost level of the picture - and of course this is just one of many possibilities!
   5: Finally, deliberately arranged objects inevitably trigger the viewer's ‘mental cinema': an overturned chair, a conspicuous mess on the stained workbench or meticulously aligned tools laid out as if for inspection? Little is enough and we begin to tell a story ourselves.

Conclusion
Of course, I didn't tell all this to my trusted modelling dealer at the time. However, he must have realised from the look of anticipation on my face that I was pleased with my discovery and purchase of Miniart ‘Field Workshop'. Hopefully it will encourage him to keep an eye out for these (for me) exotic kits and offer them, as they really do have a wide range of applications!

8 additional images. Click to enlarge.