Time to take a look at another cardboard based diorama system on the market – Readysetz. These are all-in-one 3D foldable sets which are one piece (mostly) and fold out into a giant playset similar to a pop up book. They were originally designed with kids in mind, meant to be a play time accessory that had easy set up and break down. They still perform that purpose for sure, but a lot of collectors have been using them for display and toy photography. They are big – roughly 2 feet tall, 3 feet wide, and 1.5 feet deep. They currently come in two flavors – Urban and Space Base. They also come in 2 sizes – one for 3.75 figures and one for 6 inch figures. Readysetz sent through one of each (of the 6 inch sets) for us to take a look at, so read on to check out some pics and additional thoughts!
Pros
Easy Setup
Big
Multiple scenes per piece
Cons
Glossy print means reflections (in photos)
Art is less real-world than other sets
Overall Thoughts:
Readysetz are definitely worth a look for collectors looking to fill out a big space with multiple figures. The Urban one in particular will work well for any Batman, Spider-Man or other Earth city oriented scenario. On the photography side – one set offers multiple setup scenarios depending on where you place them, it’s like getting 3 or 4 different smaller sets in one. And they’re both BIG, which is a plus. You can shoot up, down, sideways and fill the frame with background no problem. Setup is super easy, you literally just unfold it, tab in some panels, and it’s done. 1 minute max. It folds back for storage just as easy.
On the constructive feedback front – two angles work when used for kids that may not here for collectors. First, the art is a tad simple in style, it has a kids playset vibe. Now, it’s super detailed and varied throughout, and executed well, that’s not what I’m speaking on. Just the art style. Like the difference between a Batman cartoon and the Batman Arkham games. This falls more towards the cartoon side. I would prefer to be more towards the Arkham games in art style personally. Second, gloss. The entire set uses heavy, thick corrugated cardboard as the base. It’s layered with laminated print on both sides everywhere, and the result is a rich, contrasty, colorful display. That’s great for longevity and protection when kids are running these things silly. BUT, that glossy overlay on the print reflects light. On the photography side, if you use a lot of different lights as I do, pointing at different angles, some harsh and some not, you’re going to get reflections in places there shouldn’t be. It can be managed, but nailing the perfect setup and then realizing half the building is whited out is a pain.
What I did really dig other than the easy setup – printing on both sides, floors AND ceilings. Of the many nooks, crannys, rooms and hallways – all surfaces have art on them. You can easily shoot up or to the side and keep the shot “realistic”. I also dug the cut outs for doors, windows and such. It allows you to shoot light through them to give your photos that extra pop. Another plus, you can spin this around and get a cool shot from any angle, the back has it’s own unique art and design ready for use.
Bottom line, these guys are worth a look, check out the pics below to see what they can do. ReadySetz also gave us a coupon code if you guys are interested – use coupon code TOYARK for 15% off your order. Shipping is always free with them too!
Of note – I left the pics below showing the set off the stage on purpose – they’re so big they didn’t fully fit in my normal setup! These are all shots on the 6 inch sets, with 6 inch figures.
