Diorama materials

A

Arma

New member
I\'m was wondering were to pick up materials for making a small diorama, particular the base, I\'m not even sure what these would be called or, if at all, have a special name as such.

These kinda bases are the ones I\'m interested in:


uk02_open_3.jpg


and Kaples command squad:

cmon_all.jpg


I guess they have a lowered part in the center where modellers can insert plaster, foamboard or whatever to allow miniatures to integrate into the base?

In the joe hill diorama, what materials are used to make the hill? Polystyrene base then perhaps some foam card or balsa wood mounted on top to provide a place for the minis to sit?

Thanks >_<
 
W

Wolf Fang

Member
the hill is probaly just foam. as for the frames probaly just peices of wood glued together with a thin peice underneath. the second pic looks like a solid block with the middle cut out using a router.
 
airhead

airhead

Coffin Dodger / Keymaster
lots of things go into diaramas
The top one looks like a picture frame. Filling it and the hill are probably 1/2\" or 3/4\" styrene foam (pink or blue styrofoam).
Then model railroad flock.
 
W

Wolf Fang

Member
airhead\'s post made me remember this article on the GW site!

http://us.games-workshop.com/games/40k/painting/display/default.htm

hope it helps!
 
A

Arma

New member
Airhead:

before I read this post I went to a 100 Yen store here in Japan, and saw some picture frames and it clicked :D

so I got a few for the equivalent of a few pounds / dollars / hundred yen. They\'re perfect! Finished nicely and super cheap... I guess if I drop some foam into them, maybe tidy up the edges with some filler (any recommendations for filler?) should look grand!

Though I\'m not sure if I\'m ready to make a diorama yet I like the idea of a big project to work on over a period of time.
 
W

Wolf Fang

Member
depends what you want. if the fram edges are a stained wood your a bit out of luck... inless of course you want to sand the stain out and retain it. if its a simple solid colour you can EASILY match just use some modeling putty, and paint over it.
 
airhead

airhead

Coffin Dodger / Keymaster
Originally posted by Arma
...if I drop some foam into them, maybe tidy up the edges with some filler (any recommendations for filler?) should look grand!
Click to expand...
Try lightweight non-shrink wall patching materials from the local hardware store or discount store. Put a bit of blue (painters masking) tape around the frame, insert your foam, then fill any gaps with wall patch, let dry. This step may have to be repeated as even the non-shrink lightweight stuff shrinks a bit.

Now, put a 50/50 mix of wood glue (PVA) and water on, sprinkle model railroad flock on, follow with some static grass, gravel, shrubs, or whatever your heart desires, let dry.

Peel off blue tape.
 
V

vincegamer

Active member
related question but not worth a whole thread

In doing a diorama, is it considered necessary to sink the base into the surrounding, or even remove it entirely and place the mini on the ground?

I want to do a diorama of a woman standing in the street, but I think I want to leave her on her round base, not attached. Would it not qualify as a \"diorama\"?
 
airhead

airhead

Coffin Dodger / Keymaster
Originally posted by vincegamer
In doing a diorama, is it considered necessary to sink the base into the surrounding, or even remove it entirely and place the mini on the ground?

I want to do a diorama of a woman standing in the street, but I think I want to leave her on her round base, not attached. Would it not qualify as a \"diorama\"?
Click to expand...
If I were judging, I\'d say that if the mini is not on a base and is pinned/attached to the display, then it is a dioramo. If the mini is still on a gaming base but is done well to blend in with the rest, I\'d call it a show base. But the line could be very gray and different judges will have different opinions or the event itself may have a judging guide that determins.

This would be a diorama in my mind:
img41531e9aa7199.jpg


while this is a show base in my opinion:
img423bcfb0ecd30.jpg
 
V

vincegamer

Active member
Your example is more clear than the one I have in mind.
The show base above doesn\'t actually have the figures interacting with each other. My concept is to have the figures actually telling a story, they are just standing on bases not actually attached to the scenery.
 
airhead

airhead

Coffin Dodger / Keymaster
yea, that is where it starts getting gray. If the bases are well invisible in the diarama, the it gets harder to tell the difference. It would then depend on the judging criteria.

The 2 pics at the top of this thread. Dioramas or Show bases? I think it would depend on the criteria of the competition. Without a criteria, I would call the top one a diarama, and the other one a show base.
 
mickc22

mickc22

Granddad!
I think generally if the figure cannot be removed from it\'s surrounding it\'s a diorama, if it has it\'s own individual base it\'s more of a display setting
IMHO :D
 
D

demonherald

New member
second that one and btw Mick just received my leaves from you (ebay demonsairpaintedminis) thanks a ton..they\'re great...

The interaction between minis is generally spoiled by the lines left by bases. It also limits how close you can get them...I know from judging on GD they instantly dismiss models still on bases as the art of diorama building is also how individual models are mounted...
 
V

vincegamer

Active member
I would call both of the top 2 display bases because there is no conflict, but then, that\'s just me. I expect a story - some opposition.
However, after reading a bit on the history of dioramas, I begin to think I have to scrap the bases.
That\'s going to wreak havoc with the scale though. I\'ll have to do some tricks with perspective I think.

Oh, and getting close isn\'t a problem as the minis I have in mind will be pointing guns from behind cover.
 
mickc22

mickc22

Granddad!
Originally posted by vincegamer
Your example is more clear than the one I have in mind.
The show base above doesn\'t actually have the figures interacting with each other. My concept is to have the figures actually telling a story, they are just standing on bases not actually attached to the scenery.
Click to expand...

you mean something like this Vince

squabble
incase all you can see is a red x it\'s image: 11028 victorias Orc Squabble
 
V

vincegamer

Active member
Victoria\'s awesome work is a diorama as far as I\'m concerned, but the individual bases (actually she\'s 3 to a base) are sunk into the display base, so not quite what I had in mind.

Actually,
(as far as I know, only Victoria can link her image into the forums because she can get the exact location of the image from her add/edit pictures page)
 
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