How to Build Miniature Diorama Scenes
Many modeling hobbyists decide they want their displays to be as interesting as their finished kits. That means building dioramas. You should plan a raised, detailed background, an interesting center stage and an uncluttered foreground for your diorama. Like a painting, the background will frame the diorama in a landscape or city scene, for example, and contain the tallest elements. The center stage holds the main action and will feature your most interesting model subjects. The foreground will host low profile details like shrubs, or model boxes and cans.
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Things You'll Need
- Extruded foam insulation board
- Paring knife
- Marker
- Finishing nails
- White glue
- Newspaper
- Masking tape
- Plaster cloth
- Water
- Basin
- Acrylic paints
- Cyanoacrylate glue
- Model landscaping materials
- Sieve with handle
Instructions
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Build a Base
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Cut a piece of extruded insulation foam board to serve as your base according to your space requirements.
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2
Cut additional smaller pieces if you plan to represent changing elevation in terrain.
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3
Position the additional layers on the base, mark their positions with a marker and remove them from the base.
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4
Apply a thin layer of white glue between layers where they meet before you replace them. Press a few finishing nails into the structure to hold the layers in position while the glue dries.
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5
Crumple newspaper into irregularly shaped wads and tape or glue them into place on the board, if you want a rocky background.
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Use a rasp or hobby knife to carve out any additional landscape details you may desire in the foam.
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Dip strips of plaster cloth into a pan of water to wet both sides and apply the cloth over the base to cover the foam and newspaper entirely. Smooth the cloth with your fingers and press it into the crevices to capture the details before allowing it to dry.
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Paint the terrain in acrylic earth tones once the plaster cloth has fully dried. This may require two coats.
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Sprinkle landscaping foam over wet paint with a sieve, if you are using such products for texture.
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Paint the sides of the diorama a uniform color. Typically, black is a good choice.
Staging the Diorama
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Assemble, detail, paint and "weather" all models, including buildings, landscaping details, figures, vehicles and animals before you begin this part of the process.
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Add details to the diorama. Start with the background and work forward, beginning with the tallest elements like buildings, walls and trees. Secure these elements to the base with white glue or cyanoacrylate glue.
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Position your subject models in the center area of the diorama. Avoid too much clutter here because the models should be the focal point of the finished piece.
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Add a few low profile details to the front of the diorama for interest. In an outdoors scene, this may be rocks or shrubs. In a city, it might be street trash, fire hydrants, rubble or small animals.
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Add a label or marker to the front side of the foam board to identify the subject.
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Tips & Warnings
Tweezers and needle nose pliers are useful for positioning details.
Some features like trees or flat walls will be easier to secure if you embed finishing nails into the bottom. This may require a drill, a small bit and some glue.
A good diorama looks natural, so avoid placing models in straight lines. Similarly, you might design the background to be seen at a slight angle.
Avoid white beaded foam because it does not cut well and will leave a mess.
Wear old clothes and protect your work space with a drop cloth, especially when working with plaster or paint.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
