Total rookie, wants to build diorama

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Total rookie, wants to build diorama

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 9:52 PM

Hi guys,

I'm totally new at building dioramas. Me and my son are doing some painting of figures at the moment, just for practice. I've been fascinated by dioramas since I was a small kid and used to look in the Tamiya catalogs with envy of the people creating them.

I want to build dioramas now, I have the time needed and the money to spend. And, it's great bonding with my son. But, I live in Japan and the only thing they sell here is Gundam models (not only, but it feels like that at least). I have ordered some figures from US, but lack the material for groundwork. I can't find any here in Japan, so I'll guess I have to order it. Paint is available from Tamiya, but that's about it.

Now my question(s); Can anybody point me to a sight that sells everything needed? Plaster, bushes, trees, cobble stone road etc... And what is needed to start building? I'm a big WW2 and Vietnam war buff, so that is what I want to build.

/Lars

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HeavyArty

Member since
December 2002
From: Valrico, FL

Posted by HeavyArty on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 10:44 PM

Here's a few:

Great Models Webstore: http://www.greatmodels.com

Squadron Mailorder: http://www.squadron.com

Michigan Discount Models: http://www.discountmodels.com

Some closer to you, (HK):

Lucky Hobby: http://www.luckymodel.com

Honbby Easy: http://www.hobbyeasy.com

Good luck.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

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grizz30_06

Member since
March 2005
From: The Red Hills of South Carolina

Posted by grizz30_06 on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 3:40 PM

I understand wanting to just buy the stuff. But, there is wide range of things that you can find in the yard to use. Also, don't over look the Railroad stuff (half of what I use is from here).

Grizz

Denial, it's not just a coping mechanism, it's a way of life.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 9:16 PM

Thanks for the links.
Great tip about railroad, I'll check if I can find something tomorrow when I go checkout a new store I found in Akihabara.

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zokissima

Member since
July 2003
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Posted by zokissima on Thursday, March 16, 2006 9:40 AM

Homer wrote:

But, I live in Japan and the only thing they sell here is Gundam models (not only, but it feels like that at least). I have ordered some figures from US, but lack the material for groundwork. I can't find any here in Japan, so I'll guess I have to order it. Paint is available from Tamiya, but that's about it.

Calling J-Hulk. Homer, I suggest you find a very nice member of this forum; J-Hulk.

LInk to his profile:

http://www.finescale.com/FSM/CS/user/Profile.aspx?UserID=8769

He's the residen't Japanese expert, and a super nice guy to boot. I"m sure he'll be able to help you out in some context, as he's informed us, and made plenty of us very jealous with all the things that are available to modelers there in Japan.

And nothing wrong with tamiya paint, it's what I use almost exclusively. Just practice mixing your own shades.

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J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Friday, March 17, 2006 12:00 PM

Stop it Zoran, you're embarassing me!

I ain't really all that nice!
But I try.

Lars, I got your mail, and have responded. Hope the info I sent ya helps! Smile [:)]

~Brian

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, March 18, 2006 9:02 AM

Hi J-Hulk,

I couldn't find the shops on Internet. Are you sure they are still there? Or do I need to write the names in Japanese characters?

/Lars

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J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Saturday, March 18, 2006 11:08 AM

Homer wrote:

Hi J-Hulk,

I couldn't find the shops on Internet. Are you sure they are still there? Or do I need to write the names in Japanese characters?

/Lars

Howdy!

The ones in Akihabara were there as of last weekend, when I visited them! I don't know if they have websites. Pick up the latest issue of Hobby Japan, Model Graphix, or Model Art. All the shops I mentioned have ads in those magazines, usually with convenient maps. It's all in Japanese, but should be easy enough to figure out!

Good luck!

~Brian

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