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Larger scale dio FINISHED!!

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  • Member since
    November 2005
Larger scale dio FINISHED!!
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 18, 2006 10:19 PM

Hey all, I am new here and wanted to share my first diorama. I am working in a 1:12 scale I believe(I have a hard time with scale). Basically creating dioramas for my 6" average action figures. Here is my first and current project. Any help is appreciated, and tips, or websites where I can find good accessories in this scale to add. I  plan on doing a boiler room and back alley next so any help where to get accessories for those themes is helpful to. Sorry if this is not what you guys are all into, but here goes.

1st stage, just roughed out the styrofoam.

2nd stage, added the steps, windows, wall, and pillars. Trees are just there to see how they look, might not be final resting place:

I test-sprayed the corner to see how the finish will be. I will be painting over the textured spray paint to make areas dirty, or darker:


I think it's coming along pretty well, and pretty easy. The hardest part is finding room to work on everything, this thing takes up my whole desk! It overall stands at 12" high with the base. The walls are 10" tall. I used Wolverine as scale because he is pretty much exactly 6" tall. I based my scale off of that. That would make the walls 10 feet if 1" = 1'

I am trying to make this scene transcend through the times. Not too modern, not to ancient. It's going to get a bunch of weathering effects, so don't let the uniform grey fool you in the pics below.

Next stage:



  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 7:28 AM
So I guess maybe I am in the wrong place?? 18 views and not a comment? Please let me know if I do not belong here, or help me out and let me know of any other forums where my scale is done. Please?
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by ajlafleche on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 7:54 AM

This site can be pretty quiet to anything "different." Don't get discouraged. Stop by http://www.armorama.com . There's an active diorama/figure group over there, too.

This looks like a pretty ambitious project and an interesting perspective, almost like a boxed diorama.

For accessories, try either a store that specialiazes in doll house furniture, just use your deepest, gruffest voice and say, "I'm building a dollhouse for my daughter. Any problems with that?" Smile [:)] Also, check out a store that has high end model railroad stuff, this may be close tothe scale used in garden railroads.

Remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Staten Island, New York
Posted by kenny_conklin on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 12:10 PM
i think it looks excellent keep us updated with the pics. that is a pretty big dio where do you plan on displaying it ?
"Rakkasans Lead the Way!"
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 12:56 PM
It's almost the same size as the interior shelf of a Deltolf display case from IKEA. Not sure because I don't have the case yet. If it's too big for that, I have some shelving in my collecting room where I will place it. I will just move whatever figures are on the shelf into the dio....problem solved
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 10:31 PM

Ok folks, we are almost there. I have added some weathering and started playing with some lichen to add some depth, and color. I really want to tone down the greeness of the lichen, so I am thinking of watering down some tan/brown paint in a spray bottle and spraying it on the lichen to add dead spots so it's not so green. What do you think?? Leave it green or weather it? I am not done yet, so critiques are welcome. Onto the pics:






I know there is a fine line between over-doing it and having it just be enough, and I am trying my hardest not to cross it.

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: I am at play in the fields of the Lord. (Texas)
Posted by m60a3 on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 12:03 AM
 I think it's kickaXX !! Don't be discouraged. Keep posting.


                                                        -60
"I lay like a small idea in a vacant mind" - Wm. Least Heat Moon "I am at the center of the earth." - Black Elk My FSM friends are the best.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: A secret workshop somewhere in England
Posted by TANGO 1 on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 4:13 AM
Hey I think its great! I like the way you have aged the building walls, it has a deserted for a long time look to it. Considering the scale you are working in, I think you are doing a fantastic job. Keep up the good work!

Darren.
Regards, Darren. C.A.G. FAA/USNFAW GB
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Staten Island, New York
Posted by kenny_conklin on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 6:56 AM
looking really great ! i think you should weather them a bit seeing as though either your trees are dead or maybe it is winter and there are no leaves on the trees. if it is the later then you definately want to weather them. keep us updated :)

kenny
"Rakkasans Lead the Way!"
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 22, 2006 11:57 AM

Added some field grass and took some test shots to see how I liked it.












As you can see, you can pretty much use any type of figure, and it seems an ok fit. Not like, "what the hell is Batman doing in the middle ages", I think I have succeeded in creating a piece that trancends time. I have some more "trinkets" coming for this thing, then it's done. Hope you like!

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Fresno, CA
Posted by BlackOps on Friday, September 22, 2006 12:44 PM

I think it's a great backdrop, many different feels as you have shown just by swapping out different figs.

Reminds me of the old Universal Studious sets that were used for lots of different movies yet fit each one just right :)

Jeff G.
  • Member since
    June 2005
  • From: NJ 07073
Posted by archangel571 on Saturday, September 23, 2006 11:32 AM

Love the first batman one!  =D

I got one problem with it and it has nothing to do with build qualities as i think it's great looking.  Why are there steps when you are in a what looks like a building corner with windows...  i am sure it's alrite for batman and spiderman to just jump into that corner and stepping out.  but in what direction are those troops actually coming from?

-=Ryan=- Too many kits... so little free time. MadDocWorks
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 23, 2006 10:43 PM
Well, I don't know man, I just snapped some pics. Maybe they scouted the area, and are using it as an outpost for approaching enemies? This dio will not house figures permanantly, I built it mainly to use for pics of new figures and custom figures I do. I had envisioned the stairs as some raised up portion of maybe a garden at one time with a statue in the middle, or a fountain or something.
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Staten Island, New York
Posted by kenny_conklin on Monday, September 25, 2006 10:30 PM
i think the steps are fine. i live in nyc and you see stuff like that ll the time in the city. steps and no entrance . steps on the side of the building just by windows. so i don think it is a big deal. with the military figures maybe it was just a court yard they are clearing and turning to clear another area. anyway it is looking great . thanks for sharing the pics
"Rakkasans Lead the Way!"
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posted by zokissima on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 12:27 PM
Looks fantastic. I don't now if you plan to put any more work into it. Adding variance in the plants (check out the dried stuff at Michael's) can add a lot to a diorama. Loose stones, rubble, and dust also add a lot of character. Further, I noticed that you painted the bottom corners and such in a darker gray. I'd carry this up a bit further, feather it, then darken the very corners. Anyways, just a few suggestions. I don't think its really lacking anything now per se.
  • Member since
    October 2005
  • From: Warwick, RI
Posted by Kolschey on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 9:10 PM
Hey there.

This already works beautifully as a toy catalog photo-environment. If this is your goal, then you have already accomplished your objective- this presents the products in a dramatic and exciting format . Congrats!

If your goal is a larger one on presenting the work as an art piece,then I agree with the other folks that further development of specific detail and texture would help the piece.

Hope this helps!  Cool [8D]

Krzysztof Mathews http://www.firstgearterritories.com

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 8, 2006 9:31 PM

Here is the finally finished piece with some fun pics to boot!!










98% styrofoam for all construction. The back and side walls do come off for packaging/moving/etc. Taller trees from Michael's Halloween stock, smaller tree from Spawn base. Fencing are dollhouse miniatures painted and weathered. Lichen moss from railroading stock, and field grass from decorative wheat used in flower arrangements. Added dirt, and paint for weathered look. Hope you enjoy, I am already starting my second one which is a bigger, more involved one! :)

  • Member since
    July 2005
Posted by Biggles-of-202 on Sunday, October 8, 2006 10:11 PM

Reptile,

A quick look around tells you that there is something of a bias towards the military/historical in 1/72 or 1/48 around here, so it's no surprise that folks are a little reticent to comment on your very ambitious project (1/12 sounds right to me) - Holy Cow, that's brave!  Don't let the silence worry you.  I have never done a diorama but would love to give it a go.  I don't have any tips for you, just words of encouragement.  Go for it!

Biggles.

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Staten Island, New York
Posted by kenny_conklin on Sunday, October 8, 2006 10:21 PM
looks really good excellent job. the only other suggestion i would make is to place the whole thing in a wooden base and hide the bottom edging of your base. looking at the bottom you can see you have used styrofoam and when i look from bottom up my mind is remembering the styro. but when i look at a photo from top down without exposing the sides of the base at the bottom it looks very realistic to me. keep up the great work it really looks good thanks for sharing your work with us.

kenny
"Rakkasans Lead the Way!"
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 9, 2006 7:19 AM
thanks for the suggestion, but I never plan on shooting pics that show the base. I just wanted to take an overall shot to show everyone the size of it. As you can see from most of my pics, you would never be able to tell that it was made with foam. Not to mention, I am not sure I can find a wooden base big enough for this to fit "into". :)
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Staten Island, New York
Posted by kenny_conklin on Monday, October 9, 2006 7:56 AM
i definately agree you can not tell it is made out of foam . i think it is excellent. if you did wantto make a base for the outside you could use plywood and molding to surround the bottom
"Rakkasans Lead the Way!"
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