My first Diorama WIP *UPDATE 09/13*

glad ya had a good time and as always look forward to seeing some figures, etc.

Man! Am i glad to be back from the camp! It was pretty good, no major injuries, the cadets had heaps of fun, and the staff did too! 

Am looking forward to doing heaps on my models this weekend. I'm leaving the figures for a couple of weeks, as i am going to cast a few bodies so most of the webbing will be the same. I am working on a few vehicles, and still havent worked out what i am going to use! Got the figures, and some extras for the building.

hey grimmo, since most iraqi roads (not all some are concrete and plaster would work just fine), are asphalt...asphalt can be difficult to model...then i came up with using the next best realistic thing...i used an asphalt roofing shingle! my road looks realistic because its actual asphalt! however, im not sure if you use them down under, so as i said the plaster will work just as good!! even like you said too, sand will work! look forward to seeing your pics and welcome back from your "camp"!

thanks guys. will work on it tomorrow, and post some pics in the next few days!

Grimmo wrote:

Hey guys. Finally got time to post. Still working on the base, and trying to get it right. As i used plaster, i am trying to get it reasonably flat for the road section. What could i use to make it flat? Could i skim a coat of plaster over it? Would plaster look good enough? Would i be better using sand or something similar?

I use plaster all the time for concrete and asphalt... If you need to, you can use an orbital sander to really smooth it out (messy though)... Mixing up a thin batch will work for a skimming coat too, since it'll self-level (if you're pouring on a level surface, that is)...

For texture, I think it looks quite "scale" if just sand it with 120-grit, but you can add aquarium sand for a top-coat if have to get it rougher... Just brush on a coat of white glue and sprinkle the sand onto it, then after it's dry, brush off the loose sand...

Grimmo,

nice work, I look forward to see more pictures and I have a suggestion for You. Maybe You would like to try using fine black sandpaper for a tarmac road. You know the Iraquis kind of invented tarmac and they use it for thousands of years now. What do You think? I wish You good progress on Your work and have a nice day

Pawel

Hey guys. Finally got time to post. Still working on the base, and trying to get it right. As i used plaster, i am trying to get it reasonably flat for the road section. What could i use to make it flat? Could i skim a coat of plaster over it? Would plaster look good enough? Would i be better using sand or something similar? 

modelchasm wrote:

Ah .... NAIL! ... Of COURSE!!!! .... ... but Camo, how did you knw I was going straight for the hammer!?! You're a psychic!!! HAHA!

i figured you would...mainly i see you taking a hammer to the whole thing in frustration... j/k.

grimmo, no worries mate...it looks like you have an idea and know the direction you want to go. i will trust your judgement as far as this rather than try to tell you how you should do it...again i will help where i can (oh and thats not a jab at the other guys...listen to them...they know their stuff).

Psst: thanks for the tips. Don't apologise for rambling, all advice is good! I am planning on having something on the roof, but nothing too big, and maybe a few extra figures as well.

 I am still trying to decide what troops i am going to use! i want to use the marines, but only have 1 set of them, and have 3 each of the delta force, and modern us special forces.

Decisions, decisions!

Grimmo- real nice work so far!!! For a first diorama it really looks like you're heading in a great direction. Keep us posted!
 I like the layout, but as model said, make sure it's not just a lot of influence from camo's nice layout, don't be afraid to experiment by moving the figures positions around and the angle/direction of the Humvee, action of the scene etc.

One thing I’ll say, camo’s base is really tall, and yours is a little shorter/wider. Taking this into consideration and with model’s suggestion to try and distinguish this one as your piece, you might want to either:
A. Play to this difference and do something to elongate the scene (not necessarily physically elongate it, but visually- ie lots interest in parallel lines, left to right action, long column of troops all doing things on a similar plane) or...
B. Juxtapose your already short and wide scene with more of a vertical action- ie have all the troops looking upwards or clearing the house in close groups/on multiple levels- in an attempt to maybe have the base appear taller, as if more is going on on the vertical plane, however then you run into the problem of dead space in the areas away from the figure action. This can be solved with cleaver groundwork and debris, abandoned equipment etc.

While camo’s got a lot of busy action on the street level, the tall building and the insurgent in the balcony balance it out. So make sure things don’t get too symmetrical. Make sure your action, while being the center point, is not in the center of the diorama, it looks like the balance of the Humvee will offset the figures, but don’t be afraid to get them right up to the edge, especially if they are a figure that is not central to the story you are portraying. Think of it like a background figure in a photograph, maybe a little out of focus, maybe not all in the frame, but enough of an idea to give a sense of realism to something more than just the main story line.

Sorry- if you couldn't tell by all my posts with camo and model, I tend to ramble... lol

Just brainstorming a little. Take everything with a grain of salt of course as all of my dios are only a few stages past yours, and I have yet to actually complete my first.


But again, looking good!

 

Ah .... NAIL! ... Of COURSE!!!! ....

... but Camo, how did you knw I was going straight for the hammer!?! You're a psychic!!! HAHA!

Just might have to try this one out before I sacrifice my styrene to the scratch-gods. Thanks for the pics there Grim, and for the nail idea Camo!

Hey guys. Tried to post yesterday, but it kept timing out. 

The figure is a S.F. siper i am painting for another dio, which is going to be a lot bigger than this one! 

The building is one of the Verlinden plaster sets. I wish i was good enough to build it out of styrene!

Yesterday i used plaster to coat the plaque for a road base. Have to work out if i need a kerb. I am going to use the TOW hummer, and the Dragon US Marines to make it a Nasariya scene.

Might be a while if i post again, as i have a cadet camp to run this weekend, and still got a lot of  organising to do!

model, you can use a nail (hammer & nail...but no hammer) to scribe the bricks etc. that's free and really easy!!

I just couldn't stop check out your building ... what did you use to scribe the brick and mortar lines. I was thinking a solder gun, but I figured I'd just better ask.

Post more when you can...

Don't forget the sidewalk and curb... If there is one, that is...

NICE JOB, Grim!! I really like what you did with your building. Is it stryofoam board? As pointed out by Camo, be sure that if that's the figure (which looks great BTW) that you're going to use in the dio, just make sure that the rest of the dio falls within the same region/ country. If not, it would be like me modeling a figure of myself at a Yankees game ... it just isn't right. :)

On one more note .... I know that you and Camo have been talking back and forth about your two dios. Don't take it the wrong way, but just make sure that your dio is your own. Not that you're copying or anything ... rather, you might just want to take another look at how to seperate your dio from his.

All just construction crit, and my . Keep up the good work. I'll be following this one!

yeah, shes comming along nicely grimmo!! just one question...did u change the setting to afghanistan?? i only ask because your figure has the afghan head dress on. something to think about anyway. i dont think it would matter any if you made it for there rather than iraq! the figure is painted nicely. looking good though and again if i can help you any i will do what i can...cheers!

No criticism from me mate i reckon it will look ace when its finished. Keep us all updated on your progress.

Thanks for showing us all your work

 ian.