Diorama Scenery Bases (3 Viewers)

[Spitfrnd]

I was wondering if some of the more experienced folks here could suggest what options are the best for generic scenery bases for dios that can be used for one or more historical periods (i.e. ancients etc)? I have seen the grass and sand squares by buid-a-rama. Does anyone use these? Do they fit together smoothly for larger sizes? Are there other base options that offer more terrain variety that are not "contaminated" by civilization specific features (concrete, brick, picket fences, buildings, shell craters)?
Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[thebritfarmer]

You could try JG Miniatures. I think the have just grass bases with various levels of terrain and also some with a river going through it.

 

[Spitfrnd]

You could try JG Miniatures. I think the have just grass bases with various levels of terrain and also some with a river going through it.

Thanks, they do seem to have a variety of grass bases with changes in slope. Has anyone used these and if so could you post a picture on how they look put together?

 

[39E]

I've used a few different "grass mats" for table top dios.
Take a look at:
http://www.sceneryexpress.com/products.asp?dept=1052

 

[Spitfrnd]

Thanks much, those look quite good. Which ones have you used and did you like?

 

[UKReb]

Have you never considered knocking up your own and to your own design?

Base can be Plyboard/Foam board or even Polystyrene, contours in terrain can be done simply by screwing up paper wherever you want them and covering the whole of the base with plaster-cloth.
Let it thoroughly dry- spray with scenic cement- sprinkle on hairy grass/earth or a hundred other varieties of ground cover-respray with scenic cement to seal. Leave to dry.
"Voila" a custom made base. Very easy and more importantly very cheap.
You can then add other modules to suit alowing you to dictate how big or small you require it for your particular dio.
Take a look at my dios on the ACW/FIW all built as per above and to my specifications.
Reb

 

[Spitfrnd]

Have you never considered knocking up your own and to your own design?

Base can be Plyboard/Foam board or even Polystyrene, contours in terrain can be done simply by screwing up paper wherever you want them and covering the whole of the base with plaster-cloth.
Let it thoroughly dry- spray with scenic cement- sprinkle on hairy grass/earth or a hundred other varieties of ground cover-respray with scenic cement to seal. Leave to dry.
"Voila" a custom made base. Very easy and more importantly very cheap.
You can then add other modules to suit alowing you to dictate how big or small you require it for your particular dio.
Take a look at my dios on the ACW/FIW all built as per above and to my specifications.
Reb

I have thought about that but was a bit daunted by the process. Certainly yours turned about fantastic but I would be starting at the bottom of the learning curve. Can you suggest a resource for a rank beginner for such purposes?

 

[Wraith]

I've done a few generic foam boards. They're cheap to do and easy enough to gently put in mild undulations and could cover a number of eras. They're not visually spectacular, but do provide for an easy base to display and add on to.

The other bonus (for me) in having just simple terrain bases, is that they can be stacked away with minimum space being taken up. I'll try and get some photos up in a bit.

Simon

 

[UKReb]

I have thought about that but was a bit daunted by the process. Certainly yours turned about fantastic but I would be starting at the bottom of the learning curve. Can you suggest a resource for a rank beginner for such purposes?

Hey Spitfrnd

There is a good resource I would recommend and it's book that I have on my reference shelf its an Osprey publication Terrain Modelling by Richard Windrow I think it's available on Amazon; it definitely is on AmazonUK.

Easy to follow instructions with clear colored illustrations from the simplest dios that Simon refers to right up to "masterclass" waterfalls. Try and search it out you getta lot of terrain bang for your buck.
Don't be worried about cocking-up your first few dios -I did big time and all went in the bin- That's how you learn and remember it wont break the bank making your own this way as most of the ingredients are cheap as chips.

Reb

 

[Wraith]

This is just a quick blast on how I've done some simple, generic bases.

These are the foam blocks / sheets before starting:

This shot shows the thinner base (1") thick after "I'd roughed it" up a bit. A simple track / dirt roadway running through it. I use rasps for shaping it, gouging ruts in the road etc.

On the thicker base (3"), I've cut out a trench type thing, as I wanted to do a Band of Brothers set up. Again, nothing subtle (as can be seen by the butchers tools). This foam is very forgiving and in a lot of cases looks very good when left pretty rough, as this gives a nice textured finish for painting over.

 

[Wraith]

Carved / hacked out an open area for a field piece / mortar emplacement / ammo dump / field kitchen, or whatever:

This gives an idea about what I had in mind:

I then rewatched Band of Brothers and remembered that they were actually 105mm and not 88mm, but hey, a bit of artistic licence never hurt anyone
Applying a black base coat using cheap kids acrylic paint:

 

[Wraith]

Now, I kinda jumped ahead a bit without taking any pics, but here are shots of the bases after I'd shaped them up, painted and rough drybrushed and added scenic grass with a diltued PVA mix, ready for adding whatever other bits tickled my fancy:

With a wall, also out of foam:

And with wall removed:

 

[Wraith]

I've also done a generic desert type base.

For this, I did 2 pieces and shaped the edges / married up the gouges and minor undulations so I could put them together as a long run, or a square:

Same process, rasp away, base coat of acryllic brown. I then loosley sprinkled some kitty litter on to the base, sprayed some dilute PVA glue over the lot and I wafted over some tan Tamiya acryllic spray. The spray also helped fix the kitty litter in place, and so far, my cats have avoided cr*pping on it.

 

[thebritfarmer]

You're a dab hand at that too Simon, more hidden talents we didn't know about. Great stuff. Have you done any buildings?

 

[Wraith]

And a couple of shots where i've just chucked some pre made scenic accessories on, added a few pieces and hey presto!

 

[Wraith]

You're a dab hand at that too Simon, more hidden talents we didn't know about. Great stuff. Have you done any buildings?

Thanks Scott. This foam is great to mess around with. I've started doing some foam facades, but haven't got far with them as yet, as I have the attention span of a goldfish.
Do these MDF ones count?

 

[Wraith]

The reason I went for the open trench was cause I thought this type of shot would be pretty cool.

 

[The Lt.]

Our jack of all trades thanks Simon for the time spent taking and posting your photos there's no doubt how helpful they'll be in creating our own as needed. As always you come across when needed with many a helpful hint. Once again thanks......The Lt.

 

[Wraith]

Thanks Lt. That is one of the blessings of forums like these. There's always a constant swapping of ideas, tips and musings to feed off. I'd never have discovered this foam had it not been for seeing the likes of Mike, Nick N, Rod, Alex and a whole host of others, at work, 'carving it up'. The same applies for the backdrop craze you started and the dio-dramas that you, Reb, Panda, Polar et.al. have become so proficient at.

This really is a good place to be.

 

[Spitfrnd]

WOW, thank you Reb and Wraith. I will look for that book and appreciate the mini tutorial here. As said, a wonderful facet of this forum. Thanks much for the suggestions.