S.A.S Counter-Terrorism in England Dio (1 Viewer)

[Matt]

I'm currently planning on building my second ever diorama, this time I want to build a 1/35 medium-sized dio about a fictional SAS operation in England, fighting insurgents in England, retrieving hostages. I'm not entirely sure where in England yet, I was thinking may be a street in London, a typical suburban road, a bank or a countryside area with a forest. I've done some research and this is what I've found:

SAS soldiers
http://www.netmerchants.co.uk/product.php/17392/1/british_sas_urban_elite_series

Insurgents
http://www.netmerchants.co.uk/product.php/16781/0/iraq_kit_2_insurgents_terrorists

Landrover Defender Wolf wmik
http://www.wonderlandmodels.com/products/hobby-boss135-british-landrover-defender-wolf/

I have no idea what else to use, i can't find any banks or english houses in 1/35, please post any links to things you think would be good but I'm only 15 so I don't have the biggest of budgets, thanks.

 

[Wraith]

Hey Matt,

Welcome to the forum mate.
Sounds like a great idea for a dio, and an area that we wouldn't normally see much of.
A few thoughts for diorama materials on a budget.

Roads: Try 3mm hardboard from B&Q or the like. The 'rough' side can be painted and drybrushed to give a reasonable looking tarmac finish.

Pavements: You could use another strip of hardboard to get the raise of the pavement, and depending on how much patience you've got, cut paving slabs from plasticard (or similar) and lay your own slabs!

Buildings: Given any thought to making them? Either 2D facia or 3D. Styofoam (pink or blue foam) is becoming a bit more readily available in the UK now, and you can pick small sheets up on ebay and the like for not much dosh. The foam can then easily be cut, shaped, indented etc to make whatever structure you like. Strips of wood can be added to add features, and there are other kits out there you can use for doors, windows etc if you prefer (Miniart range).

Accessories, street furniture etc: Should be a load of this stuff available to add if you wish. Check out Macs Mouldings web site (also sells on ebay) for a load of 1/35 everyday resin stuff which may add some finishing touches.

Vehicles: Personal thing here, but for parked vehicles etc, that you'd normally find on any street, rather that looking at pricier models, you could scour for second hand diecast 1/35 and 1.32 vehicles on ebay, for pennies. Weather them up a bit, and they should look perfect.

As you're doing 1/35, I reckon that there'll be choice in relation to the actual key figures and vehicles.

Look forward to seeing any pics as you progress.

Cheers
Simon

 

[Matt]

Hey Matt,

Welcome to the forum mate.
Sounds like a great idea for a dio, and an area that we wouldn't normally see much of.
A few thoughts for diorama materials on a budget.

Roads: Try 3mm hardboard from B&Q or the like. The 'rough' side can be painted and drybrushed to give a reasonable looking tarmac finish.

Pavements: You could use another strip of hardboard to get the raise of the pavement, and depending on how much patience you've got, cut paving slabs from plasticard (or similar) and lay your own slabs!

Buildings: Given any thought to making them? Either 2D facia or 3D. Styofoam (pink or blue foam) is becoming a bit more readily available in the UK now, and you can pick small sheets up on ebay and the like for not much dosh. The foam can then easily be cut, shaped, indented etc to make whatever structure you like. Strips of wood can be added to add features, and there are other kits out there you can use for doors, windows etc if you prefer (Miniart range).

Accessories, street furniture etc: Should be a load of this stuff available to add if you wish. Check out Macs Mouldings web site (also sells on ebay) for a load of 1/35 everyday resin stuff which may add some finishing touches.

Vehicles: Personal thing here, but for parked vehicles etc, that you'd normally find on any street, rather that looking at pricier models, you could scour for second hand diecast 1/35 and 1.32 vehicles on ebay, for pennies. Weather them up a bit, and they should look perfect.

As you're doing 1/35, I reckon that there'll be choice in relation to the actual key figures and vehicles.

Look forward to seeing any pics as you progress.

Cheers
Simon

Thanks! I'm very new to building dioramas but what you've said has helped a lot, i just need to pick a setting but I think I'm looking at building a suburban road.

 

[Wraith]

Thanks! I'm very new to building dioramas but what you've said has helped a lot, i just need to pick a setting but I think I'm looking at building a suburban road.

Matt,
If you check out some of the 'how to' threads on this forum, you should find some guides and hints n' tips.

 

[Currahee Chris]

Hello Matt:

welcome aboard and I am looking forward to see what you can cook up here as well- no doubt you will show me a thing or two. :wink2:

Road sections- consider looking at Christmas village type pieces- Department 56 has some stuff but it is more traditional cobblestone. Also- have you considered floor tiling? You could buy some of the small square tiles that might work too.

Buildings- consider train shops- lots of modern buildings there too.

Good luck!!
CC

 

[Louis Badolato]

Welcome aboard, Matt! One of my favorite movies is "The Final Option", where the SAS is called in to save hostages taken at the U.S. Ambassador's residence by a bunch of Soviet funded anti-nuke terrorists (obviously the movie was done in the early 1980's, before the fall of the Soviet Union). Have a gander at that movie for some cool ideas for an SAS diorama: SAS troops rapelling down the outside of the mansion and shooting terrorists through the windows, the SAS training facility where they are learing urban combat on everything from an apartment block to a train, the rescue of an SAS officer's family from the terrorists in his family home (they blow a hole through the wall of the adjacent building, simultaneously cut the power, and shoot the terrorists using night vision scopes).:wink2:

 

[Matt]

Hello Matt:

welcome aboard and I am looking forward to see what you can cook up here as well- no doubt you will show me a thing or two. :wink2:

Road sections- consider looking at Christmas village type pieces- Department 56 has some stuff but it is more traditional cobblestone. Also- have you considered floor tiling? You could buy some of the small square tiles that might work too.

Buildings- consider train shops- lots of modern buildings there too.

Good luck!!
CC

Thanks! some of that stuff is brilliant, i think im going to go with a tar road and proabably a tar pavement but i might consider using tiles instead

 

[Wraith]

Thanks! some of that stuff is brilliant, i think im going to go with a tar road and proabably a tar pavement but i might consider using tiles instead

Just had another thought when I saw this, use of emery cloth or sandpaper for tarmac. Different grades of paper / grit size, and dirt cheap as well.

 

[thebritfarmer]

Thanks! some of that stuff is brilliant, i think im going to go with a tar road and proabably a tar pavement but i might consider using tiles instead

You could also use plaster of paris tinted black, then trowel it on.

For buildings try JG miniatures or even Verlinden.

 

[Wraith]

You could also use plaster of paris tinted black, then trowel it on.

What are you trying to insinuate about the state of our roads?^&confuse:rolleyes2::wink2:

 

[Matt]

Welcome aboard, Matt! One of my favorite movies is "The Final Option", where the SAS is called in to save hostages taken at the U.S. Ambassador's residence by a bunch of Soviet funded anti-nuke terrorists (obviously the movie was done in the early 1980's, before the fall of the Soviet Union). Have a gander at that movie for some cool ideas for an SAS diorama: SAS troops rapelling down the outside of the mansion and shooting terrorists through the windows, the SAS training facility where they are learing urban combat on everything from an apartment block to a train, the rescue of an SAS officer's family from the terrorists in his family home (they blow a hole through the wall of the adjacent building, simultaneously cut the power, and shoot the terrorists using night vision scopes).:wink2:

Bloody hell that sounds great, i might make a diorama on that in the future but i've already started to prepare this one, ill put up the plan for it in a min

 

[Matt]

Just had another thought when I saw this, use of emery cloth or sandpaper for tarmac. Different grades of paper / grit size, and dirt cheap as well.

Hmm i have some extra fine sandpaper in the garage, ill paint it and see how it looks, thanks for the tip!

 

[Matt]

You could also use plaster of paris tinted black, then trowel it on.

For buildings try JG miniatures or even Verlinden.

Wow im looking at the jg miniatures website and some of this stuff looks perfect, thanks!

 

[thebritfarmer]

What are you trying to insinuate about the state of our roads?^&confuse:rolleyes2::wink2:

Nowt but it is good to see somethings don't change

 

[Matt]

-PLAN FOR DIORAMA- Re: S.A.S Counter-Terrorism in England Dio

This is a plan for the diorama, In real life it will be more stretched out so the camera crew aren't so close, and of course in real life the insurgents won't be lego men. But this is the general plan of what it will be like when finished. Please leave any comments, remember the real thing will look quite different, this is just a basic plan for the diorama.

 

[Matt]

PICTURES OF THE ROAD WILL BE UP SHORTLY, just letting the "tar" dry so i can paint on road markings and make a drain and manhole cover

 

[Wraith]

PICTURES OF THE ROAD WILL BE UP SHORTLY, just letting the "tar" dry so i can paint on road markings and make a drain and manhole cover

Cool!
Look forward to seeing the pics Matt.

 

[Matt]

Here are the photos of the road so far, sorry about the quality, my sister is borrowing my camera so i had to use my webcam >.< Anyway, the road isn't completely finished, when its stuck onto the diorama board ill make a pothole. The trees next to it are just to show what else i've done, in the real thing they will not be there. Please leave any comments on how to improve, Thanks!
P.S, the gap in the middle will be fixed, i had to make the road on two seperate pieces of card, the bad quality makes it look a bit cheap and rushed but when i get my proper camera back ill take some hd photos.

 

[Matt]

Right, Here we go! I got my proper camera back, stuck the roads to some plasterboard and made some potholes and a grenade explosion hole. Please leave any comments and any ways of making it more realistic, thanks!

 

[Wraith]

Looking good Matt.

Like the blast damage to the road, although it looks like most of our roads around here on a good day anyway ^&grin

Looking forward to seeing how you fill out either side of the road.

Simon