JoeDios.com Forums  

Go Back   JoeDios.com Forums > Discussion Forums > JoeDioes.com Forum > How-To
User Name
Password
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes

Creating a Diorama, step-by-step
Old 01-24-2008, 08:59 PM #1
fifthconspiracy
Smack-Talking Ninja
 
fifthconspiracy's Avatar
 
Offline
-->
Posts: 581
fifthconspiracy is on a distinguished road -->
Join Date: Jan 2008
Cool Creating a Diorama, step-by-step

Hey There!

I decided that before I start taking some pictures, having a schweet backdrop would be mucho helpful. Instead of using an existing playset or some plain "printed" backgrounds, my son and I decided to make a Ranger Station diorama (to be used for all sorts of violent gijoe happenings ;-)

It will consist of a building with bricks & wood. It will have an inside and an outside. We will also have a surrounding area made from gravel, wire fences and possibly some lighting.

So with this thread, we will keep updating our progress for your viewing and fanciful pleasure. Keep in mind that I have never done anything like this (even remotely) before so please feel free to raise any comments or questions.

Let's get started...

Here's the general overview. I cut the building from cardboard, covering all edges with masking tape. It will consist of a door, window (far side) and a blast hole. Firefly checks out the progress.



The bottom half of the building will consist of brick. I looked at a few craft stores for something to use as bricks, but everything I saw either sucked, or was too expensive. So I decided to use balsa wood. $1.89 per 4 foot segment (0.5cm x 1cm). I'll cut the brick to size. Not sure what I'll do about the texture/paint to make them appear like bricks, but bah... whatever - I'll sleep on it.



Here I'm using an xacto razor saw (crazy sharp - zinger!) and a jig setup. I cut each block at 2cm. Looks relatively in scale to a 1:18 cinder block. Woot! This took awhile but was rewarding. Cutting stuff is exciting ;-)



I applied auto rust primer to the whole structure. This was to mainly hide the look of masking tape on cardboard... plus it provides a good solid base color between the bricks in the final product. Used standard tacking glue from a craft shop to apply the bricks. I was stressing over placing the bricks on completely uniformly (distance between, gap etc)... but in the end decided that some ad-hoc uneven blocks add to the character and don't look craptastic.



Painting - I test painted a bunch of bricks. Used acrylic paints... looked too plain - then tried adding some dark hand-painted edging which looked too cartoony. I then tried using a sponge to add a darker color, but the sponges I have didn't add enough finite detail... so I used some stone-textured spray paint. Looks good I think ;-) This is the very first coat, so I'll apply a lighter coat to catch any unhit areas next.



So that's where I'm at after 2 nights of messing around.

Next comes the top half which will be wood slats. I'll be doing a wood transition ledge between the bottom bricks and the top wood slats. And I plan on making a full doorframe and windowframe etc.

Anywho, comments welcome. Have at her!

Cheers! ~ Paul.
  Reply With Quote

Old 01-24-2008, 09:03 PM #2
Sonneilon
aka 'Paul WS Anderson' ;)
 
Offline
-->
Posts: 7,751
Sonneilon is on a distinguished road -->
Join Date: Jul 2005

Send a message via MSN to Sonneilon
Default

HEY! Thanks for doing that because I wasn't about to go into a how-to-make-bricks step along. However, unlike cutting 'em up, I'd buy 'em from my store or hobby store. I believe the equivalent would be roof tiles for doll houses.
  Reply With Quote

Update!
Old 01-24-2008, 09:08 PM #3
fifthconspiracy
Smack-Talking Ninja
 
fifthconspiracy's Avatar
 
Offline
-->
Posts: 581
fifthconspiracy is on a distinguished road -->
Join Date: Jan 2008
Thumbs up Update!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sonneilon
HEY! Thanks for doing that because I wasn't about to go into a how-to-make-bricks step along. However, unlike cutting 'em up, I'd buy 'em from my store or hobby store. I believe the equivalent would be roof tiles for doll houses.


Just applied a heavy second coat to the bricks with the stone-texture spray paint, and wow it looks fantastic.

I went with Balsa wood mainly because it's crazy easy to cut to fit. When I was applying the bricks to the main cardboard structure, I was custom cutting pieces often ;-)

I'll post some pics once the paint application is dry.

Cheers! ~ Paul.
  Reply With Quote

Old 01-24-2008, 09:55 PM #4
vader9900
To old to play with toys!
 
vader9900's Avatar
 
Offline
-->
Posts: 5,962
vader9900 is on a distinguished road -->
Join Date: Oct 2007
Default

Man thats gonna look hot!
__________________

"It ain't about how hard you hit, but how hard you can get hit, how much you can take and keep moving forward - thats how winning is done!" Rocky Balboa
  Reply With Quote

Old 01-25-2008, 06:32 AM #5
General Scarlett
Hell hath no fury....
 
General Scarlett's Avatar
 
Offline
-->
Posts: 7,646
General Scarlett is on a distinguished road -->
Join Date: Dec 2006
Default

Most Excellant 'How-To'!!!!!!!!!
__________________
Non illigitamus carborundum~Vos mos non effrego mihi

Coming soon: 'JoeSpecialOps'
  Reply With Quote

Old 01-25-2008, 10:08 AM #6
Prince Adam
Think For Yourself
 
Prince Adam's Avatar
 
Offline
-->
Posts: 4,185
Prince Adam is on a distinguished road -->
Join Date: Aug 2007
Default

This is really cool! I might have to try this for brick work. I'm looking to delve a bit further into the worlld of set building. Awesome stuff, man!!!
__________________
  Reply With Quote

Old 01-25-2008, 05:18 PM #7
Flatline
THEY ARE NOT DOLLS!!!
 
Flatline's Avatar
 
Offline
-->
Posts: 16,464
Flatline is on a distinguished road -->
Join Date: Jun 2007
Default

i Too Will Be Trying This Out. If For Nothing A Wall Or Two Nice Job And Thanks.
__________________
MY FLICKR PAGE......
  Reply With Quote

Old 01-25-2008, 05:33 PM #8
Da Talent
That Light Dude
 
Offline
-->
Posts: 4,845
Da Talent is an unknown quantity at this point -->
Join Date: Sep 2007
Default

This is a great thread, well done paul. I'll be giving this a shot as well. Yay! no more cutting popcicle sticks!
__________________
All my customs in one place....Da Talent's Customs
  Reply With Quote

Update from the back section!
Old 01-25-2008, 10:08 PM #9
fifthconspiracy
Smack-Talking Ninja
 
fifthconspiracy's Avatar
 
Offline
-->
Posts: 581
fifthconspiracy is on a distinguished road -->
Join Date: Jan 2008
Talking Update from the back section!

My son and I put in a few hours today working on this project.

It's looking good. Here's a tasty update!

Picked up the staple craft supply "Popsicle Sticks" - then cut the round ends off them to make them look like proper planks/boards. Then my son and I painted them up with acrylic green "olive" paint. Just a light coat - wanted the grain of the wood to show through. Dried quite nice, each board has character.



Stuck all the pieces on, cutting them to fit the structure where necessary. You'll notice that we used smaller sticks as a transistion between the bricks and the wood planks. We also used these smaller sticks for the door frame and window frame. Painted them up just everyday brown prior to cutting and glue. We completed all sides, here's a shot...



Here's a close-up of Snake Eyes against the wall. I'm finding the brick texture a little too-much but we'll see if it works out in the end ;-) The wood wall looks good, with the color and wood grain. Zinger.



Here's a shot of the hole blown through the structure. I positioned the bricks a little out and inward. I snapped the planks after painting. I'll leave the scortch marks until the end. Woot!



Here's the window on the other side. I still have to touch-up the brown wood trim everywhere to hide some imperfections. Should make a nice machine gunners nest.



So, all-in-all this project is moving ahead fine. So far I have 5.5 hours into this little project. Having never done anything like this before, my guesses and hunches are paying off in the end.

The building is turning out to be more of a "shack"... but I guess that's the appeal.

The only thing I'd do different is find a better way to texturize and color the bricks, using the stone-texture spray paint is easy and quick and looks ok, but it covers too much of the brick gap and the texture is out of character with the figures. But maybe that's just me - you decide.

Anyone have any suggestions on a roof type?

Until next time,

Cheers! ~ Paul.
  Reply With Quote

Old 01-26-2008, 12:09 AM #10
Sephron13
Death from above!!
 
Sephron13's Avatar
 
Offline
-->
Posts: 535
Sephron13 is on a distinguished road -->
Join Date: Sep 2005

Send a message via AIM to Sephron13
Default

This "how-to" makes me THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS happy!!

I can't wait to try this! Thanks a lot fifth! I'd love to see you tackle a 2-story...I know you guys have it in ya! Your current project is coming along beautifully. I can't wait to see some rubble and scorching around that blown-up entrance. Such an awesome creation! Kudos!
__________________
PORK CHOP SANDWICHES!!!!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by fireflyed
I gotta say, for an ole lady, she's got it going on!


  Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump




Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.0.6
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Style Design By: vBStyles.com


- JoeDios - Archive - Top