Diorama advice please!

[Thantsants]

Hi all - apologies if there is an existing topic staring me in the face that answers all my questions but I haven't spotted it! 

Thought I'd build a little diorama as a christmas pressie for the wife - but had a few questions about the best way to go about it...

I'm thinking of something on an oval shaped base about A4 size - for the number of minis involved (can be altered) - any reccomendations for nice wooden presentation base suppliers and prices would be good. If that proves expensive I'll just cut some hardboard to fit so any tips on getting a nice finish on the edges would also be handy.

My next query is what is the best stuff to use to build up a small hill and raised dirt tracks?

The scene involves several samurai riding off to war on a dirt track that roughly bisects the oval base. On the left hand side of the track I'm after a small hill or rise (on which stands a geisha amongst a few cherry blossom trees, looking on after her sweetheart!). On the right are to be the edges of paddy fields with the raised paths between them with various peasants working/looking on at the samurai.

While I'm at it has anyone any experience of making cherry trees in blossom - I've ordered pink fine cherry leaves but wondered if there was a knack to making them look realistic?

Cheers!

[Connectamabob]

Two display base suppliers from my bookmark folder:
http://www.woodenbases.co.uk/
http://www.just-bases.co.uk/?page_id=20
Haven't had call to try either one yet though, so I can't comment for or against. I mostly repurpose other objects as bases when I need something fancy. I just keep an eye out at the store for stuff that looks like it might resemble a purpose made base if it had terrain on it: "hey, that marble soapdish would be just the right shape if I turned it upside down!".

No idea on the trees. I'm inexperienced there myself.

[Johan]

I reality any peasant would stop working and bow whenever a samurai passed. Not showing this respect was a capital offense and heads would be falling if so.

[Hammers]

My next query is what is the best stuff to use to build up a small hill and raised dirt tracks?

While I'm at it has anyone any experience of making cherry trees in blossom - I've ordered pink fine cherry leaves but wondered if there was a knack to making them look realistic?

There are many ways to make hills but I think most people here agree that extruded polystyrene (XPS, pink/blue foam) is the easies to work with. Builds up in layers and is eazy to glue and carve with out leaving a total mess. If you want rough surfaces I suggest you clad the sides of the hill with bark or cork sections.

As for making miniature trees look realistic... Well, I think this is a bit of a holy grail among diorama makers. I know a few who can make them look good (as good proxies) but realistic is hard.

[Aaron]

If you can't find a display base you like try looking at picture frames. You can cut a piece of matt board to insert using the glass as a template.

As for cherry blossoms I've never tried it, but if needed I'd go with LAF user Duhamel's floral method.
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=20661.0

Good luck!

[Thantsants]

Thanks for all the tips - definitely going with the styrofoam option.

Being a lazy bugger just-bases.com look very reasonable - 200mm x 300mm plain mdf base £4.00... (I know I could buy a large amount of mdf sheet for the same price but time is short!). Mind you 28 days for delivery might mean I am reclaiming picture frames... 

Nice flowers from Duhamel - might have a go at them as well. What I was reallly after was recreating this -



As for the disrespectful peasants - maybe I should have put in a disclaimer that I would be taking terrible liberties with historical accuracy! 

Must admit I was a little dubious about whether it was proper for a samurai to be showing public affection for a geisha!

How about changing the samurai riding off to war to enemy samurai making a quick get-away from a daring raid behind enemy lines - the geisha looks on, smitten by the brief glimpse she had of one of the dashing young rogues! The peasants forget their places in their surprise... Or maybe I should quit with the historical accuracy thing! Sorry! 

Here's the minis I intend to use -

From the Perry Samurai  range





Its the middle samurai who I thought looked as if he might have caught sight of something in the distance...

and from Taban miniatures



Apologies again if this geisha is totally inaccurate too - just quite liked the mini.  
 

[Aaron]

If you are only talking about one or two trees Duhamel's method could work. Just apply the blossoms to the trees. I do know there is a pink tree flocking available though. That would certainly be the quicker option!

[Thantsants]

The pink tree flocking I ordered arrived but its very pink - looking at pics there's a lot of white so Duhamel's method might come in handy.

Looks like it might be fiddly for the amount I want and the time I have though!

I'm going to try some experiments tonight in highlighting some of the pink flock white - not sure if it'll work but it might just be the way to go...

 

[Thantsants]

Next question - made the base with a small hill and the little mud retaining walls for a couple of paddy fields.

 As there is quite a large area to paint - 200 x 300mm - can anyone tell me if there is a good, cheap acrylic paint to use to block in the base colours - browns and greens.

I read somewhere that poster paints are very cheap but require varnishing as they're obviously not water resistant. I'm a bit hesitant about spraying on matt varnish after all the horror stories of cloudiness I've read so a good acylic paint would be good - or should I be varnishing to protect the piece?

[OSHIROmodels]

You could either go for art shop acrylics or DIY shop emulsions. I'd use the art shop ones as they are a damn sight smaller than the emulsion pots and there's more variety (I know there are the colour matcher services but you have to buy 5lt or something stupid  ).

If it's a present and the person receiving doesn't really know about the period then go with what looks good 

For the trees you could give these chaps a go [url]http://www.modeltrees.biz//url], we use them at work and although they are in Spain, turn around is really quick (bit pricey though). You might be able to get 'blanks' from them and blossom them yourself.

Looking forward to seeing progress on this one 

cheers

James

[Thantsants]

Thanks James - emailed model trees - the blossom trees look perfect (and much better than my experiments!)

Off to the local art shop too at the weekend by the looks of it! 

I'll get some pics up of the work so far at some stage too...

[OSHIROmodels]

Glad to be of help 

cheers

James

[Hammers]

For the trees you could give these chaps a go [url]http://www.modeltrees.biz//url], we use them at work and although they are in Spain, turn around is really quick (bit pricey though).

Good linky.

[Silent Invader]

For painting scenery/terrain I mostly use the big tubes of acrylic from The Works or, if they're out of stock, WH Smith.

[Thantsants]

Good linky indeed - trees ordered.

Off to the Works this weekend too. 


Thanks all!