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Diorama Base from a Picture Frame

Introduction

There are a lot of choices for the kind of bases you can use when constructing a diorama, a lot will depend upon the size of the project and of course the space you have available to store them once done.
Another consideration is the cost, which can range from cheap to expensive; the use of picture frames comes in the first category.
There are a few good reasons to use picture frames other than cost, they are a good selection of sizes and designs and you can pick them up from anywhere.

What to do

First pick a picture frame to suit the size of the diorama you are building.

Remove all the packaging, glass and rear of the frame, this will leave you the basic frame.

Next using the backing paper from inside the frame cut a piece of plywood the same size as the backing paper. (Again ask help from an adult if you don’t have the use of power tools). Some people will use the glass but I feel this is unsafe and fragile when loaded with the groundwork so I replace it.

Turn the picture frame over and run PVA glue around the edge where the glass would have gone.

Insert the plywood piece into the frame, because you have used the backing paper as a template it should be a perfect fit.

Next bend the tabs over to help secure the plywood to the frame.

Once the glue has had time to set the base is ready to use

So there you have another method of constructing a simple base, cost effective and simple.

Happy modelling
Keith Forsyth