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Building a Diorama from Scratch

(photo 1.6) Test fit your cutouts as you go. (photo 1.7) Minor errors are easily fixed later.

As I make my cuts, I like to perform quick “test fits” of the actual elements that are being provided for. This simple step is a little time-consuming, but lets you know right away if you have been accurate enough in your layout and in your cutting. As seen in photo 1.7, some minor gaps are to be expected, and are easily dealt with later in the project.

What we want to avoid are major gaps that may require shims of matt board to be shaved and re-glued into position to insure a window or door will have snug surrounding walls to adhere to in the glue stage. Best to find and fix now than later.

If you have used a caliper and kept a sharp blade in your cutting tool, you’ll usually find you have an accurate cut that accepts the designated element correctly (photo 1. 8). I find that adding a slight “bow” in the middle of long side cuts further ensures a snug fit (notice the window on the right side of photo 1. 9).

If the bow is too excessive, you can shave a little more, but typically the matt board will give way, and accept a little pressure to form a tight fit. Once all the matt board openings have been cut out, and all fixtures have been tested for a nice fit, carefully remove all the pieces and set them aside. We won’t need them for a while longer.