Building a quality diorama takes a lot of time and effort, this is ture. However, having a quality backdrop/background can be the difference between an average and good display once the glass or perspex goes over the top.

I presume one can download these images (the good ones are usually painted/sketched) from the internet, the only question is where? Can anyone help those of us who are relatively new to the preparation of dioramas for display, in particular the sourcing of quality backgrounds?

Personally I don't like to add a physical background/backdrop to a diorama for an 'in person' viewing. The viewing angles can't be controlled and the backdrop is an obvious 'addition'. For one reason or another it's never quite 'right'. The scale is a bit off, or the horizon line doesn't fit scale wise or focal point doesn't match that of the diorama.
I prefer to use photoshop and create vertual dispaly where I get to adjust and control all of the above.

With that said you can purchase physical backgrounds, typically from Rail Road type stores (internet or brick and mortar). Here is one I've heard of before
RR Background

Or you can work in a "module" box (that's how I called it). I seen it in trainmodelling, I think you can create a nice atmosfere,feeling and setting.



Greetz Nico

I personally really like "boxed" Dioramas, as we can see from Nico's pic, it CAN work really well, just depends what your tastes are i guess. That train layout could easily be transfered into a military setting.

I can only imagine the end result that one can achieve by making a "boxed" diorama. The reason for my initial post is that, although I really enjoy the end result, the "normal" method of my own diorama setup is starting to bore me, as I have been making dioramas in the same manner since I've been a boy. I think I'll give this "boxed" method a try on my next project (a field refitting and refeuling, a routine scene, but with a lot of space at the ends). Thanks for the input, I'll post images of the end result. Lets see if I can pick up some things from the Railwayers and put them to good use...