I've just gotten done with everything I need for my diorama. I just have one simple, little, teeny tiny question. HOW DO YOU DO GROUNDWORK WITH EIGHT BUCKS!? #:-) I have all the time in the world, I'm just anxious and excited to start working on it. It's Fall of '42, Russian Front, damaged city scene. Thanks for your time.

Scrounge! An entire diorama can be built with $8.
Check out the WIndow on War dioramas were built for very little money.
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/modules.php?set_albumName=Winter-Dio-Contest&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php
Check out Fausts article on his Distraction dio. It has a great explanation on ground work.
https://armorama.kitmaker.net//features/142

Basically - build up a styrofoam base, cover it with celluclay and mold it as you like. Add rocks rubbe etc. Paint gray tones. Walls for buildings are covered in the article too.

$8 may make it a bit tight to do a city scene. Check out plastistruct cobblestone streets. You might be able to pick up some cheap plaster and make real thin sheets and bust them up for rubble and damaged walls. And like Slodder says.....scrounge. USe real dirt styrofoam for a lot of things too.

Hello Fellow Beginner,

Look into Durhams Water Putty. You can mix it to a paste for texture, or a pourable for roads, water, etc. If you can scrounge some grout or tile powder coloring (a little goes a long way), you can change the set up putty from a sandstone color to a dirt or base grass color. That way, when you drill holes for weeds, trees, etc., the color that might peek through will be an acceptable green or brown. Silverfish don't eat Durham's like they do Celluclay. My house has a shake shingle roof and I fight silverfish constantly.
Pull small plants, where its legal. Dry the roots in our wonderful 100 degree plus days as tree armatures. Grind up dried spices for leaves. Use cheap unscented hairspray as a fixative. Go for it.
Hey, anybody reading this who can tell me how to get over my fear of my airbrush?

Sealhead

Durham Water Putty is the way to go... This diorama ofa Stug III at Monte Casino was done exclusively with Durhams and some scrap lumber I found at a constuction site...



total cost 6.35 for base and groundwork (Modeland Figures extra) and I still have lots of Durhams Wate Putty left over.
Good luck!
John
http://www.johnneill.com

Like swiming... Just jump in and go for It. I practiced witha new brush recently on a piece of scrap plastic and even found an old mongram model at a garage sale and repainted to see how it worked. Cheap canvas as I releanr abouthe airbrush after being away from it for over 20 years.

John
www.johnneill.com

White glue and....fine sand from the back garden, cheap plaster from the hardware stores, left-over wood covered with white glue and sawdust.... plenty of things can make a dio for less than $ 8, just look around in your personal environment and try-out everything that looks good.

Take the little lady and gor for a walk. On that walk look at the sidewalk and pick up stones, look in the gutters, but don't do what I did and pull a little piece of concrete off a retaining wall, and a whole 2 foot chunk came off. I am glad it was dark, and so I busted it on the side walk and took off.
All I wanted was a little piece.

~Chip :-)

Ha Ha! I'll remember to try and do everything at night. Don't want to get trouble with "McCordsville's Finest" (Two overweight policemen and one police car). Thanks for your time.

wow good idea about the water putty i would never have thought of it!!!