I have been experimenting on homemade building recently tying to save some money. I had been looking at a few posts on the sight and tried to have a go and make some of own. Bare in mind these are my first attempts and no accurate

The materials I used were

foam card - for the structure
pins - to connect the walls
plastic strips
balsa wood
glue
engraved plasticard (brick shaped etc...)
see through plastic from blister packs
cork roll - for walls

the measurements I have used are a just guest-I-mations

first I cut the foam card along with windows and doors



then I used pins to connect the walls and then glues cork role to build part of the building front



then I added the brick print plasticard in the middle and the top of the building. Then for the roof tiles I used plasticard roof tiles. the started on the window stills with plastic strips



Then painted



windows added and sign post





I then used the same process to make 2 Tudor style buildings. I made window frames for the black and white tudor house. Using the silicone and corn flower technique. The roof tiles are brick style plasticard, cut into strips




the 2nd Tudor house I made a silicone mould for the roof and used plaster. Big mistake, as the plaster of paris would not adhere to the top of the house when glued. Did eventually when I found the right glue






and now a small dio that I am going to starting building

Fantastic-looking buildings, particularly in light of being your first attempt. Very impressive! (although it doesn't look like your wife is very impressed in the background)

Very nice buildings. One thing you might want to consider is to angle the buildings and tank so that they are not parallel to any of the sides of the base. Regardless you are off to a terrific start with those buildings.

Ive seen this in several diorama pictures. Coming from a non-artistic noob. What is the reason behind the idea?

I agree, fantastic work!!

By placing the axis of the vignette at an oblique angle to the base it creates the appearance of having taken a slice out of reality.

Think of it like a 3D photo. You're trying to capture a moment in time. You never see photos in which the streets and shapes are perfectly lined up with the frame, except for some thoroughly staged photos; but then ask yourself if those look like they are trying to capture an object or a moment? If you are showcasing a single vehicle on a base, then it's fine to line it up with the base, but if you're trying to bring an entire scene to life, placing it at an angles make it look less staged.

Cool, thanks for that. Makes absolute sense.

mark - thanks for the comments - re;- my wife I am a man she is never happy ha ha ha ha. she is Sitting in waiting for storm DORIS to pass

dvsand, mark, - I will bare in mind what you have said and have a play around with the lay out

Ivan - the idea was that I would like to buy miniart buildings, but they would cost a fair bit If I wanted a couple on the board and the hobby is getting more expensive. I was just being a tight arse really and I have seen some good homemade building on this site and got some inspiration

A very good beginning to your dio Gary! Your buildings are way ahead of mine when I first started to make dioramas. And way cheaper than Miniart ones too. Plus the fact they are created from your own minds eye view. The angling of diorama artifacts on a base was made popular by Shep Paine, one of the original masters of the diorama. As said already, it helps to create the drama, and eliminate the sense of structure and order... two things seldom seen by the human eyes in real 1:1 scale.

Great job, looking forward to the next update...

It doesn't need to be a dramatic shift. Just a slight adjustment will probably give the desired effect. Once you have decided on all the major elements play around with different arrangements to see which one provides the most balance, sense of drama, and the particular element you are trying to showcase be it a vehicle, group of soldiers, etc. In short, some arrangements and angles will help you tell your story better than others. Good luck.

Hey Gary no disagreement from me. I'm a bit frugal myself.
My question regarding the angling of the buildings/tank was for dvsand. I was curious what the idea behind the angling was as I've seen it in many dios.

I will definitely borrow from your building ideas in my future builds.

Being a fan of using cheap,readily available household items before expensive hobby specific items I am of course,on your side all the way. Low tech solutions are always better and for me,more satisfying to build. Nice !!!
J

I'm with Jerry all the way.
I definitely prefer building my own.Far cheaper and enjoyable to do.I've copied some Miniart buildings with great results and much less aggravation.
An example being my North Africa dio.Foamboard,balsa wood and styrofoam.

Tom

Nothing wrong with your buildings at all! They look great and you have this group for inspiration and feedback!

For a new guy, really impressive work! Keep it coming!

amateur style? it looks pretty good to me.

Made a little progress

I have taken your advice and staggered the street section. I have used foam board for this



I have then rolled out air drying clay and put this on top of the foam card. I have then measured this with a ruler and inscribed the pavement shapes.




Had a small problem. When the clay dried it shrunk and the corners of one of the pavements lifted. I filled it in and will have to used something like grass to hide it bit



I have decided to try something new to make asphalt/tarmac. I used this plastikote stone spray. I usually use cork, but this soaks the paint too much. I guess if it does not work I will go back to cork

Nice homemade stuff Gary!

Kind regards
Steven

Really nice work, mate. Impressive especially for a first attempt. Keep making and posting them. I try to fabricate more items, myself these days, as opposed to buying expensive aftermarket and/or accessory kits. I think the added benefit, besides saving money is the pride in the work.

IF this is Amateur style Im not even gonna TRY and make one ! Looks superb!

What a great start Gary, I really appreciate what you've got so far.
Regards
Dave

I have finally finished by Diorama. Named "behind enemy lines"

Hope you like











comments welcome

Maximum dio points for own-build, Gary - and all those tiles, insane. Serious talent, well done and glad you decided not to ignite it on the oven in first of most recent photos. As you asked for comments a few ideas, take or leave:

More small & medium arms damage to facades and roof plus debris & dust on road. Also the story/narrative/authenticity - you’ve got a Panther D in ? early 1945 Germany? I guess that’s just possible but the D first came out mid ’43 at Kursk, largely replaced by A’s during ’44 and then G’s late ’44. And while I get that the yanks are sneaking up behind the Panther, to me it looks like it’s on the move & just passed them so how could the crew not have not noticed them? For a better ambush you might consider the tank’s coming the other way i.e. turn it thru 180 deg., and have someone shouldering a bazooka ready for a passing or rear shot. And/or, considering you invested so much effort into those upper storeys, someone up there about to lob some grenades down?

Whatever, bravo!

Cheers, Tim

Once again,I love what you are doing here with the build-your-own method. Tim made some good points.
I would add,because the half timber house is one of my favorite things in the world,that you can improve on them in the future by actually making it a bit easier on yourself.
What I mean is,the timbers on a real one are almost always flush with the wall. This means you can make the whole wall from plaster or hard foam and then scribe the timbers in,or use even thinner strips of wood like you choose to use. Either way,much easier and faster and more authentic.
Great beginnings here buddy,hope to see you often.
As far as the early Panther goes,I have seen pics of very early marks being used in the last ditch defense of the homeland. These were usually old tanks being used in training facilities,pressed into service. So.....it works !
J

thanks for the comments,

Tim

With regards to the tank, I am never too arcuate with the time lines on models. It is just a case of I make an AFV and then everything fits around it.

Jerry

I have seen that balsa foam and when it becomes cheap enough, I will deffo be giving it a go.



now I have just got to decide what am I going to use this building for