What are the "rules, policies and procedures for bases" these days?

Shep Paine's book says no object should extend over the base's edge and every object should be off-center. Does this still apply?

I thought to have say a gun over the edge would add dramatic impact.

Has any trends really changed since Shep's statements?

Thanks in advance.

Personally I don't like it if anything extends over the baes's egde.
When I see such dio's, it feels like the one who made it was to cheep to buy a big enough base.

I think it really depends on the theme you are trying to portray.There was one diorama here wherein a T-72's rear end was sticking out of the base and it still conveys a good composition.

Usually, I don't stick to the rules but I do observe the following:

1) I don't put objects dead center. It creates a too uniform and balanced look which is very rare in real life.

2) I don't put any objects in a parallel line with the base perimeter of the diorama.

Angela

I agree with the Norseman. These kind of overbase stuffs are attracting attention, while the observer can enjoy other interesting objects on that dio. Positioing the objects in an asimetric way gives diorama a continuous looking. I mean, while you are examining the diorama you intend to search and find every interesting point of it.

I personally try to avoid having things over the edge, if not for any other reason, than for their own protection. I still try to angle, and offset items, if not for any other reason than composition. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Shep is the Master. Having said that I was at a class he taught one time and he said...

"first rule... there are not rules

I tend to stay away from too much hanging of over the edge only because it is easier to damage accidentally.

But as you noted sometimes I do overhang for dramatic effect...

Go with what works for you and expresses the story you are trying to tell.

John

I have a Gillman figure, you know, Creature from the Black Lagoon. I positioned him swimming out from the base,a section of 2X4 cut at an steep angle for dramatic effect. An eel hangs off the side as well. Part of my intent was to pay homage to the fact the original movie was in 3-D.

I think it depends on the size of the diorama. If you build a vignette with a tank and perhaps one or two figures, if the tank is coming up a hill or over a pile of rubble, and the front corner of the tank hangs slightly over, this adds a dramatic effect. As if the tank is moving on, leaving the scene which you are watching..

With anything larger than that, I don't think overhang looks good. Norseman's got a point, it looks as if the base is to small. But what about the vegetation??
Is ik o.k. to have a tree at the edge of the dio extending beyond the border?

John Neill has the right quote




If you like it, that's what's really important.

Cheers
Henk

I agree with the dramatic effect idea-I personally don't think I do that too often but I like it on small scale models of large planes... gives them a larger than life appearance.


Same with tanks etc.... stick the barrell over the edge and it looks like its going to jump at you!


As to the tree... I think what would be neat is to have the root showing from the base or "embracing" the base... that would give it a nice "scary/goth" atmosphere.

Well i think all the rules that Shep refers to still apply and will forever. I dont like putting things in dead center either or long straight objects parallel to the base lines. I thry tio make roads in some angle to the base perimeter lines and also to add scene "weight " all over the scene if u want to tell many stories . if u wanna spot on a tank or on a figure only u can keep the rest of the environment less fancy so the notice is not attracted else than the figure or vehicle u want to show off. I extend my groundwork always to the edge of the base frame if it is for a big dio , but i leave a lil space if is a small vigniette or a single figure. I believe that also there are no strict rules , unless u re hurting the common sense for whats nice. U can always try and trust ur judging eye if somethings seems wrong or ugly .


Costas

I would say there are no rules, only guidelines. Diorama building is (as discussed in other threads) more art than science. So, the guidelines are free for interpretation.

Having said that some of the guidelines do make more of a difference than other. The one that offers nothing be parallel to the base edge is one of these. I think the visual appeal drops when things seem parallel and straight. It makes it to easy to view and miss things.
The visual triangle guideline is another important one. Get the viewers eyes to move through the diorama in a logical item to item fashion.

The one of nothing over edge is one that seem to be very 'breakable' . Sometimes I like it, other times not so much. I would offer that if you are going to move away from the guidelines, do it with purpose and make it so that there is no mistake that it was done on purpose. You will loose peoples interest if it is not obvious and can be interpreted as a misstake.

Ola Peter

I personally like to step on the rules and play with them. I always built with the idea there are no rules. It fully depends on the story I want to tell and what effect I want to reach.
For instance.

When I made DISTRACTION seen above. The last thing I wanted was to have the sniper being main focus. I wanted this because it wasn`t the snipers intention to be main focus then. the base was very basic and I placd everything in lines parralel to the base. I put the sniper off center and close to the building this way he gets a bit overshadowed. The fun thing was that most people saw the sniper the second time they looked at it. Mission accomplished by playing with the rules.

Another example:

Gold on the Junkyard was a little dio/vignette in which I wanted to show a gun that was long forgotten and derelicted on a junkyard. By taking a base that was smaller then the entire model to give the idea of a cramped part of the Junkyard and by letting the gun stick away from the base and the little vine that grows along it I wanted to give the whole vignette that desolated forgotten somewhat sad look. I personally think I quite managed to get that feeling. The judges at the 2 contests where it was did that too I think.

So if you know the rules you can change them and that is where the fun part of modeling comes

An old boss (one of the most talented people I have ever met) said “violate the borders, it creates visual tension”

So hang stuff over the edge if, it looks good. Embrace the Chaos.

Tom

How does one "raise the terrain" from a flat base?

I heard of using styrofoam, carving it out, and then adding plaster on top. Wood or plastic can then be added to the sides of the styrofoam block.

I'm getting back into diorama and minibase making. I haven't made a diorama in 15 years :-)!

Thanks, gentlemen

I always use styrofoam if I need to raise the ground from the base. Then I cover it with either papermache (I guess many uses the brand Celluclay). I've also tried tile glue with great success.

I never used plaster to cover the styrofoam.

Ola Guys

Styrofoam would be the answer to any leveling in Diorama`s and other groundwork. It`s lightweight, Easy to carve, Easy to cut easy to shape glueable with white glue. Built up the leveling. Then cover it all up with cheap wallspackle(the version in a tube).
That would be the easiest way to do it