Ok, let me first make one thing perfectly clear, I don't know anything about making dioramas...

Well, now that I have said that, back to me little question. I'm currently working on a Dragon 1/16 figure, and instead of just placing the figure on the bare base, I thought about turning it into a little bit of dirt road. So, how is the best (and simplest way) to simulate this???

The figure I'm doing is this:


Thankful for any tip that I can get.

DIrt will work. If your looking for a Gravel / Dirt mix I'd use some Woodland Scenics.

Matt

Ok, sort of had a feeling that ordinary dirt could be used, but what I can't figure out is how to get the dirt to stay where it is supposed to be, with other words on the base?

You can use ordinary White / Craft glue Then spray it down with a Diluted (white glue & water) mixture. (Woodland Scenics "Scenic Cement")

Matt

Normally I'd suggest getting some Celluclay and impressing dirt or kitty litter into the Celluclay while it is still soft. But since you say you're not interested in dios, you may not want to buy a whole pound of Celluclay.

For a simple, single figure, you might just want to use a bit of epoxy putty, like Milliput. That's what I used for a couple Verlinden 120mm figures I mounted on DML bases. See the SS man and U.S. Sergeant at this link: http://www.ipmsgreatplains.com/Gallery_BobKerr.htm

I rolled out a thin sheet of Milliput, pressed in some kitty litter and scraps of wood, stuck in a few plant sprigs and some "Static grass" and there it is -- a simple base. The Milliput I use dries gray, so I touch it up with a bit of Polly S "Dirt" and use oil washes.

I didn't say I wasn't interested in dios, I just said I never done one...

I have heard so much about celluclay, but I don't know exactly what kind of material it is. Any one that can enligten me???

Tjena Thomas,

Celluclay is pretty much a papire mache (spell?) And you can probably get it in Sweden at a Panduro Hobby, or perhaps wentzels in Stockholm has it

Hej Thomas
Check out Doc´s Dios. Brilliant articles on how to build dios for beginners
[url=http://fp.docdio.f9.co.uk/page/homepage.htm[/url]
Instead of celluclay ......... a lot of bad reports about it warping bases and cracking, try
"vitt vägg-och takspackel". It comes in tubes and already mixed. A few hours drying time for you to work with also. May crack a bit after drying, but can be filled in again with more of the same. I use it all the time. Can be bought in Clas Olssons, Ikea or any other DIY/Hardware store.

Here we go... first, your guy is walking... perhaps you could go with a dirt and gravel roadway... in a large scale such as 1:16, I'd recommend this step by step guide. I will assume the soldier is already built, detailed, and painted fully.

1) rough up the top of your wooden base, to allow for better adhesion.
2) put a white glue (100%!!!) coating on the base
3) sprinkle on HYDROCAL.. sold in any train hobbyshopd... makes fine, crack-free " dirt". While still wet, place the soldiers feet into the mix so that when we are done, he will have some "weight" into the ground itself.
4) After this drys, paint is a dark earth (coffee?) color and let dry.
5) Come back and dry-brush on a lighter shade of brown for highlights (tan)
6) Allow this to dry thouroughly... say 24 hours.
7) come back and sprinkle on clay Cat Litter (NOT the clumping kind!!!!). This will be larger "clods" of dirt, or perhaps rock. Don't TOTALLY cover the earth you made... about 70% coverage will work fine.
8) SPRAY on a mist of 1:1 diluted white glue and water. Soak the sucker! Let dry for 48 hrs.
9) Come back and highlight with a light gray, or a terra cotta brownish orange.
10) Soak an old house brush (light color bristles) in a green diluted paint overnight.
11) Take out the brush, and let it dry. Should be stained a "weed green" with some brown.
12) Hold clumps of bristle and clip of various lengths. Glue into the "side of the road" to have some weed growth. Line the roadway this way, on one side only. (FAR side, not Near)
13) Once the "weeds" have cured in the glue, come back and dry-brush the tips yellow or lavender.... just here and there... this will show some Autumn flowering
14) Place your soldier on the base... drill a hole in one foot, and insert a brass rod. Drill a matching hole into the base itself, and insert the other end of the brass rod, with a little CA glue.
15) go out and win first prize at your next contest!