So, I got some good feedback last night and was going to repaint the base of my diorama. I brought it inside and took a look and now wonder if it's really necessary.
The first picture was taken at night with a flash and I color and light corrected in photoshop.


These were taken outside in natural sunlight with no photoshop adjustment at all.




So - do you still think I should repaint it a different color???


Thanks

the only thing I would have done differently is to have grey pavement stones rather red ones, and red road cobblestones rather than yellow.

It's not that you won't ever see yellow cobblestones.. just not in North-western europe ( Holland, Belgium, Danmark and Germany ) .

You could see yellow cobblestones in cities like Prague though.

Hi Scott,

First my compliments on the dio! Great looking and impressive building! The water is just d@@@ good!

The street and building erea I would indeed give a bit work. I think it has the following 'problem': The colours are to much 'seperated' from each other. Try to find a way to 'blend them together' if you know what I mean. Perhaps making the building look more 'dusty' and the street more dirty will help also (it's a very clean street now; 100 points for the city public service).
Canal walls may have some white chalky stains due to influence from the water.
But 'blending' is my major advice for this dio!

Just my 2 cents!

Paul

The colurs are fine as base colours, but they need toning down and blending, maybe a general dry brush with a light grey and a misting with some buff paint would do this. Another option is grinding artists pastels (not oil pastels) to dust, suspending the powder in some Tamiya thinners and using that as a wash - like you might do with armour.

The canal looks great though, and I can't wait to see your forthcoming updates.

Having never been to Europe I really have no idea what streets look like over there but the two things that I feel doesn't seem right

1. I have always had the impression isthat the roads were more gray, or a least have grey mixed in.

2. I can't see a curb where the brick meets the cobblestone. I have always envisioned a curb along the sidewalks

Ciao slodder,
Do you mean the street color or the actual base itself? I think it looks great as is, just way too clean. I like the color choices for the roadway, but I agree with the need for blending. I think that they constrast each other too much. Paul is right, though. That water is outstanding!! The entire dio is really gorgeous!! Congratulations!!
Alan, I think I see a curb running along the sidewalk.
Ciao for now
Rob

Thanks guys I appreciate the feedback.
My 'main' question was the vertical wall that is the deep red. In the 1st picture it's way bright.

I agree with you guys - pastels are needed and will come when the M16 is added. Maybe even a brownish wash one more time.

I like the idea of chalky stuff on the canal

There is about a 2mm tall curb that is hard to see in these photos.

Ciao slodder,
I was the one who mentioned about the red border of the base. I just think that the red detracts from the scene. I was thinking that a more neutral "earth" tone might be more subtle and thus reduce anyone noticing the base. Just an idea.
Ciao for now
Rob

Great Job... if you were done I would comment

GET DIRTY

but your not done. What you have is a great beginning to add figures, models and your story... and to then make it look live in.

Right now it is a great Disneyland street - color look good, overall appeaa is great. Next step will to be to bring itto life...

Excellent work. I look forward to seeing what is next.

Neill

Looking good so far Scott, I have to agree with the others, its TOO CLEAN, it needs more GRUNGE.

On another note - the water is great, add debris on the land like you have on the water and your gonna be spot on!

Scott,

Your building and the canal are beautiful, and with a bit of dirt and a wash to blen the house it will be perfect. But, (sorry) that road is to Yellow. To me it says " Follow the Yellow Brick Road"...( I can see what's her name skipping along it with her little dog as I type .... :-) ) . I think the road should be a grey tone, or maybe red with a very grey hint. Sorry, but comming from Holland, where these roads and squares are still very prevalent, I feel the yellow is wrong.
But I'm very impressed with your canal, very authentic. Like said, a few (horizontal) white 'scum' lines on the wall would really finish it off.

Great job Scott

Henk

I Love it Slodder,
Is the building Scratchbuilt?? Going to a big Dio. Keep up the good work






Jeff

Scott,
I still think that the red is too bright. I still recomend that you go with black. I think the rest of the dio will be fine once you do your weathering. Hope this helps.

Scott,
Looking exceptional, I have looked at the base a few times since you posted yesterday (?) I see a drastic difference between the flash vs. the natural light and the red of the natural light doesn't jump out as the flash photo, however I think is still could be toned down a little. It seems to draw ones eye from the dio itself, although I don't think I would completely abandon the color.

Jay

Thanks all - the red outside edge will be gone soon. The yellow will be toned down with at least a few washes, pastels, and maybe even a new coat of paint. Not sure if I'm going to go with a gray?? I'll have to see how it goes.... I do appreciate the comments and I am considering what to do...

Thanks all - drinks on me

Hey Scott. Still looking a treat!
My humble opinion is that even though there is a 2mm kerb from off the pavement to cobblestone level, there should be a channel under it approx. 5-10mm wide (to scale) for the water flow. (Non-paved) A slight gradient from the centre of the road to the kerb should be present for surface water, although not a necessity and probably too late anyways...
Think the others' opinions are near the mark too
Gonna hit you up for help on my impending dio, but being my first it's only going to be smallish...
Cheers
Brad

These links might be usefull. They are in Danish, but the pictures clearly shows the variation, in the colors of granite, as used in Denmark and I assume most European countrys. The grey tones are by far the most used granite.

http://www.andresen.as/list_articles.php?catid=19&subcatid=&subcategory=&query=&search=&start=10&pagenumber=2

http://www.andresen.as/articlelist.19

http://www.andresen.as/articlelist.20

http://www.odsherred-fliser.dk/granitindex.htm

Jesper - Thank you! Thanks for posting the links - dead spot on! 2nd link bottom section 3rd image to the right is the color I need!!!! That is kinda what I was "Trying" to get to but was going from eyeballing it. These are great! Color to be changed! I didn't realize how much "red" is in there too.

Anytime mate. Glad I could help out.

I have no doubt, this will be an awesome dio.

Scott

nice looking diorama, i would in my opinion repaint the base wall (the red one running all around creating the height from the water so that it matched your actual base). It looks like it is taking the colour from the rest of your diorama.

The bright base catches the eye before anything else, a netural colour would help tone the rest. I generally use a satin black acrylic by Humbrol for mine, so it not to shiny or to matt.

i Also use a wash off paynes grey oil paints (more tinted thinner, than thinned paint) as this will tone all you colours down and help when blending

here is a link to an old article that i did which explains in more detail how i go about it

http://www.digitaldioramas.com/2002/jun02/features/dd_forsyth1.php

carnt wait to see it finished

keith forsyth