I was just thinking, instead of buying my supplies with my model, I should stock up on supplies first. Can you guys help me find out EVERYTHING that a good diorama maker should have on hand. I'm relatively new to making dioramas, I'm finishing my second one right now, and I want to know, what is or should be in a diorama makers toolbox. I mean i wanna know absolutely everything needed. I've seen the models that you guys have made and I envy how good they are, I know that supplies and tools are a big part of making them look great! Thanks

That's huge request because even guys who have been in the hobby for a long time always has a tool that they don't have in their kit

I'll start off with some stuff. I'm sure others will add to the list

For starters you probably want a good knife/xacto, a variety of sandpaper and files, different tip sized paint brushes, good lighting source to build. Tube glue, liquid glue, super glue

I also have a variety of pliers with different shaped tips. One of those contraption with the clips to hold things like a third hand. A Dremel tool. A drill.

oops, I mean the basics. Well what do you recomend to have in a diorama tool kit

Lots of cheap paint brushes, xacto knife heads, dremel for sure, cheap acrylic paints (big bottles).

If you are talking about building the actual dio bases and not the models then I suggest a lot of wood working tools. I have a table saw to rip my base boards. I have a miter saw to cut the trim. Palm or orbital sander to smooth out your woodwork. Jigsaw to cut out walls out of wood. Drills, hammers.

As for the composition of the dios that is really dependent on what you are making (snow scene, woods, urban, water, etc) I doubt any two people here on Big A use the same materials to achieve their look. Heck I don't even think I've built two dios using the same materials. I know in the last 3 years alone I have changed my techniques after a lot of experimentation with a variety of materials. I am still experimenting with different brand plasters and techniques.

There are some people who even have lathes to cut their own gun barrels. I guess there really is no standard. Everyone has and can afford a different amount of tools

Hmm. How about some foul, lots of paintbrushes, extra parts, fake water, molds, plaster, putty, lots of paints, lots of foliage and grass, hobby knives, extra decals, bags of sand and rocks( groundcover in general) sandbags, bricks, hedgehogs, barbed wire, sandpaper, glues, and tweezers. Sound good? Anything else?

Sounds good... Oh and don't forget IDEAS!!! Tons of them..

Stephen

Check out the "Features" section and the interesting articles in there.

The main thing is to have an eye to see what you can use from around the house/office. I have used straws for downpipes, I know others have used biro lids and the like for decorative posts on fences or walls. It just takes a bit of imagination :-) .

Plaster of Paris is very handy - I use it for making brick walls etc and the handy thing is that any leftovers can be put in a bag and broken up with a couple of taps from a hammer and voila ready made rubble.

I am sure that most people here are like me - that is you get part way through a model/dioarama and find that there is a particular tool/item that you REALLY need.........but at least you will have it for next time. (Well that is my excuse for a collection of tools etc that seems to be outgrowing my stash).

anyway - if you hav4e questions about achieving a specific effect (or on anything in particular) just ask here - you are sure to get good responses.

Brian

Get ready to rumble...

Start with a lot of money, on top of the items that can be used that cost little or nothing. Think bottom up or top down from the diorama's perspective. For example, from the bottom up you will need sculptamold and styrofoam and MDF or the like for the basework. Then, there are ground materials from real (fine) dirt, kitty litter, small rocks, bushes, weeds, flowers, rubble and the common items we often don't pay attention to such as trash, dead leaves, discarded items, streets, cobblestones, bricks, curbs, manholes, fire hydrants, critters and on and on.
Moving up, you have streetlights, tracks, trees (a whole world here-see "Supertrees or Supernuts" in "Features.
Buildings require anything and everything from foamboard, wallpaper, furniture, banners, windows, doors, roofing materials, chimneys, decorations, clocks, ivy,
Then you have the figures, armor, equipment, accessories, etc.
More to come...paints, pastels, brushes, knives, scrapers, drills, glues, pins, airbrush, compressor, booth.

IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE NUTS!!!

Sealhead

:-) ill have a bag'o'kitty litter in my room and not have a cat. I have the fine dirt, hobby knife, paints, brushes, sandpaper (not alot) and soome spare parts. Oh i have glue and tweezers, and some other stuff. I need a toothbrushed to io think. I could probably use that for something. ANd I need chalk for weathering

Im just using this as a guide, but so this is what I pretty much need:

Paintbrushes:
http://www.netmerchants.co.uk/product.php/3034/105/
Foil: http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/tes/tes50637c.htm
EZ Water: http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/woo/wooc1206.htm
Molds: http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/woo/wooc1236.htm
Plaster: http://edushop.edu4kids.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=677
putty: http://www.tamiya.com/english/products/87076light_curing_putty/
and other stuff. I have a question, how do you use all that stuff like the stuff used to make water and the casting compounds, and all that and what are they're uses. Ive never used any of that kinda stuff