I just joined today. I'm 20, from Arkansas. I'm haven't built that many models, but I've made quite a bit of dioramas. I collect Ultimate Soldier X-D and 32X figures and vehicles. I customize them a bit too. I've done a lot of dioramas in 1/18th scale, yeah, you heard me right, 1/18th scale. I've just got into 1/32nd scale and have built a few in that scale too. I'm currently working on a 1/32nd scaled European cottage witch looks like it'll blow the rest of my stuff out of the water. I've found some techniques that work well, but of which I've never heard of people using before, like using paraffin wax for stucco and thatched roofs. I've also used fake fur for grass and am currently using it for an improved thatched roof. Anyway, I'd appreciate it if you'd check out my site and tell me what you think. They aren't as detailed as the stuff I see here, but when you live on the edge of the world and don't have a huge budget you have to cut corners. #:-)

http://www.bracomadar.0catch.com (look under Military Customs for the pics)
I also have some more at...
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bracomadarcreations/ (look under Photos)

MS FrontPage isn't working right now on my computer, so I haven't been able to update. Hopefully I can get it fixed and add some more pics for ya soon.

Brad,
I took a long time browsing through your pages. Especially your recommendations on use of equipment, tools and produts. Your observations on the risks of using an X-acto are... interesting... to say the least. :-)
Welcome to Armorama. The Scratchbuilding forum will be happy to share your experience.

bracomadar
Just went on a trip to your web site. Impressive. To have done all of those diorama in the scale you did is a lot of work. Very good deal.

Welcome - I look forward to hearing your input.

Thanks guys. I was kind of worried not being accepted since I don't actually build a lot of models, but rather do figure customizing. They aren't too different when you think about it. I'm on another forum, but it's just aimed at the figures I collect and not a lot on modeling. I figured here I could learn a few tricks and maybe share some. I'm glad to be part of the forum. I started doing dioramas back in late 2000 - early 2001 when I first got into collecting XD vehicles and figures. Space does pose a problem after a while. Right now I'm considering getting rid of some stuff. It really doesn't take that long to build one of these. Depending on how much free time I got, and how detailed it is, it'll take me a week to a month, or two to build these. My parents hate it since I use the dinner table as my lab #:-) Since I use foam board a lot, they aren’t that heavy. The big problem is that there’s almost no pre-build accessories for 1/18th scaled stuff, especially buildings. Just about everything that’s in these is scratch built. That causes a lot of brainstorming.