First try

[slant6]

Im about to make my first try at building a diorama. I was hoping to get some tips from some of you who are more experienced than myself. I am planning to do a '77 Jeep CJ7 rock climbing/off roading. A couple of the things Id like to know are

1. How do I make the tires look like some of the air has been let out for traction?

2. So far all of my models were built to look as close to showroom quality as possible. How do I make dents?

3 How about rips in the seat fabric?

I think I can handle the Mud, rust and weathering with a little practice, but I may be back to ask about that too.

I would also like to know about making a little bit of a hill. I was thinking of using that expanding spray foam (comes in a can) and carving it out, any other suggestions?

[Spike]

not sure how to do any of the thing your askin bout but the dents lol. get a lighter and heat it up whereever you want a dent (not to much though) and just push it in a lil bit here and there. i would practice on a junk body 1st though.

as for the hill, i dont see why the expanding foam wouldnt work, hell itll even add terrain at the same time

[evilone]

for the seats you can get a lighter,heat the bottom of the seat,get an xacto knife,and cut a hole in the seat,then add some seat springs and presto a f@#$ed up seat is made

[Mike Whatshisname]

For dents, dremeling a bit of plastic away from the area is a bit more controllable than using a lighter and melting them into the body. This can also distort the body and cause it not to fit onto the chassis. Dremeling and sanding is more controlable. Dremeling the plastic thin from behind the seats and then using an exacto to make the "rips" always works great.

As for the tires, using a lighter is a good idea to soften the tires and slowly mold them to the shape you are looking for. Use a dowel that fits through the center of the tire as you do not want to lose the shape of the inner tire so that your wheels end up not fitting. Hold the tire, in the dowel, over the flame for a second and press the tire against the table or workbench to get the look. Do this slowly, a little at a time, as you may "melt" the tire and then you will need to start over with a new tire.

Piled styrofoam, blueboard or molded plaster of paris are ways to go for your rock formations. Glue blue board or styrofoam onto your base into the shape of the rock and then cover the area with a thin layer of plaster (local hardware store) or hydrocal (Woodland Scenics makes this and is available in cartons at your well stocked LHS). Water soluble paints can be added to the plaster or hydrocal mix to help in coloring your scene.

Good luck and keep us updated with pictures.

[slant6]

I just started working on this so pix will be coming soon. I just have to figure out how to shrink them a little so that I can actually upload them, they are way to big now. Thanks for the tips though, I really appreciate everyones help and am looking forward to hearing more.

[Guest Gramps-xrds]

If you're using photobucket, it will resize them for you.

[slant6]

Never used photobucket before, but that'll do the job.

Hope I did it right. Ive just taken a few more progress shots, but they're still on my camera.

[Mike Whatshisname]

Those headers look great Will. Keep er going!

[slant6]

The rocks were found outside my apartment while walking the dog. I havent done to much with the Jeep that is going to be climbing the hill, I got excited about my first "landscape" (BTW, any suggestions are greatly appreciated). I think I need some trees. More car pix to come soon.

[slant6]

And a Couple more.

[chris731]

Motor looks great!

[slant6]

Motor looks great!

Thanks. Its nice to get get good comments on my first try. Heres a couple more progress pix.

Thanks for all the encouragement

[Mike Whatshisname]

First try???? Man, you obviously have been getting some good advice or you are following the tips here and doing a great job. That engine bay looks fantastic!

[Tony T]

Wow! Nice work on the Jeep! Looks fabulous!

[slant6]

First try???? Man, you obviously have been getting some good advice or you are following the tips here and doing a great job. That engine bay looks fantastic!

Thanks. I have been getting alot of great advice, and I try to follow it as well as possible. There are so many great builders on here, that at times Im a little overwhelmed with the tips, thats ok though. Ive been looking out for everday Items to use to (another suggestion from the forum). All of the wiring you see is just from a spool of small gauge copper wire that Ive had sitting around or years. The floor mats are the rubber stuff under my toolbox at work. I seem to have deletet the pictures of my base but Ill repost 'em. I think Id like to do more trees and bushes though.

[slant6]

I finally finished my Jeep. Id like to thank everyone one more time for all the help and encouragement.

[Eshaver]

Mr, six, if that is your real name, uhmm dents well hold the piece over a candle. in my former days as a chain smoker my trusty japanise repair kit made in Bradford Pennsylvania did well as a heating element, When the plastic softens quickly take a pencil eraser and push the plastic in or out as for making tires appear semi inflated, try heat as well When they are soft, you can then distort them to appear flat I"ve had a degree of sucess on both Monogram before Revell's buy out and A M T 's tires. For what its worth I used to replicate mud with flour mixed with Testors Model Master paints on a couple of wreckers I built They turned out so well I took them to work .My boss who was always negative about me even said it looked like real dirt.

[george 53]

######, Will, for your 1st try you shore dun good.Looks real nice.I likes it!