need tips for making a diorama

[evilone]

This will be my first diorama ever so im kinda wet behind the ears.I have all the cars but need to make the shop.Any info will help me and will greatly be apreciated. A few questions i have is what material is needed for the walls and the base? Where can i find the shop tools such as grinders,tool boxes,welders,and lifts?

Edited July 26, 2010 by evilone

[Plasticfanatic]

You could use the Fujimi "Garage Diorama set" which include tools and several other goodies and a small display base, I think they actualy have two sets, the compleat garage and the tools alone, but not to sure if they are still in production I do see them from time to time at e-bay. Also some of the vintage Monogram NASCAR model kits had the "driver and tool set" as part of the kit, it was not that extensive and the tools where those of a typical "pit stop" ones. There are some other aftermarkets tool kits out there, so a quick web search could yield more results.

Hobby Design have photoecht tools set in 1/24 scale, but haven't see them in hand so don't know how good they are.

For the walls and depending the weight also the floor(laminated) you could use "foamboard" available at your local arts and craft store, is a quite nice,light,easy to cut and sturdy material that you can paint and detail for your garage scene, just dont put enamel or laquer paint in the middle foam core...if you are using hobby paints, cover it first with a strip of semi heavy cardboard and white glue, this step will not be nesessary if you use water based acrylic paints. You can make doors/windows and frames with Evergreen strips/squares or balsa wood. You could make the floor reom a piece of small diamet plywood and put some selfadehesive venner tape in the borders, for the "cement/shop floor" a nice 800 to 1000 grit sand paper will be great, and you can paint it any color and weathered as much as you like.

This are my personal tips, but more experience diorama builders in the forum could give you much better tips on materials and technics for your project.

Good luck with your diorama, sounds quite interesting!

[evilone]

  On 7/26/2010 at 4:59 AM, Plasticfanatic said:

You could use the Fujimi "Garage Diorama set" which include tools and several other goodies and a small display base, I think they actualy have two sets, the compleat garage and the tools alone, but not to sure if they are still in production I do see them from time to time at e-bay. Also some of the vintage Monogram NASCAR model kits had the "driver and tool set" as part of the kit, it was not that extensive and the tools where those of a typical "pit stop" ones. There are some other aftermarkets tool kits out there, so a quick web search could yield more results.

Hobby Design have photoecht tools set in 1/24 scale, but haven't see them in hand so don't know how good they are.

For the walls and depending the weight also the floor(laminated) you could use "foamboard" available at your local arts and craft store, is a quite nice,light,easy to cut and sturdy material that you can paint and detail for your garage scene, just dont put enamel or laquer paint in the middle foam core...if you are using hobby paints, cover it first with a strip of semi heavy cardboard and white glue, this step will not be nesessary if you use water based acrylic paints. You can make doors/windows and frames with Evergreen strips/squares or balsa wood. You could make the floor reom a piece of small diamet plywood and put some selfadehesive venner tape in the borders, for the "cement/shop floor" a nice 800 to 1000 grit sand paper will be great, and you can paint it any color and weathered as much as you like.

This are my personal tips, but more experience diorama builders in the forum could give you much better tips on materials and technics for your project.

Good luck with your diorama, sounds quite interesting!

thanks man this helps me out a ton now i know that to looks for and where

[Railfreak78]

Hey Kevin if you venture into outside the shop and want to model the grass/weeds/driveway/etc I suggest Woodland Senics. Mostly common in model railroads but very useful. I have had the same thoughts and just Really looked at the supplies this weekend and was rather impressed. Plus I have seen many good layouts with it I just have not tried it yet.

[charlie8575]

Kevin,

For the base, I'd suggest using 1/4" lauan plywood (ferquently sold as "Phillipine Mahogany,") it's not heavy at all, fairly sturdy and won't warp too badly.

If you want to make sure it's a little more rigid, take some thin, narrow wood and frame the perimeter of the base (something like 1/2 x 1" strapping would be perfect for this.)

For building walls, foamcore is good, or the solid structural insulation foam, like used under vinyl siding would be acceptable. Don't use the material with the foil on it, the composition of the foam is incorrect. It's also far too thick. The blue material (made by Dow) or pink (Owens-Corning) are both good, and can be obtained in 1/2" thickness, which is believable for 1/25 walls, or a nudge over a foot.

Window and door frames can be replicated with strip plastic. Look around the trim on your own house to get an idea of how it's shaped.

Philbass did a fantatic show-and-tell on how to do brick (and it could transfer to stone or concrete block without too many differences.) Check it out here. Restoratio

Claps can simulated with pieces of balsa or basswood glued to the foam. Board and batten siding can be simulated with flat planks and thin square sticks at the joints for the battens.

Windows can be made with thin clear plastic, with strips glued on it to simulate the frames and muntin bars (the bars that divide the glass into individual lights.)

Good luck with it.

Charlie Larkin

[highway]

  On 7/26/2010 at 4:59 AM, Plasticfanatic said:

You could use the Fujimi "Garage Diorama set" which include tools and several other goodies and a small display base, I think they actualy have two sets, the compleat garage and the tools alone, but not to sure if they are still in production I do see them from time to time at e-bay. Also some of the vintage Monogram NASCAR model kits had the "driver and tool set" as part of the kit, it was not that extensive and the tools where those of a typical "pit stop" ones. There are some other aftermarkets tool kits out there, so a quick web search could yield more results.

You have to be careful with the Fujimi Gararge sets, if the "Tools" on the box art is not highlighted, it is just the garage base. I last seen them in a hobby shop in my region about 2 or 3 years ago. Here's a couple pics of mine to show you what I mean, that's how I found out!

This is an older issue box, but this shows what I'm trying to explain, and this was how I found out!

See the way "Tools" is written in outlined letters and all the tool shapes are outlined? That means only the garage walls and floor is included, there are no tools in the kit.

This is the latest issue I got a couple years ago, and with this, all the outlines are solid printing, which means this is the complete "Garage and Tools" set.

The nice thing is if you would accidently goof like I did, the floors are made to attach to each other, and depending on how large of a garage you want, the kit says you can attach up to four floor pieces together. Also, it doesn't show it on the top box art, but the tools also includes a very nice modern multi position two post lift. You can just barely see it on the side of my second pic.

Another nice kit for a shop diorama is this MRC kit, which I believe was also issued as a Texaco station at one time.

As you can see in the second pic, the service station has mostly service station related items, and an older style one post lift.

Also, here is whay you would find in the NASCAR kits, again more pit stop orientated, but it does have a nice toolbox, nice floor jack, and two nice impact guns and air tank.

If you would like to go the aftermarket tool and accessory route. here are a couple links for you to check out.

http://www.seltd.net/index.html

http://www.scalemodelingbychris.com/index.htm

If you can't have a completely well stocked shop (including the bathroom!) from those two sites, you didn't look hard enough!!

Oh, by the way, if you would be interested in the tools from one of the old NASCAR kits, let me know, I think I have one or two more I could help you out with.

[JamesW]

Kevin, try scalemodelingbychris (SMBC), the link is in my sig.

Edited July 26, 2010 by grimreaper

[highway]

  On 7/26/2010 at 5:56 PM, grimreaper said:

Kevin, try scalemodelingbychris (SMBC), the link is in my sig.

Thanks for the backup, James! Chris' site is the second link I posted, and Scale Equipment LTD. is the first one.

[JamesW]

  On 7/26/2010 at 7:30 PM, highway said:

Thanks for the backup, James! Chris' site is the second link I posted, and Scale Equipment LTD. is the first one.

I hadn't noticed it cuz it doesn't show up as the full link. I swear by his products, great items at good prices and very reasonable and fast shipping.

[evilone]

Dude you guys rock!

Now when i get some cash this weekend i can go get the stuff to start my diorama. Im currently drawing it out and trying to find where to place 8 or 9 hearses,two trucks,and some regular cars.

Another question though. Where do you guys get the parts boxes (stereo unit,speaker packaging, oil cans,spray paint cans and stuff like that)?

[charlie8575]

  On 7/27/2010 at 5:10 AM, evilone said:

Dude you guys rock!

Now when i get some cash this weekend i can go get the stuff to start my diorama. Im currently drawing it out and trying to find where to place 8 or 9 hearses,two trucks,and some regular cars.

Another question though. Where do you guys get the parts boxes (stereo unit,speaker packaging, oil cans,spray paint cans and stuff like that)?

Scale Equipment, Ltd. SMBC, Detail Master and similar places are good places to start.

Charlie Larkin

[highway]

  On 7/27/2010 at 5:10 AM, evilone said:

Dude you guys rock!

Now when i get some cash this weekend i can go get the stuff to start my diorama. Im currently drawing it out and trying to find where to place 8 or 9 hearses,two trucks,and some regular cars.

Another question though. Where do you guys get the parts boxes (stereo unit,speaker packaging, oil cans,spray paint cans and stuff like that)?

I assume by the stereo unit and speaker packaging you are meaning the boxes they come in? I know that a friend of mine once made some scale pizza boxes that he found on a website, I think this was it.

http://www.printmini.com/printables/ph.shtml

I didn't see any stereo boxes there, but another way is either find or take pictures of the boxes you want. This also works for license plates, just put whatever you want to scale down about 25 feet away from you and take a picture. That way, when you print the pic, you can cut the box lid or whatever out of the pic, and it should at least be very close to 1/25 scale. As for the oil cans, the MRC kit I pictured earlier has oil cans in the kit, and I think the Fujimi kit may have some, too.

[Tradeshowjoe]

Hey guys, What's up? I love Scale Models by Chris. You should also go to E bay and look up the seller Flatheads Garage. I've bought stuff for my garage from him. Nice stuff, reasonable price and shipping.