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1⁄700Dockyard Diorama
Dockyard Diorama...
This is a segmented diorama, by this I mean, a complete diorama within itself, and by adding another segment the whole diorama is increased, the design is what I call ''simple'' as this consists of 2 pieces of material MDF one thickness for the actual base, and the other making up the actual dockyard. These are also designed as a shelf to merely fit into a cabinet, this diorama is 30 x 4 inches, now having 3 segments, I have 3 completed dioramas each measuring 30 x 4 and when placed side by side measures 30 x 12 inches.
A typical cabinet shelf (in may case) 30 inches by 4 inches, a length of MDF half inch thick is cut to size, varied shapes that will form the dockyard is from MDF a quarter of an inch thick, once you are happy with the design, leave to one side, the main shelf is now completed painted, dark blue, green, pick a colour for the sea effect, once dry, using acrylic gel medium go over smoothing as you go, place your designed dockyard in place and leave to completely dry.
Using 1-72 or HO brick/stone effect, this normally comes on A-4 sheets, cut this thinly as this will form the wall of the dockyard, have a look and you'll where this will go, paint the whole surface of the dockyard, stone grey (remember this is for one segment only) using PVA glue down your buildings, mine come from WEM and ebay, you could even copy them to save money, once these are down, apply small amounts for something called ''scatter'' this is mainly used for the scale railway, I believe there's such thing as a clean dockyard, so I like some rubbish scattered around, this is obviously glued down (I run a trail of glue and sprinkle the scatter on top, blow the waste off and there you have it) the camels are made from plastic (camel - those huge lumps of wood protecting the ship against the harbour wall).
Any type of hill is made from junk, you build this up, then cover the whole thing with decorators caulk or plaster using your fingers to get the shape you require, try different styles, mixing paint and scatter to get a nice flow.
The backdrop was a pain as most printers only produce A-4 size paper prints, and buying a backdrop is mega bucks, at times the easy ideas are the best ideas. This is simply wall paper £8.00 a roll from ebay stuck on a sheet of hardboard, bend it to shape, you can buy different wall paper and have many backdrops, and although the diorama will be the same, by changing the backdrop you'll change the mood of the diorama, now all you have to do is build another segment.