discussion Best material for base board on a diorama?

[pjgtech]

With an upcoming diorama for the PBI GB, I will need a decent base upon which to build.

What materials do people use?

For the couple of small diorama's that I've built so far, I have just used plain foam type board, eg: 5mm Polyester type A4 boards.
They were ok, but I am slightly concerned that my next diorama will be a bit bigger, approx 450mm by 250-300mm, ish....
Foam board is ok, but its a bit light and slightly flexible, I suppose I could double it up and stagger the joints maybe?

Anyway, open to ideas and suggestions on what others use as a base for diorama's.

Cheers

 

[Airborne01]

I use MDF, old picture frames or else anything else that seems appropriate! (PS reference a later post that I've just replied to - don't even think of leaving - I wanna see your PBI production!)
PM me if there's something you would like to talk/rant over mate!)
Steve

 

[pjgtech]

Thanx for the offer, but not me leaving mate, its someone else, but sad to see if they do go....

 

[PaulTRose]

Fibre board......i just bought an A2 size 5mm thick....less than a fiver from hobbycraft.....going to cut it into 3 stick together to make 15mm thick.......by time ive added some filler im hoping its going to quite sturdy

I have ysed sheet polystyrene in the past

How big do you need?

 

[pjgtech]

My Dio will be about 450 x 250 ish, I have some of the A4 foam boards (5mm thick), but one won't be enough, so may need to stick some together?
Have also looked at hardboard, and MDF, and maybe even some solid insulation type board?

 

[Airborne01]

MDF is good, just be careful in the preparation mste
Steve

 

[pjgtech]

Just coming back to this thread again. My last diorama (commando car in forest ammo/ re-supply dump), I found that the base (5mm foam board) warped, and its also warped on another one, my old PBI dio. I still have lots of foam board, so don't want to just throw it away.
Would adding another layer under the foam board stop it warping, eg: I'm think of sticking it with pva to maybe some thin balsa wood sheets, or thick type cardboard or something similar?
Cheers

 

[scottie3158]

Peter,
I use off the shelf picture frames for most of my bases. After removing the glass I use the hardboard sheet in the frame and stick the foam board to this, one it stops the warping and you get an exact fit in the frame.

 

[minitnkr]

I use aged (bin rescued) shelf material, plywood (hardwood frame for stability),or Masonite (hard pressed paper & glue) w/wood frame for base and foam board (paper both sides w/foam in middle) or foam packing material for topography, glued w/PVA and smoothed where needed w/taping compound. Used these for decades w/no warping.

 

[Neil Merryweather]

I used foam board professionally for many years. Make a shallow tray(25mm deep?) and diagonally cross brace it . If necessary use small triangles to keep the sides at 90degrees.Then turn it upside down, job done, model base. If you want you can enclose the bottom as well. 10mm foamboard is better, but it should work with 5mm for smaller bases. Use uhu glue rather than PVA because of the moisture content.

 

[pjgtech]

Cheers, think I may have some hardboard (possibly 8mm) in the garage, so may investigate that option, its only going to be a small dio base, not too large.

 

[Jim R]

I have found that if you glue a sheet of thick paper to the underside it minimises warping. The terrain on the top can shrink and warp the board. The paper underneath also shrinks and counteracts that warp.
5mm is only really suitable for very small bases.