Vietnam Diorama - 1:35 - US troops/vehicles, etc
- Thread starter pjgtech
- Start date
Ok, so we have a little update, its too bloody hot to do much, I'm just trying to stay cool TBH!
Been slowly working on the base.
Trying to get a realistic jungle/mud type substrate. I always try to layer up the colours as most ground surfaces are not just one colour.
Previously I had already used a dark brown and then added a lighter brown.
And then added a dark green....
And then added the first ground covering texture, static grass, or rather my version of it. Which is to paint on PVA where I want the grass to go, then mix up 2mm grass (dark and light) and scatter onto the pav using a large metal sieve. Seems to work ok (ish).
I have left the area under the hut with a large bare area and the tracks as I assume there would be less grass in those area.
The base will now be slowly loaded up with other foliage, ground cover plants, shrubs, bushes, ferns, palms, etc. It will be a slow process, building up the layers of plant life.
A bit like adding flesh colour to scale model figures, it immediately brings the figures to life IMHO......I think once you start adding the final ground cover colour/texture, it also immediately starts to bring the diorama to life.....
Been slowly working on the base.
Trying to get a realistic jungle/mud type substrate. I always try to layer up the colours as most ground surfaces are not just one colour.
Previously I had already used a dark brown and then added a lighter brown.
And then added a dark green....
And then added the first ground covering texture, static grass, or rather my version of it. Which is to paint on PVA where I want the grass to go, then mix up 2mm grass (dark and light) and scatter onto the pav using a large metal sieve. Seems to work ok (ish).
I have left the area under the hut with a large bare area and the tracks as I assume there would be less grass in those area.
The base will now be slowly loaded up with other foliage, ground cover plants, shrubs, bushes, ferns, palms, etc. It will be a slow process, building up the layers of plant life.
A bit like adding flesh colour to scale model figures, it immediately brings the figures to life IMHO......I think once you start adding the final ground cover colour/texture, it also immediately starts to bring the diorama to life.....
Just leaving it all to dry for a day, then shake off any excess that has not stuck, and/or fill in any areas where it may need it, but I wanted it to be a "patchy" look, rather than full blanket coverage, as there will be lots of other ground cover, plants, etc.
Nuther update...
Most plants now added, including small grass tufts, small ground cover tufts (light and dark), small fern type plants (red and green), larger large leaf type plants (red and green), additional wide leaf plants, small palms, large palms, small trees. Mostly stuck down after drilling small holes for stems/trunks and using PVA and/or CA. Then also added some forest type ground scatter, and gave it a spray of scenery fixer.
Some of the plants still look too new, a bit too plasticky, and a bit too brightly coloured, so once they have been left to settle/dry, etc they will be getting some attention to try to knock them back, and add a bit more realism hopefully. I have a couple of moss solutions (dark and light) and will also try a few paint touch ups, washes, etc, plus some extra bits of texture to add, so hopefully will look a bit better with a bit of fettling.
But, we are slowly getting there, and the plants now add a bit more interest, and I wanted to really pack them in, to try to give that "Jungle" feel....
Lastly the hut/checkpoint and ladder have also now been fixed in place....
Most plants now added, including small grass tufts, small ground cover tufts (light and dark), small fern type plants (red and green), larger large leaf type plants (red and green), additional wide leaf plants, small palms, large palms, small trees. Mostly stuck down after drilling small holes for stems/trunks and using PVA and/or CA. Then also added some forest type ground scatter, and gave it a spray of scenery fixer.
Some of the plants still look too new, a bit too plasticky, and a bit too brightly coloured, so once they have been left to settle/dry, etc they will be getting some attention to try to knock them back, and add a bit more realism hopefully. I have a couple of moss solutions (dark and light) and will also try a few paint touch ups, washes, etc, plus some extra bits of texture to add, so hopefully will look a bit better with a bit of fettling.
But, we are slowly getting there, and the plants now add a bit more interest, and I wanted to really pack them in, to try to give that "Jungle" feel....
Lastly the hut/checkpoint and ladder have also now been fixed in place....
Looks very good. I'd say you have the density about right and the shorter grass and mud go well. The bigger plants as you say need dulling down and when done maybe a matt varnish to lock in your washes and flatten the finish.
You work and achieve very quickly and are a pleasure to follow.
Thanks for sharing
Toto
You work and achieve very quickly and are a pleasure to follow.
Thanks for sharing
Toto
So done a little bit more on the plant life.
Added a moss wash, added some light model foillage, (light green and dark green and a yellowish one too). added a mud wash, added some small rocks/stones, generally tried to dull down the bright plants, and toyish shinyness, try to make them look a bit more realistic, but there's only so much you can do with cheap plastic parts!
Its improved the look a bit IMHO, not perfect by any means, but I'm reasonable happy with it. Especially for my first attempt at a "jungle" type setting.
Also added a couple more accessories to add interest, a chair inside the hut (can't see it in this photo), couple of sand bags, an extra ammo crate/box. Added some mud to the ladder steps and the entrance to the hut.
I think tomorrow it will get its final matt coat, then it will be on to the final staging of the diorama with the vehicle and figures.
Added a moss wash, added some light model foillage, (light green and dark green and a yellowish one too). added a mud wash, added some small rocks/stones, generally tried to dull down the bright plants, and toyish shinyness, try to make them look a bit more realistic, but there's only so much you can do with cheap plastic parts!
Its improved the look a bit IMHO, not perfect by any means, but I'm reasonable happy with it. Especially for my first attempt at a "jungle" type setting.
Also added a couple more accessories to add interest, a chair inside the hut (can't see it in this photo), couple of sand bags, an extra ammo crate/box. Added some mud to the ladder steps and the entrance to the hut.
I think tomorrow it will get its final matt coat, then it will be on to the final staging of the diorama with the vehicle and figures.
Looks very convincing.
Peter, do you have unlimited amounts of cash to spend on modelling ? 
Lol, I wish.... I'm living on my pension mate. Luckily I don't have too many expensive habits, don't drink, don't do dr*gs, happy with the wife so don't womanise, so I live within my means....I like my hobbies though, so happy to spend what disposable income I have on a few tools, materials, kits, etc.....Peter, do you have unlimited amounts of cash to spend on modelling ?
Looking great Peter, very nice work. Looking forward to seeing the figures and vehicles take their places.
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