My First Diarama

[Niloc]

Hey all ... it's been a long time (couple months anyway) since I've posted anything and I just completed a diarama for my brother aka Jayman as a welcome home present.

 

As you can imagine, prep work prior to priming was interesting. Lots of mold lines and holes filled with GS, little details and so on. This project was more over an excersize in painting clothing and freehand.

 

But somewhere along the way, turned into a gift ... glad he liked it :-)

 

 

The figures come from the dollar store, in a bag of 50 Here's a comparison shot for size:

 

As always, comments, critique, suggestion most welcome :-)

[Digital M@]

Let me be the first to say, that is very cool. Green army men will always have a special place in my heart and they are probably what led to my love of lead and pewter.

[mooseyjoe]

wow, i think you have made me seriously consider gifting my father with about a hundred painted army men. He finds great satisfaction in historicals (i enjoy playing them, but would rather invest in things like warlord). Now the only problem is to find some germans in a similar price and scale

[LordColdsteal]

Very cool.. and that base is outstanding! How did you do the rocks?

[Vikinglodge]

Thats cool, I remember sitting for hours setting up hundred upon hundreds of army men when I was little i liked the tiny one 15 mm I think they were plastic. Great work tho I am sure he loved it

[deep_sashelas]

Very nice. For your first diorama, you've certainly got the sense of action down pat. Everyone facing in one direction and shooting gives good drama. And there's a sense of balance without being too symmetrical.

 

Stuff that might be fun to do for your next (46 more army men? ) would be to add cover like a hedge, broken walls, trees, barbed wire, etc. Maybe even some casualties.

 

I've always believed the shabbiest bit of plastic can be made to look good with a good paint job and presentation, and you've added more proof. Now to stop me getting inspired to rummage through cheap toys and actually refocus on accumulated minis.

 

I have to ask, is that a CD base? What did you use to fill in the hole in the center? Been looking for ideas for similar base presentation, so this is real helpful to see.

[Digital M@]

I have to ask, is that a CD base? What did you use to fill in the hole in the center? Been looking for ideas for similar base presentation, so this is real helpful to see.

Something as simple as masking tape can be used to cover the hole in the center.

[Froggy the Great]

Be careful though, I managed to warp a CD somehow. I think it was using white glue to lay down the initial layer of flock, then using superglue to put down subsequent layers before the first had dried.

[Niloc]

LordColdsteal: The rocks are wood chips and cork, and drybrushed.

 

deep_sashelas: The hole in the CD was filled with GS prior to priming.

[Steven Page]

Very nice work, Colin. Having done a lot of work with 54mm toy soldiers, its amazing what a good coat of paint can do for such a plain looking figure, out of the bag. the soldiers look good, and the diorama realy shows them off to good advantage.

[Frankthedm]

Wow, cool. Dolllar store minis are my favorites[see my death giant]. Great work!!!

 

BTW the dollar tree chain seems to be selling bags of 25MM to 28MM Knights and ninjas as socking stuffers. [i bought seven bags for painting and cutting up for casuaties.

 

I would not be surprised if those offshore manufactures are using metal minis as masters, i saw cheap dragon toy that was dead ringer for a ral partha D&D min.