Diorama help request

[Nanite]

So I like the concept, with the Heros of the MI figs breaking out of a ruined office building, but I botched the execution, and I don't know where to go from here.

 

Most of it is foam, with sanded tile grout and bits of wire and mesh for details, the figures are removable. I did a black primer coat, then some color washes.

 

I'm really unhappy with it right now, but I can't figure out what to do, thanks for any suggestions!

 

[Rastl]

FYI - I am in no way an authority on building terrain, but I won't let that stop me from commenting.

 

I think you need more bitz to make the concept work. Right now there are ruins but it's not clear what they are.

 

Also, the colors of the ruins aren't very defined. It all kind of blends together into a pale tan. Maybe some more surface detailing?

 

Drybrush the wire mesh pieces to draw them out?

 

Carve some more 'blast holes' in the walls?

 

Like I said, I'm no expert. But these are my suggestions.

[mooseyjoe]

I would try and create a stronger contrast between the inside of the building and the outside. Make the wall and the interior a bit grayer. Dry brush the mesh, and put some "inside stuff" like busted furniture in the building. This way it will be obvious that this is them busting out of a building, and not just peeking through any old wall.

[Digital M@]

So far it looks good, but I agree that you could better define the inside of the building.

[Darkstar]

What initially struck me was the two round holes in the main wall. They don't look like proper blast holes, they just look like material that has been gouged out.

 

I would try rebuilding them and then redestroying them. Try adding some cut up sprue around the blast holes to indicate bricks that have been crumbled from the blast. Also some scree mix added to the base in the form of cat litter or small ballast add to the scattered rubble effect.

 

Also, the walls could use some rebar poking out of the edges, either sprue, cut up coat hangers, matchsticks or other bits like that will work well.

 

As it stands now this looks like a good foundation to add more detail too, a good start as it were, so don't get discouraged.

 

Oh yeah, the edge of the base needs some work as well, it's too clunky looking. Maybe add some filler then smooth sand it.

 

Whenever constructive criticism is asked for, I always give it point blank because I know that's the kind that I like to get when I ask for it.

[Nanite]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

 

What initially struck me was the two round holes in the main wall. They don't look like proper blast holes, they just look like material that has been gouged out.

 

There's a good problem, they're supposed to be windows, I think I'll use GS and smooth them out, then try and make frames.

[Niloc]

When I first seen this I completly missed the round windows

I don't know if this would help any, but I took a different spin on the front of the building and ran it through PS.

 

Instead of three round windows I made one wide door and a large window. The top half of both is gone ... just frame left. Just an idea.

 

Hope it helps some .... It's gonna look cool when it's done

[coogle]

Possibly even painting fake bricks? and running scorch patterns on the openings... not bad though

[dargrin]

For me I like the last two posts.

 

Making the brick might be tricky if the foam is set in place. I would remove the piece (the wall) and carve up the brick wall with the Niloc wall suggestion. I did a brick wall out of foam a while back. Maybe this is what you may want to do but add the scorch marks?:

[dargrin]

You know I was thinking. If you want the wall just PM me your address and I will send it. It is just sitting in a box in my basement. At least someone can put it to use.

[Nanite]

Wow, nifty PS Niloc!

 

Your right, I'm going to extend the wall up more, but preserve the circular bottm section. I'll GS in frames (then break them), and I've got some heavy clear plastic from packing material that will work great as glass shards.

 

Hang onto that wall Dargrin, you'll use it eventually!

[dargrin]

Fair enough.

 

Just as a thought on the glass shards, if you buy any of the Warlord line. The blister comes with this thin sheet of plastic to cover the data card. You may want to use some of this for your glass.

[smokingwreckage]

If you want the wall to be concrete, remember concrete is almost always reinforced with steel mesh. You could (and I saw this done on some 40K terrain in White Dwarf) stick some short lengths of wire down from the top trepresent the reinforcing in the ruined walls. Then bend and mangle them outwards to show the force of the explosion that stripped them bare. Also the structural concrete will have been lined inside and out with a layer of "rendering", so looking down on the piece, you'd have the cool darker grey of the structural concrete forming the wide centre "stripe", with two outer stripes of light grey or tan (use a browner colour for the interior side). There might also be pipes or cabling embedded in the wall itself that are now exposed at the top.

 

Maybe put some pipes and cables sticking out of the interior floor rubble, I've seen this done a lot (again in White Dwarf), you can then paint them to be copper pipe or coloured cable sheathing, etc. Put some remnant patches of static grass on the outside ground to represent the ravaged, once-lush lawns of this corporate estate (or whatever it is you decide it used to be).

[Nanite]

Reboot.

 

Thanks again for all the suggestions and advice. I got so fed up with the diorama that I've scrapped it in favor of something simpler:

 

 

 

The idea is the MI facing a bug hole, that's about it. I may be using too big a base though, so I either need to shave some off, or add more details.

 

What do you all think?

[Sergeant_Crunch]

If you're looking for a Klendathu type effect, make the hill in the corner larger, add some ballast to make it look like a scree slope.