Custom Building Bases/Dioramas

[hammerhorrorfan]

So, I'm thinking about starting a new project. I'm wanting to build up a nice diorama for my Horizon Frankenstein. A castle wall, or doorway that would resemble the likes of the movie. But I have no experience in custom building bases. Does anyone have some tips on materials I'll need or how to get started? It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Jethro]

I did a diorama for a Billiken Frankenstein from the scene you described.  The photos used to be on here but are gone now.  I used that green styrofoam that comes is sheets from a craft store and cut the floor and wall to size and cut the door opening.  I carved deep lines in the stryo foam to match the outline of the blocks and covered it with Durham's water putty .  I then took a sheet of thin balsa type wood and scribed lines in it at different widths to look like the planks on the floor and then built the door with balsa wood, including the bolts.
I will take another photo of it to show you how it came out.

[Paladin]

I've built military dioramas and they are a ton of fun to do but can be time consuming. Well worth it.

[westbatman]

I'm actually working on a base similar to what you described for a 1:4 scale Karloff Frankenstein. The door is finished but I have to do the wall and floor. The suggest for the foam and Durham's is a good recommendation, Durham's is inexpensive and dries rock hard. You can get it at most hardware stores. I made the door out of Balsa wood pretty much the way I figured the real one was built. The hardware was scratch-built out of styrene and for the square bolt heads I used square plastic stock and cut them off, one by one. I painted and antiqued them before I put them on the door. I'll try and post a picture soon.

Andy

[hammerhorrorfan]

Thanks for the suggestions. Looks like I have some shopping to do now. To Andy, is it the Adam Dougherty Karloff sculpt that you're working on?

[Paladin]

This site may be of some use to you, but it does tend to favor military dioramas. The basics are here and I sometimes refer to it when building one.
Some solid ideas.


http://www.stormthecastle.com/mainpages/dioramas/diorama_tutorial1.htm

[westbatman]

Yes, that's the kit. Beautiful sculpt by Adam. The fingers were thinned a bit in the casting process so I am working on those. Pics of the door tonight!

Andy

[hammerhorrorfan]

Cant wait to see it! Probably one of the best likenesses to Karloff I've seen in a long time. I'm hoping to get one, one of these days.

[westbatman]

Here are some shots of the work in progress. I've got to get this back on the bench! I've sanded off his hair as I will add real hair and I've also added real metal staples and straps. I've scratchbuilt the neck electrodes.

 


Andy

[hammerhorrorfan]

Its looking good so far! Random question regarding the monster, I've read that its 17 inches tall with the base that it comes on, how tall is the monster himself?

[westbatman]

Just measured the monster and he is 16" tall.

[hammerhorrorfan]

I just got the kit myself. Amazing piece for sure!

[FRANKEinstein]

Another trick you can use to quickly mimic stone texture on Styrofoam is with thinners.

-Get 2 spray bottles.
-Fill one with laquer thinner (or nail polish remover) and the other bottle with water.
-Lay the styrofoam down flat and lightly mist the thinner onto it.
-Be ready with the water bottle to quickly neutralize the thinners.
(a few tries and you'll see how quickly you need to do this!).

*Hint.....
If you're making a bricked background, make sure to
cut your grooves FIRST...
BEFORE texturing with thinners!
It looks more realistic this way!

Look forward to seeing your finished piece!

Jeff