Downhill Dilemma

This new diorama is something I started while waiting for some parts for my Bottles & Battles diorama.

The title ”Downhill Dilemma – Now we won’t make in time for afternoon tea” is just a workingtitle but right now it feels good enough. Later during the build I might change it depending on which direction the whole thing takes…

First I made the hillside using a Oasis block which is something florists use to keep flowers moist. It is very easy to cut and form. Once I had the correct shape of the hillside I wrapped it in thin plastic card. 

Next I use my mix of white glue and wall filler to create the surface of the hillside. To this mix I have added some small rocks and some sand to make the structure more rough.

Before the mix of white glue and wall filler has dried I sprinkle some more rocks and my trusted dried soil from the flowerpot. I spray the whole thing with some water the help the white glue bind the soil and rocks.

The next step is adding small sticks and other bits and pieces which I have found in the soil from the flowerpot. Told you it was a goldmine didn’t I? After the sticks and branches are in place i take some dried oregano which I crush between my fingers and sprinkle on top of the groundwork to simulate leaves. Another spray with the water and it is ready to dry.

This it how it looks after an hour with the airbrush using various brown Vallejo Air colors. The plastic card gets a matt black coat and the wooden base gets my standard mix of turpentine and Burnt Umber artist oils.

The whole process has taken roughly three hours not counting the time to photograph it and edit the pictures in the computer so you’ll have to agree that this way of doing dioramas is pretty fast…

This is the final layout of the scene, there will of course be figures and some green bushes to liven the thing up a bit but the main idea that was in my head has been visualized pretty close to how I imagined it…

Cheers and thanks for looking!

Sven-Åke