Mini Dio For photographing figures

Sorry folks , I remembered to late to do a complete walk through , but hopefully the pics and description will give you an idea how it was made , and hopefully inspire you .

     O.k so I started off with three blocks of Oasis , this is the stuff used for flower arranging . It likely comes in all shapes and sizes , mine were ( I am guessing here ) approximately nine inches long by three and half wide by three deep  . I joined these together with cocktail sticks , and then covered them in stuff called Mod Rock . This is basically the same stuff used in hospitals , that they use too wrap around your limbs if your unfortunate enough to brake a bone . I used some wet scrunched up kitchen towel on top of the Oasis and applied the Mod Rock over the top . This gave the dips and texture to the service of the Diorama . I did add some paint to the Mod Rock but it did not work that well , and came out far to light . This is how it looked at this stage . I would leave it over night between each stage , to make sure everything is dry .



So after this I coated it twice in watered down PVA glue , looking back I should of just used neat PVA , this seals it nicely . I then coated it in dark brown Acrylic paint ( Raw Umber ) . And then I kind of dry brushed over the top with Raw Sienna , with a touch of the Raw Umber mixed in . This gives the Red coloured clay look I was after , as it is to represent the Vietnam jungle .

 


    So once this stage had dried properly , I use a small pin vice to drill holes and place in artificial plants that I have had for some years , with this idea in mind .  I then got some old dead leaves from the garden , scrunched them up in a plastic bag , and then dabbing some more PVA glue on the base I sprinkled the dead leaves on , and gently pressed them down . Leave to dry again , and gently shake and blow off the loose dead leaves . This last part I learnt from a Tony Barton tutorial . This is how it looks now .



  Hope that made some sense , and inspires you to have ago .

So this project was literally "years in the making," huh? Or at least, "years in the waiting."

You accurately captured the color and "slipperyness" of the muddy Vietnam soil that was in some images you shared recently on chat.

The bamboo looks fantastic "planted" in the base. You achieved an effective "random" appearance to the planting, giving the forest a wild nature look. The dried leaves technique really adds a level of realism to the base.

Do you coat the dried leaves with a spray varnish of some kind or perhaps more glue to give them a bit more durability? Are they fairly solid, or will the leaves be subject to crumbling?

Thanks Dave , it`s my first attempt at anything like this really , and you could say it has been years in the waiting I literally just attached the leaves as they were , only time will tell how they will fair , but your ideas are good . I think it would be better to add the leaves to the floor and coat them in something before planting the other stuff . Not keen on sprays , but maybe a spray on matt varnish or something . I think you can spray on watered down PVA , but you don`t get many uses out the spray bottle . Thanks for the suggestions and taking time to comment .

Great tutorial. I'd love to know where those plastic plants came from. They would look just right in my version of Dinosaur Valley,

Awesome work chip! that will make a great mini dio for figure shots. As Dave says, the random planting really does give a fantastic feel of being out in the wild.

Chip wrote:

I literally just attached the leaves as they were , only time will tell how they will fair , but your ideas are good . Not keen on sprays , but maybe a spray on matt varnish or something . I think you can spray on watered down PVA , but you don`t get many uses out the spray bottle.

I wonder, what if you used hair spray? It should hold down the crumbled leaves, but I don't know if it would be reflective or shiny?

Nice tutorial.

Outstanding work Chip

Thanks for the kind comments and suggestions . Can not help much with the plants Gary , as mentioned had them for some years . Perhaps a search for plastic Bamboo and ferns may bring up something useful . I think I go mine in a sale at a garden centre .

Great idea and nicely done..

Thanks RG .

Nice work Chip! This looks really good!

Cheers Sarah .

Nice work Chip, I think it gives a great impression of being 'in country' and will work well with your figures.

Thanks Roy .

That's going to be a great backdrop for your Nam figures -- beautiful work!!!

Thanks Gilbri .

Great job Chip.

Cheers Colin .