1:35 Modern Sidewalk

Modern Sidewalk 1:35 — a printed base for a diorama

A printed paper sheet in 1:35 scale from ETA diorama with the motif of a modern sidewalk. It is not a plastic kit or a waterslide decal: the sheet is trimmed to the size needed and glued to the base of a diorama as a flat surface. For the quick building of an urban vignette it is the simplest way to get convincing paving under a model without engraving and casting.

Trimming and credibility of scale

The trimming is the key. The pattern of the paving should always meet the edge of the base and the edge of the roadway, so cut the sheet along the line of the joints, not along a rule set to the dimension of the base. A sidewalk also needs a curb — paper has no height of its own, so add a strip of plastic or card along the edge. When you glue the base to a hard board, first coat the whole board with glue and smooth the paper out from the middle outward, so that no bubbles are left under it.

Tips for gluing and weathering

• Glue the base with PVA glue applied over the whole area with a thin roller or a brush.
• Bring out the joints with a dark wash; the print has no depth of its own.
• Add dust and dirt with pigment, mainly along the curb and at the walls of buildings.
• Mask the transitions between the sidewalk and the terrain with fine scatter and dry grass.
• Matte clear coat at the end protects the surface from rubbing while the diorama is handled.

Who the sheet is for

For builders of urban dioramas, vignettes and simple bases under vehicles and figures in 1:35 scale. Also suitable for modelers who want to build a scene quickly and without plaster or resin parts.

It is a printed paper accessory for a diorama, not a kit and not a waterslide decal. Glue, paints and other accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.