Red Marble - Sheet

Red Marble - Sheet: a sheet with a red marble pattern

A flat backing material used under a finished model, a bust or a small scene. The pattern imitates red marble, that is a strongly colored stone, and such a pattern is handled differently from a neutral white or black one.

A strong pattern needs a restrained model. A red surface draws the eye and can drown the model out. It works best under single-color vehicles, under busts in metallic tones and under figures with dark or cool colors, where it serves as a counterweight. Under a model in warm ocher and brown tones, by contrast, the two colors fight each other and the whole loses contrast.

Watch the neighbors in a display case. Models standing side by side on a red and on a neutral backing compete with one another. Either give the same sheet to all the exhibited pieces, or reserve it for the single model that is meant to be the main one.

Use and tips

• Before attaching it, just stand the model on the sheet and photograph it; a photograph reveals a clash of colors sooner than a display case does.
• When photographing, dampen direct light, otherwise the saturated color reflects into the lower part of the model.
• Lay the sheet on a cleaned surface and press it from one edge to the other, so that no air is left under it.
• Keep the offcuts from the edges; they come in handy for small plinths and for test cuts.

Who it is for

For modelers who exhibit individual pieces and want to set them apart with a striking backing, and for those who photograph their models and are looking for color contrast. Check the size of the sheet, its thickness and the material against the details on the box.