1:35 Beachhead Defense [Diorama Base]

The real subject

A defended coast is among the most rewarding subjects for a diorama. A defensive position on a beach combined concrete structures, obstacles sunk into the sand and obstacles in the surf, so that in a small area you meet concrete, sand, wood and steel. Thanks to that the scene is varied in its materials and yet legible: the viewer recognizes at once where it is set and what is brewing in it. It is precisely for that reason that a beach appears in display cases again and again, whether with equipment or with figures alone.

A base for a scene in 1:35 scale

The base makes up the finished foundation of a scene. It gives it shape, variation in height and a defined area, so the most laborious part falls away, namely building the terrain from nothing. The extent of the features rendered and the dimensions of the board are stated by the maker; plan out accordingly how many figures and how much equipment will fit onto the scene without its losing air.

Building and painting tips

Wash and degrease the base before painting, so that the paint holds. Paint the sand in layers: a light base, a darker glaze into the hollows and a dry brush along the edges at the end. Concrete is never gray in a single color; it will take a hint of warm and of cool tones alike and stains from damp at the foot. Plan out the placing of the equipment and the figures dry and only then glue them; a scene should have one focus and free space around it that lets that focus stand out. Cover the transition between the board and the frame you seat the scene into with a strip or with dark paint, so that the eye does not run off along the edge.

Who it is for

For modelers who want to build a diorama scene without the drawn-out construction of terrain, and for those looking for a setting for finished figures and equipment in 1:35 scale. Figures, equipment, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.