1:35 Stairs base

A diorama base with a staircase in 1:35 scale

A finished base for a small scene whose main feature is a staircase. Bases of this kind solve the most unpleasant part of building a diorama: before you start working out how to stack the steps and keep them level, the scene is founded and you can turn to painting and to placing the figures.

Why stairs in particular

A staircase brings height into a scene, and with it a second level of the action. A figure does not have to stand on a flat surface but can sit on a step, stop halfway up or head upward. The viewer also gets a line along which the eye is led, so even a small scene looks thought through. Stairs suit city buildings, a courtyard and a ruined house alike.

Building and painting tips

• Try the arrangement of the figures dry before painting so that you know where the eye will go.
• Cut the surplus material away with a sharp blade a little clear of the part and sand the rest off.
• Wash and degrease the base before painting, otherwise the paint will hold badly.
• Stone and concrete come out well after a dark wash into the joints and a dry brush in a lighter shade.
• Dirt, dust and small rubble belong in the corners and at the foot of the steps, that is exactly where they collect in reality.

Who it is for

For builders of figures and small scenes who want a finished base instead of building from nothing, and for anyone who wants to place a single figure in a setting rather than just on a plinth.

The package contains a base for a diorama. Figures, vehicles, paints and glue are not part of it, unless stated otherwise.