1:Diorama-Base: Factory Yard

What Factory Yard is

Groundwork for a diorama in 1:35 scale, listed under the designation Factory Yard, that is a factory yard. It gives the scene a finished foundation and a firm surface on which to stand vehicles and figures, so there is no laborious building of terrain from scratch. You can use it as a small scene in its own right for a display case and as part of a larger whole.

Preparation before painting

First wash the groundwork in lukewarm water with a drop of dish soap and let it dry properly; the paint will then hold noticeably better. Cut away excess material and traces of manufacture with a sharp blade a little away from the surface and sand the rest carefully so as not to damage the structure around it. Accessories and joints inside the scene hold well with cyanoacrylate glue, while two-part putty is worth using on larger mating surfaces. The particular preparation procedure is given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Painting and dusting the scene

It works well to spray a dark base over the whole surface, then once dry go over the raised edges with a lighter shade on a dry brush and finally deepen the joints with a darker glaze. Add dust, rust and spilled operating fluids sparingly and run them from the top downward, so that the traces match the way water runs across the surface. Apply the paint in thin layers; one heavy layer will drown the fine structure of the surface.

Who it is for

For builders of dioramas in 1:35 scale who want to stand a model in a setting rather than on a bare board, and for anyone looking for quick groundwork under one model for a display case. Paints, glue and other material for finishing the scene are not included in the delivery, unless stated otherwise.