Display base??

Ideas for displaying your models.
Post Reply
User avatar
DazDaMan
Modelling Gent and Scholar
Posts: 5643
Joined: March 7th, 2012, 3:45 pm
Location: Penicuik

Display base??

Post by DazDaMan »

Right, I'm building a Spitfire for a veteran, and would like to put it on a base.

I have an old place mat (made from some kind of wood) and would like to put it on a grass/earth-kind of base. Something basic, but nice to look at, if nothing else.

Can anyone tell me the best/easiest ways to go about it?

Something like this, I suppose:

http://www.bowemodels.com/images/dioramas/job_done.jpg;
Daren

Half-assed Spitfire builder!
User avatar
bluesteel
Parties like it's 1977
Posts: 1662
Joined: April 5th, 2011, 3:51 pm

Re: Display base??

Post by bluesteel »

If you have Railway Hobby Shop nearby just go for some of the multi-colour flocks they use for grass and gravel. Spread on a thin layer of PVA, dust the flock on and shake off. Voilà! A grassy base. Sometimes I mix the flock with a little sand or gravel to give a rougher look and texture.
Bluesteel

You can never have too many Meteors/Chipmunks/Gazelles/Jet Provosts/EE Lightnings/Hunters/Harriers/Tiger Moths!

------------------------------------------------------
User avatar
DazDaMan
Modelling Gent and Scholar
Posts: 5643
Joined: March 7th, 2012, 3:45 pm
Location: Penicuik

Re: Display base??

Post by DazDaMan »

As simple as that?

I'll schedule a visit to my local model shop at some point and have a look.
Daren

Half-assed Spitfire builder!
User avatar
fredk
Modelling Gent and Scholar
Posts: 6194
Joined: May 1st, 2012, 6:25 am
Location: Donaghadee, N'rn Ir'n

Re: Display base??

Post by fredk »

As bluesteel says. Or even simpler; model railway shops sell rolls of ready made grass carpets. Flock all ready glued to paper base for glueing down to your base. Once glued down a spray with a contrasting green in random mottle breaks up the same-ness.
Al speling misteaks aer all mi own werk..
Its not just how good your painting is, its how good the touch-ups are too.
User avatar
iggie
Modelling Gent and Scholar
Posts: 23321
Joined: July 31st, 2013, 11:04 am
Location: North Somercotes, Lincolnshire
Contact:

Re: Display base??

Post by iggie »

The example looks like static grass to me; simple enough to do but you will need an applicator that applies a static charge to the grass to make it stand on end.
You can get them from fleabay easily enough, either manufactured specialist tools for £70 upwards, or there is a guy who makes his own and sells them for a lot less (he makes them out of electronic fly swatters!)
Here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Static-Grass- ... 35b853c54f

He does starter kits too that include a couple of packs of grass. It really does look good, I've used it on model railways to good effect!
Best wishes

Jim
If you can walk away from a landing, it's a good landing. If you use the airplane the next day, it's an outstanding landing
"Never put off till tomorrow, what you can do the day after tomorrow"
User avatar
DazDaMan
Modelling Gent and Scholar
Posts: 5643
Joined: March 7th, 2012, 3:45 pm
Location: Penicuik

Re: Display base??

Post by DazDaMan »

I've never even heard of that!

I'm going to go for the simplest/cheapest option for this one - especially as it's my first shot!
Daren

Half-assed Spitfire builder!
User avatar
AndrewR
In the basement lab
Posts: 23866
Joined: April 5th, 2011, 4:13 pm
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, The Great White North
Contact:

Re: Display base??

Post by AndrewR »

DazDaMan wrote:I've never even heard of that!

I'm going to go for the simplest/cheapest option for this one - especially as it's my first shot!

Always look at model railway sites - they have lots of information on scenery


http://www.newrailwaymodellers.co.uk/Sc ... felt-grass;

cheers

Andrew
Up in the Great White North
User avatar
DazDaMan
Modelling Gent and Scholar
Posts: 5643
Joined: March 7th, 2012, 3:45 pm
Location: Penicuik

Re: Display base??

Post by DazDaMan »

I ended up getting a roll of Ready Grass from Hobbycraft yesterday - will see how I get on with it!
Daren

Half-assed Spitfire builder!
User avatar
fredk
Modelling Gent and Scholar
Posts: 6194
Joined: May 1st, 2012, 6:25 am
Location: Donaghadee, N'rn Ir'n

Re: Display base??

Post by fredk »

One extra tip on that grass carpet; spray it with hairspray, [non perfumed if you can get it], - it tends to shed a few grass fibres occasionally.
Al speling misteaks aer all mi own werk..
Its not just how good your painting is, its how good the touch-ups are too.
kprophater
starter kit
Posts: 9
Joined: December 31st, 2017, 1:49 am

Re: Display base??

Post by kprophater »

Model railroad publications and forums are a great place to find modeling info. I think of model railroading to be the “Mother of all modeling.”
User avatar
Tim Reynaga
Active Participant
Posts: 637
Joined: November 9th, 2014, 5:36 pm
Location: California, USA

Re: Display base??

Post by Tim Reynaga »

Hi Daren,

If you are even slightly interested in diorama building, I strongly recommend picking up Shepherd Paine's 1980 How to Build Dioramas.

Image

If you were a modeler in the 1970s-80s you would have seen his model builds on the sides of Monogram model boxes. If not, then you must know that Shep was a master builder, and his works will absolutely knock your socks off! Still, he explains how to do things simply, explicitly, and with lots of drawings and pictures. I'm not sure if it is still in print, but you can find it used for US10-15 pretty easily. Do yourself a favor and pick up his book - it will become your modeling bible!

:grin:
User avatar
Chuck E
Established 1949
Posts: 2412
Joined: May 3rd, 2011, 8:05 pm
Location: Darlington. Home of the Railways

Re: Display base??

Post by Chuck E »

I use cheap photo frames from the charity shop.

Image

Image

Image

Image
So many models, so little time.
Post Reply

Return to “Display and Diorama”