How to Make a World War 2 Diorama - Part 7 Making : Finishing up

In this installment of the tutorial I show you a few things to finish up the diorama. These include creating a background, adding the figures and adding the special effect of a missile in mid flight. A diorama is a moment frozen in time and with the missile in mid flight you can see this moment in time very clearly. The following picture shows the completed diorama. I also have a youtube video of this installment of the tutorial. It is located at the bottom of the page.

The completed diorama

Creating a background for the diorama

Creating a background for your diorama is one of the best things you can do. Do a search for appropriate pictures and then print one up. It took a little manipulation for me to get the size right because the background is actually three sheets of printer paper wide. So I had to cut the picture into three pieces and put each piece onto a page then tape the pieces together.

Affix the pictures to cardboard then attach it to the back of your diorama.

If you want to go the extra mile you could also do the sides of the diorama.

Installing the Miniature Soldiers

Remove the base

After the miniatures are painted I like to remove the base. The I apply a tacky glue to the feet and install it on the diorama. Removing the base gives the diorama a more realistic look. I use Hob-e-Tac because it is a good adhesive and it dries clear.

Soldiers glued in place

This picture shows the American Soldiers glued into place.

One of the most attractive parts of this diorama is the missile in flight. This adds a bit of flash and it was easy to accomplish.

Making the missile

Making the Gun Missile was easy. I used some solid wire (As thin as possible) a toothpick, cottonball, and some silver paint.

Glue wire into the toothpick

Cut off a piece of the toothpick, poke a hole in the end and glue the wire right into it.

Apply cotton

Use a clear drying glue and apply tufts of cotton to the back of the missile and you are ready to drill or poke a hole in the end of the anti-tank gun or tank gun. To make a hole in my anti tank gun I heat up a pin.

Wire Inserted

This picture shows the wire glued into the hole I made with the heated pin.

Here is the video of this part of the tutorial

RESOURCES

Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire Mk.Vb - w/R.A.F. Crew (Limited Ed.) -

This is the 1/48 scale Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb / with 7 Royal Air Force Crew Figures from Tamiya. / Suitable for Modelers Age 10 and Older.

FEATURES: Includes 7 highly detailed ICM figures in various poses. Various accessories including work table and gas cylinder lines. / Detailed landing gear / Multi-part canopy may be posed open or closed / Highly detailed cockpit with accurate instrument panel, seat, control / stick, rudder pedals and sculpted pilot figure / Detailed instructions.

Budapest diorama 1945

MiniArt Diorama Bases on Amazon - A company called MiniArt makes a lot of great looking diorama scenes and bases. And they are available on Amazon.com

Tamiya Walker Bulldog

Tamiya Models and Kits - Amazon.com has lots of Tamiya kits ranging from tanks, figures, accessories, troops and buildings.

How to Build Dioramas (Book) - Learn everything you need to know about making your dioramas look real! This fantastic revised edition will show you how with new projects, new photos, and expert tips. Includes painting, weathering, and detailing tips for figures, aircraft, vehicles, and more! 290+ photos with color throughout; 41 illus.; softcover