Adding terrain textures is where the diorama starts to really look like a miniature world. In this part of the tutorial I will show you how to add the base terrain textures. These are the base colors that make up the ground, grass and some of the smaller shrubbery. There are also small bits of stone, sand and pebbles. It is all the small ground level texturing.

Texturing follow pretty much the rule of thumb that you work from the ground up. The fine ground texturing is applied like a carpeting then you do rougher texture, then shrubs and finally trees.

This picture shows the three texture sizes:
Fine, coarse, and extra coarse

Getting the Textures on the Diorama

There are two techniques for gluing the texture to the diorama. You will use both. The first technique shown here is to brush on scenic cement then immediately sprinkle the texture right onto it. Pretty easy and you don't have to use scenic cement. You can water down white glue and use that. When it dries the white will completely disappear and all you will see is the texure you sprinkled on.

You also spray on the scenic cement. This technique is used quite a bit. And you will always use the spray on bottle because once you sprinkle down the layer of texture you spray it again. This will insure it adheres. And it is a good idea to spray it again once everything dries. It will form a nice bond and adhere well.

Once you have done the whole diorama with the base (finest) layer of texture you then go back and start applying coarse materials in selected spots. Don't do the whole diorama with coarse materials. I generally will cover only about 5% of the diorama with coarse materials -usually at edges between different colored areas or along terrain features like the edges of cliffs or the water shore.

Once you have done the coarse material then go back and add extra coarse material. And I will use this very sparingly. Less than 1% of the diorama will have extra coarse terrain. It might just be some small areas or borders betwen areas. Or possible a small few small copse like areas.

Being Creative with your terrain textures

I highly recommend you experiment with terrain textures. You can make up your own by grinding sponges and different types of items like packing foam. Sawdust will work too, if you dye it.

Remember that the color of the terrain texture should be similar to the color you painted right on the base. Grey areas should have a grayish texture, green on green etc..

Let's Make the 300 Diorama (Part 8: Making and adding trees and bushes)

Here is a video that shows you how to do this part of diorama making

Scene-A-Rama Basic Diorama Kit If you are a beginner to making realistic dioramas you might want to take a look at the complete diorama scenery kits at amazon.com. They are made by woodland scenics which is the company that makes all the materials I buy.