IDF On Patrol - A 1/72 scale Diorama

Hi everyone,

Today I thought I would go ahead and talk a bit about frame bases for dioramas.  These are my favorite type of base.  Not only can they be very colourful, but also thematic and functional to boot.

Below is a selection of bases you can choose from if you go to a frame maker. Not only can you choose from different colours, but also different styles and shapes as well.

Making Your Own Frame Base.

If you want to make your own frame base you will need to be aware of a few things.  First, you need the required tools.  A hacksaw and an aluminum angle are a necessary to cut clean 45 degree angles.

A wood stapler would also come in handy if you want to connect the sides quickly.  Otherwise you will need to glue the sides together.  If you go down this route, you will need supports to keep the parts together.

Once the sides are connected, you can leave the colours the way they are, or you can go ahead and paint the base up.  The pictures below show a base I intend to leave as is and a base I have used for this diorama that I painted up black.

After separating the sides, turn them up vertically and cut a 45 degree angle vertically.  This will shorten the frame a bit.  The wider with the frame the shorter it will be.

Connect the frames with a wood stapler or glue.  If you use glue, glue on a 90 degree wedge for strength and stability.

Remember: If you are going to measure your diorama-base to your frame-base, then first make the frame-base then calculate the diorama-base size.  If you first design the the diorama-base, you must be careful to measure where to cut the frame-base from the inside not the outside the base.

Once the sides are connected you can add the diorama into the frame base.  In the pictures below I use a simple cardboard piece, but this can be XPS or any other material you decide to use.

A Tip From Someone Who Uses A Lot Of Frame Bases.

If you intend to paint the frame base, I suggest buying a few cheap frames from a discount store.  These type of frames are not made from hard wood, but a type of artificial wood-like material, best described as hard foam.  They are easy to cut to size.  Once put together, fill in any imperfection with wood filler, sand down and paint up.

If you do not have the tools or time to make your own base, I would strongly recommend you go to a frame maker.  You will get to choose a frame from a wider selection and get a very tidy frame construction.  You will have to explain to the frame- maker what you need the frame for and to flip the sides up vertically, besides the dimensions of the diorama base.

If you have any questions or need clarifications, please leave a comment below and I will answer as quickly as possible.

I hope that helps you if you decide to use a frame base.

Until next time, farewell and stay safe.

NR