1:50 Scale Mini Snow Dock Diorama

Modeling Subjects Dioramas
1

I was asked by a client to build a 1:50 scale diorama and weather a truck to go with that diorama. This is what I came up with to satisfy the client.














6 Likes
2

Woah, super cool! With the trees in the background it’s very easy to mistake this as a real scene! Great color choices, with the blue tones and yellow details, and you’ve got that grimy sand/salt/slush wintertime effect just exactly right. The fenderite, too, and the snow itself.

If you want to share, I’d love to hear how you achieved some of those ice/slush/snow effects!

1 Like
3

Snow weathering:

This my method for weathering the vehicles:

First of all, I always have reference photos in front of me, while I weather any vehicles. So that’s my number one tip.

  1. I used Tamiya panel solution on all parts with raised details, to bring out the details(of course)

  2. I then used MIG dust, color in an airbrush to slightly(low pressure) spray dust color on the lower ends and mid way up the truck. The color kind of matches the dirty look of the truck after a snowy run on the road. I use reference photos, always, to mimic the results I want to achieve.

  3. Then I used a Woodlands snow and baby powder( the good brand one , like Johnson & Johnson) to mimic the snow. Personally I think the Woodland snow is a little course for 1:50 scale, if you intend to mimic snow on vehicles at that scale. So baby powder seems close to scale.

  4. I used Hair spray(strong hold version) I spray the the area I want to put snow on, then I sprinkle either woodland snow or baby powder until I am satisfied with how it looks. Then I seal it again, with another doze of hair spray, to seal it in.

  5. Then I go over the snowy area with a light airbrush with a mixture of grey/black color to get the really dirty/grimy look that you see on the back, front of trucks, after driving through wet slushy, melted snow.

  6. The frozen snow clumps on top and lower rear end of the truck, is woodland’s snow with Liquid Frost by Greenstuff. I used to use, super glue, but the smell irritated me. The results is pretty much the same. I just squeezed some on the snow area and pushed it down with a brush, until I got the look of the clumps right in in my eyes.

  7. Then I sprayed more dust around the areas of the snow and other areas of the truck until the overall look, looked perfect to me.

  8. For the packed snow around the fender, I used cotton wetted with ‘acrylic medium’ and ‘Gloss medium & varnish’ from Liquitex.

  1. For the snow on the ground, I first painted the wooden base with white paint.

  2. Then, I glued down cotton here and there, which acts as a base for the Woodland Scenics snow. This creates volume and at the same time, you use less of the snow effects. Since the cotton is white, there’s no need to dye it or paint it white.

  3. Then I just sprinkle the snow effects over all the area I want to cover.

  4. I spray the entire area with alcohol, then I sprayed diluted glue to hold down the snow. That’s pretty much it. I then go over the snow and fine tune it using my finger to correct all unnatural snow piles.

3 Likes
4

WOW, very impressive work.

1 Like
5

Glad you approve. Thank you kindly. :slightly_smiling_face:

1 Like
6

And that’s what makes your work even more appreciated is your willingness to share your techniques with others. Thanks for sharing this with us ol’ buddy.

1 Like
7

That is an awesome write up — thank you so much for taking the time!

So often on dioramas I feel like snow is out of scale or just looks “off.” Same as in movies, I suppose. As someone from the northern part of the US, one just knows intuitively that snow looks and acts differently depending on a million factors - how cold it is, how cold it was when the snow fell, how old the snow is, if the roads have been salted or sanded, etc.

To those of us in the snowy north, at scale, very rarely does the effect look convincing, though it’s often hard to put a finger on why.

You’ve nailed it. Really excellent!

2 Likes
8

My pleasure. Glad you approve.

1 Like
9

My thanks and appreciation.

10

Wow! This very good! Love that snow effect. :clap:

1 Like
11

Awesome! That looks fantastic :raised_hands:t3::fire::fire::fire:

1 Like
12

That is one of the best Winter dioramas I’ve seen. I worked at a truck stop when I was younger and you nailed that grimy road salt,slush,frosty look that the trucks had when they came in for fuel. The snow that’s built up around the rear fender on the front trailer and on the hitch is so realistic. Wonderful job!

2 Likes
13

Thank you. Glad you liked it. Thanks

14

Appreciate the response.

1 Like
15

Much appreciated. Glad you approved of the results.

16

That is fantastic. The snow effect is perfect. I have worked around trucks on and off my whole life in the Midwest and you did a perfect job on that. Thank you for the fantastic write up. Great suggestions on what to use and do. Great info there. Again thank you for sharing.

2 Likes
17

It was my absolute pleasure. Thank you for uplifting comment.

18

I forgot to say thank you for wonderfully detailed “How-to” on how to do your snow / winter weathering. I look forward to trying your process.

1 Like
19

You are very welcome. Glad to help.

1 Like
20

I always forget to ask you this question, but do you have your own laser cutter and 3D printer? With the amount of great dioramas you do it would be a great money saver.

1 Like