Bag End Diorama

[Life_m2000]

A thread on my build of Bag End. This is my first ever diorama build.
Materials required.
Ply Wood sheet, Balsa wood, bamboo, match sticks, miniature red brick (type used with model trains), cork roll, news papers, plaster of Paris, poly filler, super glue, UV resin, UV light, exacto knife, scissors, small furniture pins/nails.

 

[Life_m2000]

In one sheet of ply wood I cut a hole that was going to be the door way.
Using bamboo I made the frame and inserted in to the hole I cut. I glued the frame in place and filled the gaps with poly filler.

 

[Life_m2000]

When the bamboo set I started to build the brick surrounding. Using miniature bricks and match sticks as spacers. Glue the bricks in place. When the bricks have set fill the gaps with poly filler.
You can see I also have holes for the windows cut. Sand these until the roughness is gone.

 

[Adoptedscot]

Excited to see this, looking great so far
Xx

 

[Life_m2000]

When the poly filler around the door is dry start on the window frame. To build the inner frame work I used match sticks. The frame itself is just wooden wagon wheel I bought off eBay.
Set the windows in to place. Build the bricks around the window and glue in place. The window sills are bricks sanded down to get the angle. Once happy glue and set in place.

No start the frame work above the windows and door. This is balsa wood which is very easy to cut with and exacto knife and sand down. Once you are happy with the arches on it. Cut it and glue in place.

 

[Life_m2000]

Next I made the door. I used thin strips of balsa wood glued together and set on to some foam board to give them strength.
I used furniture pins/nails to get the look of the rivets in the door. Once all set I painted the door green.

 

[Life_m2000]

Once the frame work above the doors set I used poly filler to fill the gaps around the bricks and build out the walls of Bag End.
Once dry I used a brick strip to extend the brick at the top of both windows.

I then used news papers crumpled up in to a shape I was happy with and glued in to place. Then using plaster of Paris to build up the walls surrounding the main entrance. Then leave to dry.

 

[Life_m2000]

When the plaster of Paris dried I gave a quick layer of yellow paint to the front of Bag End.

 

[Life_m2000]

When the yellow paint dried I started on the columns that hold up the canopy. These are made from balsa wood and I used my exacto knife to shape them.
I then cut and shaped some red bricks to attach at the base of the columns.
When happy glue these in place.

 

[Life_m2000]

When the columns and the bricks are set I started the curved part of the canopy.
This is balsa wood cut and shaped. To bend I made lots of cuts on the under side so it allowed it to bend to the curve I wanted.
Once happy glue in place.
When the glue is dry use poly filler to fill the cuts that allowed it to bend.
I added to door just to see how it was looking at this stage.

 

[Life_m2000]

When the canopy is dry and set I send newspapers to start to build the hill above the door. When happy with the shape glue in place and use plaster of Paris to set it. Let it dry then.

 

[Life_m2000]

When the plaster dried I pained the canopy, frame and columns brown.
Then I began the process of building the base. To hold the entrance up I used four pieces of wood at the back to hold it up.
I then used cork roll on the base ply wood and used a level to make sure the figures would be able to stand on it.

 

[Life_m2000]

Build up some layers of cork roll and make sure they are level.
I then painted the plaster of Paris green as it will be an under layer for the grass. Leaving it white would show gaps in the grass

 

[Life_m2000]

When the paint is dry attach the grass.
I bought grass roll from a model train hobby shop.
I worked the grass in to shape and glued in to place.
Trim the grass where required.

 

[EndoSickness]

Looks ace already, dude!

 

[Life_m2000]

I probably should have done this step earlier but you live and learn.
I took the entrance off the base. And sealed the back of the windows. The seal has to be good.
Once sealed I poured the UV resin in to the windows and used the UV light to set the resin. This process takes a few minutes but gives a good glass effect to the windows.

 

[Life_m2000]

When the windows were set I placed the back back on the base.
I added plants and flowers that I bought at local hobby shop and for the stepping stones I used an old slate that I smashed up. For the soil between the stones is a ready made mix that I set using pva and water mix and it hold it in place.
Arrange the plants what ever way you want.

 

[Life_m2000]

While it’s not finished yet I have it on display.
There’s few more small bits to finish but I hope this thread will help anyone who wants to try build for themselves.

 

[Life_m2000]

Looks ace already, dude!

Thanks very much!

 

[Life_m2000]

Excited to see this, looking great so far
Xx

Thanks! Hope you like the thread.