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Showing results for tags 'Display base'.
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Hi fellow modelers, I would like to present to you my cheap and easy way to make display bases. I more or less settled on a common format that is just large enough for small aircraft or a military vehicle in 1/72. Models just look so much better with a little context beneath them. In order to save me the wood working I choose these cheap plates which I found in hobby shops (not those for scale modellers, those more directed at a female and artist clientele and which still can be found in many inner cities). There are also available online, of course These plates cost less than 2 € and are arguably made from rather cheapish wood. Mine come from the company Rayher, but there are certainly many other suppliers out there. I cover the rough edges of the cheap wood with wood putty (any more expensive modelling putty might work, too) and sand everything smooth. After some coats of acrylic paint and Future brushed on, it almost looks like expensive hard wood (well, good enough for me). Various ‘landscapes’ can easily added to the base. For earth I usually use a slurry made from white glue, pigments, sand and gravel. Any kind of static grass or turf can be added. The concrete and asphalt hard stands are made from plastic sheets, that received a coat of Mr. Surfacer. Quickly before it dried I tapped my finger and some piece of cloth on it to create a texture. This can be highlighted by dry-brushing after painting.
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I was looking for a inexpensive yet decent looking display base for my glass cabinet. I was limited to 11.5" x 14" space per shelf after looking at some options the Uschi line of tarmac scenes looked the most authentic. I found some raw wood plaques at the local craft store and a can of spray tack. I pre positioned the scenery to fit the base allowing the overhang then spray the paper on the back burnish with a cloth very easy and quick. I painted the base to tone it down I will add a deck side rail that is common to Wasp carriers as a backdrop between the base and the background scenery or foilage on other scenes. I just looked at wallpaper ocean scenery and printed what looked to be a good elevation and colour match. I am doing three or four more its easy and quite fun project.
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One idea for a neat display of photo recon planes, or AEW, or ECM. Or just a history of variopus types. Probably best done in 1/72, unless you've got a LOT of space. Base is thick, HEAVY, real wood, or perhaps metal / marble / stone. To the back edge of it, fix a strong piece of wood / MDF. 1 to 2 feet wide. 1 if 1/72 planes, closer to 2 for 1/48. Got to ensure that it's stable, and won't tilt over. Could fit the wood into a slot in the base away from edge, too, if it might make it more stable. Paint it in clouds, or glue printer paper with clouds as the background on it, or print out your own. The wood / metal / stone base gets an aerial photo, either WW2, or Cold War, or Vietnam or..... Build a recon plane, ex. RF-4C, wheels up, pilots in. Leave off the weapons etc from the right wing. Cut a slot in the vertical wood / MDF, so that the wing fits in tightly enough to be steady. Might be an idea to fit a strong / metal wing spar inside your plane, to stop it bending / splitting / cracking. You can then remove the plane if you want to upgrade / repaint it, and this is neater than cutting the plane's wing off / trying to glue it to the wood. Can print / label the background next to each plane. Could do a vertical scale - RF-5C 500 ft, RF-101B 800ft, U-2C 60,000ft, SR-71A 80,000ft, maybe a little satellite right at the top of it all. This method could also work for a history of AWACS, or WW, or many types. ex. WW - F-100F, F-105G, EF-4F, EF-111A, F-4G, F-16CJ, Tornado ECR. - A-4, EA-6A, EA-6B, EA-18G. Could add A-6 / A-7 for flak suppression too. Squadron history - VF-211 - F-8, F-14, F-18. Either vertially, or in a step / staggered formation. This could be an easy way to fill a corner that's too small for a cabinet / difficult to fit shelves into. Or just if you got the vertical space to fill. Regards, Gerard
