Cobblestone Pavement Diorama Base

[Mike]

Cobblestone Pavement Diorama Base

1:35 MiniArt

This kit provides the modeller with a nicely detailed base on which to place their models, accessories etc. in order to produce a convincing diorama. Inside a top opening box you will find two vacformed bases of 25cm x 17cm in grey styrene, plus two small sprues in a similar light grey styrene.

The bases are of course cobblestone, laid out in a shell-shaped fan pattern that was popular back when craftsmanship was more common. Because the parts have been vacformed on a female mould, there are tiny “pips” scattered across the base where the air holes were that allowed the part to be vacuumed tight down to the mould. A flick with a sharp knife is sufficient to remove them, and the plastic is thick enough that it doesn’t create a hole. The bases can be linked together to form a larger base, or left apart for smaller dioramas/bases, but if linking them together, some careful trimming of the adjoining sides will be needed to get the pattern to line up, and a little bit of filling might also be necessary to hide the join.

The two additional sprues of injection moulded parts are identical, and provide a variety of street furniture of the cast iron variety, as follows:

• 2 Manhole covers with a waffle texture surface
  
• 2 rainwater grids
  
• 2 iron bollards
  
• 2 iron fence posts
  
• 2 lengths of cast iron fencing
  
• 1 iron and wood bench
  

Quite a lot of parts with which to personalise your base, and some will doubtless find their way into the spares bin for later use.

Conclusion

A great almost ready made diorama base for those of us that quake in fear at the thought of making our own. The additional street furniture gives the modeller the potential to add some individuality to their scene without too much effort, and some great dioramas should result.

If joining the two bases, it would be wise to add extra stiffening to the underside of the base, as any weight might cause some sagging over time. Extra supports of scrap styrene, or even wood epoxied to the underside should prevent that however.

Recommended.

Review sample courtesy of

[Paul A H]

That's great! I wish someone would make one in 1:72 or 1:76 to go with the Airfix resin buildings.

[Silver Fox]

or in 1/48th scale.