How to Make a diorama model

Making a diorama model is a fun way to build a scene in a small space. Models often represent historical, natural, or fictional settings in which you can unleash your creativity and innovation. This type of model is easy to make, whether for a school project, modeling or just for fun. Try these methods to help you make your own impressive diorama models!

Table of Contents

Make a diorama model

Choose a topic. A diorama model is usually a small scene made of many layers of material, depicting a subject. Come up with a theme or idea that you would like to model – it could be a scene from a book, a period of time, an example of an ecological environment or a group of animals/plants. Options for making dioramas are varied.

The theme you choose will depend on the model size you want and the amount of material. A large theme will be difficult to represent in a small shoebox, and a specific theme will be disproportionate in a large setting.
Consider how much material you have. If you want to make a model with an ocean theme but don’t have the materials to represent water or fish, it’s very difficult to complete.

Plan to make a diorama. Make a list of your model implementation ideas. What do you want the background to look like? Do you just use ready-made materials or print your own pictures? Do you need to buy extra materials to make the model or can you make use of what is available at home and in the garden? Summarizing ideas before modeling will help you create a more complete model.

Do a rough draft of the model you want to make. Think about how to combine materials and layout objects.
Try to prepare enough materials before starting to make the model. Keeping things tidy will make it easier for you to model instead, so you don’t have to rummage around in the process.

READ More: How to Make Edible Glitter

Select frame. Since the diorama model has many background layers, a box or frame with relative depth will be needed. With the basic diorama model, the shoe box or mail box can be turned around for use. Large diorama models can be used with wooden crates or frames glued to the box. You can use anything that feels like an open room to frame the model. ^{[1] X Research Source}

If you have a specific purpose in making the model, you can make your own wooden box to fit your model’s dimensions.
Be creative in framing the model. For example, a diorama model representing a family or human scene can be used with a redecorated dollhouse.

Create background. You should make the model from the back to the front. As you do this, you’ll add several layers of detail and imagery to give the scene depth. The first is to make the background on the inside of the box. You can draw a simple scene or print an image to paste on. In addition, you can also collage photos from magazines to make wallpaper for the model.

Don’t forget to add backgrounds to the inner edges and inner faces of the model.
If you want, you can paint the outside of the box a different color to give it a finished look. This should be done before you add layers and images to the model.

Do the ground part. A real model would not be complete without the ground. Add details to the ground with paint or clay. Papier mache can also be used to create a mountain or hill effect in addition to a drawing in the background.

Add details. Add the detail layer and first objects behind and close to the edge of the model. In this step, you can also add large details like trees, rocks or some furniture. Start at the edge of the model as you will gradually move inward and forward as you work.

Complete the scene. Add a few details related to the scene to complete the background for the model. If you are creating a natural scene then add things like trees, grass, flowers, rocks, etc. You will do the same for other scenes – add whatever you want to complete the scene.

Add objects. Although this is not necessary, to make the scene more complete add a few small objects or patterns. For example, with a nature theme model, you can add an animal or insect model. You can hang something like a bird or a small plane from the ceiling using string and glue or a stapler. Some simple images can also be printed and collaged as objects for the scene. This is the final step in your model so make everything complete to your liking! ^{[2] X Research Source}

Do every single detail

Animate the ground. Although the ground is usually simple, flat, but if you want, you can still easily create a realistic effect for the ground. Try gluing sand or gravel along the frame of the ground to create rough terrain. Some pine branches, small leaves and grass can also be glued to make the ground more natural.

Make a rock or other small detail out of clay or mache and glue it on with hot glue.
You can draw or print the shape you want to add to the ground if you don’t have much time.

Make trees. To shape the trees in the model, you’ll need to take some twigs and branches from the garden or surrounding area. Young branches without leaves will look like bare trees in winter and small branches from bushes or trees with pointed tips will look like real trees. Glue a small round piece of clay under the branch to secure the tree, or use glue to seal the inside of the box.

If you want to make it more realistic, try using plants in play sets or dollhouses. These objects are sold separately at toy stores or you can get them from a set of toys.
Try cutting out plants in your print or magazine pictures. You can cut a little more paper at the bottom of the tree and fold the excess paper inward so that the tree stands upright when placed outside the edge/base of the box.

Make water. If you want to figure out how to make water in the model, use glass, glossy paper, paint or nail polish. To create the shape of a small pool, use a piece of mirror placed at the bottom of the model and add gravel or grass around the edge. You can also pour blue or green shimmer nail polish into the pool and wait for it to dry into a puddle underneath the frame.

If you’re doing an underwater scene, stick blue glossy paper over the entire frame. This will create an underwater blue and add a visual layer to the model.
Images of water can be used as a backdrop or glued to the bottom of the model for a large water surface.
Use acrylic or tempera paint to add a basic water backdrop to your scene. You can also draw or color the small waves. Fill in the water image and paste it inside the box to give the model more effect.

Add details to the sky. To add detail to the sky, you can add things that make clouds, the sun, the moon, or the stars. Cotton wool can be glued to the background and ceiling above to make clouds. Stars are created by dotting glitter glue, silver nail polish or glitter polish. Make a big sun by painting a sphere of foam and hanging it with string or using glue. The sky usually doesn’t have a lot of material to show it off! ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Completed.

Advice

Coloring the cardboard with a marker will make everything look darker. Please cut colored paper and stick it on the box for better color effect.
Place large objects in the back and small objects in front.
If you’re gluing something, make sure to use the correct glue. For example, if you use foam, use foam glue. You can also use all-purpose glue, also known as milk glue because it is suitable for most materials.
Be patient when you do something and do it where you won’t be easily disturbed.
You can use Lego models to add to the model.

Steps

Make a diorama model

Do every single detail

Advice

Related Posts