Scale Diorama
Scale Diorama
Textbooks are a necessary part of school, but there are many other great ways for kids to learn. Since kids have different learning styles, teachers should be open to different teaching methods. For example, would your students rather read a textbook about the history of medieval knights or would they prefer to see medieval knight figures displayed in a detailed setting?
How is this possible? By building a miniature diorama, students can not only get a visual impression but they can also participate in building the diorama. High quality medieval knight figures are available from brands like Safari and Schleich toy figures.
When most people imagine a diorama, they imagine a large-scale scenic display in a museum, with sculptured toy figures and a realistic natural setting. However, dioramas can also be miniature, small-scale representations, and these representations can be created at home. Dioramas can be made with a few simple supplies, and can be used to supplement an academic lesson or as an entertaining pastime.
Before starting the diorama, you should create a plan. Use a sketch pad and pencil to draw out some rough scenes of your final project. Measure the toy figures that will be placed within your diorama and plan where you want those objects to be located in relation to each other. Schleich toy figures are about 4.0 inches tall. However, if the knight figures are on horseback, they are about 6.0 inches tall. Safari knight figures are smaller, ranging from 1.5 – 3.0 inches tall. Remember the diorama will be three dimensional, so create many sketches of the diorama from many different angles. Don’t be afraid to rearrange your diorama to get the perfect image!
Remember that your diorama should tell a story. In your story, no element should be forgotten. Imagine how every character is feeling or reacting in relation to the other characters, and how the items in your setting are reacting to the forces around them.
Creating a diorama can also be a fantastic opportunity to recycle many products around the home. A diorama always begins with a base- typically a box or container of some sort. Shoeboxes are commonly used in dioramas, but most homes include other “throwaway” boxes that can be used for dioramas, such as tissue box. Even unusual items like cookie tins or plastic ice cream buckets can be used to create an original diorama.
You will probably also want an assortment of construction paper, scissors, crayons or colored pencils, and glue. There are no rules to making your diorama, so you can use any other items you want in your diorama, including clay, small tiles, pebbles, and manufactured toy figures. If you want to go with medieval knight figures, it will be hard to beat the quality and detail available from Schleich toy figures. However, using knight figures is just one possible theme. There are many themes to choose from. You are only limited by your imagination.
Your diorama will need a background. This background can be as complex as an intricate painting, or as simple as a pastoral scene created from blue and green construction paper. With practice, you will be able to create a background that is as realistic (or fantastic) as you want.
At this point, you can purchase or create your three-dimensional figures. Depending on the outcome you hope to achieve, you can purchase Schleich toy figures or premade knight figures, or you can create your own figures out of clay, construction paper, or any other material you may desire. You can also use preprinted coloring pages as a base for your figures. Preprinted coloring pages can also give you ideas for the layout of your diorama.
Finally, glue your figures into place. Remember, you can use all 4 sides of your diorama “box”. Figures can be glued directly to the side of the box or can be hung from the top using dental floss or fishing wire. For neater results, use cotton swabs to apply the glue.
The possibilities for your diorama are endless. You can create hundreds (even thousands) of different diorama scenes, or you can create the same scene again and again using different materials. You can create a fictitious scene or a realistic scene, or any combination of fantasy and fact. Creating a diorama will be an unforgettable experience, so most importantly, have fun!
Joe Kanooga is a father of two kids, a successful business owner and the author of numerous articles about Schleich toy figures. Click here to download our free knight figures guidebook filled with helpful tips, ideas and information.
Is there anywhere that i can get figures (in the actual driving position) for a diecast car?
perferably 1/18th scale, i wanted to create a diorama as a gift for a friend and wanted to add an actual driver into a diecast car. thanks!!
super glue or breaks its legs lmao! either (or both) would work lol!
not finished 1/72 scale diorama project
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1:18 / 1:16 SCALE DIORAMA MAGAZINES & MANUALS 36 PCS. $4.50 |
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pro built BRITISH SPITFIRE DIORAMA 1/48 scale $125.00 |
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SMBC 1:18 SCALE DIORAMA HUGE LOT CARDBOARD BOX SETS $14.95 |
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Lot 100 Painted Model Train People Figures Passengers Diorama O Scale 1:50 $5.99 |
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100 x Painted Model Train People Figures Passengers Diorama O Scale 1:50 $5.99 |
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1/24 1/25 G-Scale Used Car Sales Office Diorama model display, Many Details $20.50 |
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Lot 10pc Model Trees Train RR Set War Game Diorama Layout Scene HO N Scale 85mm $0.99 |
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1:24 G Scale Diorama Scale Tall Tool / Supply Cabinet for Garage or Office Scene $18.95 |
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3 Wrought Iron and Wood Park Benches (G) Scale Diorama! $10.95 |
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Kettle w Tripod Set 1/24 Scale G Scale Diorama Item $4.45 |
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GI Joe 1/6 Scale Battle of the Bulge Military Diorama Set $17.99 |
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1:32 SCALE METAL SPITEFUL CAT FOR BRITAINS FARM DIORAMA $7.86 |
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DRAGON ARMOR 1/72 SCALE STURMTIGER 38CM RW61 AUF & DIORAMA BUILDINGS NIB 60346 $44.97 |
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DRAGON ARMOR 1/72 SCALE JAGDTIGER PORSCHE PRODUCTION & DIORAMA BUILDINGS 60342 $44.97 |
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DRAGON ARMOR 1/72 SCALE FERDINAND W/ ZIMMERIT S.PZ.JG.ABT.653 TANK DIORAMA 60341 $44.97 |
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Set 12 Small Plastic Toy Pirates! Pirate Figures stand 2-3/4 inches tall (70mm), 1/24th scale $5.32 Set of 12 fun 2-3/4 inch Pirate Figures. Six different pirates including Captain Hook, Officers, and Peg-legs…. |
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3-D Solar System $13.30 What a stellar set!… |
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Civil War Soldier 102 Piece Playset: Bucket of 54mm Plastic Army Men and Accessories 1:32 Scale $14.99 Civil War Playset with 102 Pieces. Set includes 25 gray Confederate and 25 blue Union soldier figures that stand up to 2-1/8 inches tall (54mm). Also includes 18 horses, 10 cannon, 2 covered wagons, 2 tents, 2 canoes, 16 fences and 2 flags. Most pieces are approximately 1/32nd scale, horses and wagons are slightly smaller. Nice quality and detail…. |
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How to Build Dioramas $15.67 How to Build Dioramas, Second Edition, by Sheperd Paine. New photos and new projects lend a whole new look to this updated classic by one of the leading experts in the field. In addition to tips on painting, weathering and detailing for everything from figures to aircraft, this remarkable work offers lots of ideas for displaying military models…. |
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Make This Medieval Village (Activity Books) $143.61 … |
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The Illustrated Alamo 1836: A Photographic Journey $31.29 The most iconic historic place in America may also be the most misunderstood. For more than 170 years, the true nature and appearance of the Alamo, the cradle of Texas liberty, has eluded historians and artists alike. Partially demolished soon after the famous battle, the mission/fortress’s appearance grew more and more indistinct. Even more recently, Hollywood has itself compounded the problem by… |
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East Front 2 … |
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Pioneer Plastics 1/24 Scale Acrylic Display Case with Clear Base $5.45 If you are looking for an economical but effective way to show off your collectibles and protect them at the same time, this display case is the answer! It measures 9″ x 4.38″ x 4.13″ and is perfect for most 1/24 die-cast collectibles. Best of all, these cases are PRODUCED IN THE USA! You don’t see that often in the collectibles industry… The cases themselves are clear on all sides and feature a… |
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This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 at 4:32 pm and is filed under Toys and Hobbies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.