vietnamdioramas.com
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Vietnam 1959 - 1975 - America’s Longest and Bloodiest War
10 Minutes
10 Minutes
A small diorama about 6.5” x 6.5” on a burl veneer pedestal base. The diorama contains 10 figures, some of which are converted.  The trees are Verlinden with etched brass palm fronds.  The denser plants are plastic, each painted in acrylics. The leaves are paper all painted with a copper wire peg stem attached with Elmers Pro Bond.  Suppliers are J’s Model Works and Greenline. The figures come from Verlinden and Hong Kong LLC.  Hornet heads are used on some. Sculpting is done with ProCreate.  Basic groundwork is Durhams Water Putty.  Insignia are regulation Army issue from Vanguard.  Picture is free for use and mounted with 4 brass pins under an acrylic cover. There is also an acrylic cover for the whole diorama.
Figures Placed In Approximate Position Figures Placed In Approximate Position Figures Placed In Approximate Position Figures Placed In Approximate Position Figures Placed In Approximate Position Figures Placed In Approximate Position Figures Placed In Approximate Position
The Basics
Groundwork Painting
Foliage Planting Started Foliage Planting Started Foliage Planting Started Foliage Planting Started Foliage Planting Started Foliage Planting Started Foliage Planting Started
Visible in the pictures on the left is the basic painting with the proper Vietnam earth tone.  The painting brings out the rough texture made with the Durhams. The basic groundwork is made off the base on a sheet of white styrene.  Durhams is acrylic powder and once dry, will not stick to the plastic.  Epoxy the pieces onto the display base as shown in picture number 2 above.  The trees have been painted with their basic colors.  Plastic plants are put on to the groundwork.  Holes must be drilled into the groundwork to hold them securely.  In picture number 1 to the left, notice the raised ridge and outcropping in the upper left.  It is also visible in picture number 1 above.  Flat coating and painting the plastic plant leaves can be done.  Durhams can only be painted with pure polymer acrylic paints.  Do not prime.
The individual leaves are now being planted.  Each leaf, palm or other type of jungle leaf is individually painted and toned.  A piece of copper wire is painted white and affixed to the back of the leaf along the center vein.  This is attached with Pro Bond and allowed to dry.  Then the leaf is bent on a rounded form so it will look like it is hanging in a natural fashion.  This is done before painting.  Use a wide variety of leaves.  There are over 250 on this diorama base.  After painting a number 69 hole must be drilled in the base for each.  Plant the leaves in groups of 3 leaves all the same type.  This base has at least 90 holes drilled for leaves.  The Pro Bond does not allow the base to break.
Leaves Planted - Figure Finishing Started
Leaves Painted and Pegged - Final Figure Placement Leaves Painted and Pegged - Final Figure Placement Leaves Painted and Pegged - Final Figure Placement Leaves Painted and Pegged - Final Figure Placement Leaves Painted and Pegged - Final Figure Placement Leaves Painted and Pegged - Final Figure Placement Leaves Painted and Pegged - Final Figure Placement Details And Additional Pastel Shading added Details And Additional Pastel Shading added Details And Additional Pastel Shading added Details And Additional Pastel Shading added Details And Additional Pastel Shading added Details And Additional Pastel Shading added Details And Additional Pastel Shading added
Finishing The Leaves - Figure Finishing Started
Clean up the figures and fix anything that may not look right.  Smooth all the putty joints and lines.  Prime with Model Master or Scale 75.  Let the primer set and then paint the figures in an acrylic (pure polymer) to a color that is exactly the way you want the finished figure to look.  These figures are painted in oils after the acrylic base coat has been applied.  The oils used are Lukas 1862.  Use varios shades of the same color on all figures.  Dorlands Wax and Grumbacher 1 are used with the oils to give a flat finish.  They also give a foundation for the final tones which are achieved with pastels.  The pastels adhere  well to the Dorlands. The radio that the radio man is carrying has an antenna and a wired handset. During the painting process take time to add the small details.  Some of them are: the stretcher leaning against a palm tree, made from kleenex tissue and toothpicks, the M60 machine gun, ammo box and belts.  Also, don’t forget the medical supplies lying around the area and the iv.  There is also a medical knapsack.  The top flap is ground off and the bag hollowed out.  Medical supplies are added inside and a new folded over “flap” is added with thin sheet lead along with new straps and buckles made from copper wire.  Now go back and finish up the ground cover, especially around boots and knees.  Remember they are standing in the grass, not on top of it.  Touch up the leaves and foliage.  This is a painstaking and slow process, but a necessary one.
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Finished Diorama Finished Diorama
A list of suppliers and products is available in PDF format. To obtain this list, please click the PDF link on the right.
The PDF file on the right contains fifty pictures of “10 Minutes”  being made from beginning to end, no text, just pictures, 26 pages.