Tutorial: Building, Painting, and Weathering a WWII Street Diorama

Follow me in the building of a simple flagstone street diorama using liquid plaster (Scuptamold here, but you could use any similar sort of plaster, like plaster of Paris, or clay), a ruler, a knife, four paints, a wash, and a pigment.
I hope this video helps some people build street dioramas; I really enjoyed building mine and I really enjoy the result!
Thanks to MiniPainterV for his inspirational video: • How to Make an Cobble ...
And thanks to Davis Jacobs :)

[@PatrickMcTie]

Wow! I love how those cobblestones came out. Looks fantastic.

[@Panzermeister36]

Thanks Pat :D Glad you like it

[@thomasmccallan6914]

Looks great I like the uneven look it makes it look more realistic like the ground moved overtime

[@lettermansgirl90]

This is awesome. I’ve been looking everywhere for ideas for my dept. 56 Christmas village roads. This is the absolute best and doable I’ve ever seen. Thankyou!😊👍🇨🇦

[@johnwaudby5232]

One of the best cobblestone dioramas I've seen in a while. Good technique and finish. Thanks for sharing!

[@Panzermeister36]

+John Waudby THank you very much John :) I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@jcb5782]

My dad told me about how he and his brother always made model vehicles with dioramas. I'am really interested in making dioramas, I ordered a model kit, and once I build it, I will make a diorama, so this tutorial was very usefull. Thanks!

[@Panzermeister36]

WWII Channel Sounds awesome buddy :) Glad my video is helpful! Good luck on the builds!

[@alexmorgan2296]

As has been said but is worth repeating a really informative video producing such a realistic result - off to follow the techniques as best I can! Thanks for sharing.

[@yohkodevilhunter8292]

The cobblestone looks really good!!

[@rusija22]

This is some hardcore modeling 0_0 you can say it looks real.

[@Panzermeister36]

Thanks :) I'm glad you like it! Merry Christmas :D

[@stevejones6762]

This would be great for flagstones in a farm yard for pretty much any era, Napoleonic to modern day. I want to build one now ...

[@Panzermeister36]

Steve Jones Yeah I was going for the really old European look on them :) Well I hope this video helps you out if you decide to make one!

[@uncle7215]

Definitely one of the best model tutorials I have seen! Loved the turnout, and it looks super realistic, but the cobblestones are a bit big for 1/35 scale. Seems to fit a 1/16 if I'm not mistaken.

[@wolflover552]

I thought the same thing. Maybe cutting smaller lines might do the trick to fit 1/35 scale. I'm gonna try it for a WW2 diorama that I'm building.

[@uncle7215]

Yep, i cut smaller lines and it looks amazing! Thanks to Evan for the tips!

[@theoneandonlyrealjoker1827]

dam that looks good man now I'm going make a road like that for my 1/6 ww2 gi joe stop motion great job comrade

[@eldiablo4131]

Beautiful indeed and too cool for school..!

[@Panzermeister36]

+El Diablo Thank you :)

[@tomatoes3]

Great work, some nice variations with the colours, , looks most impressive.

[@pgermain]

Superb how to, thumbs up

[@Panzermeister36]

Thanks man :)

[@alansmodelmaking1558]

Very nice tutorial! Great tips for a beginner like me!

[@Panzermeister36]

Thanks for the nice comment, Alan. Merry Christmas to you and yours :D

[@williamjordan6808]

Verygood,keep the videos coming,best regards.

[@Panzermeister36]

+William Jordan Thanks William!

[@Julian-ez1wl]

Thank you so much for this mate. It looks incredible, can't wait to give it a try myself! :)

[@greywanderer5935]

Looks awesome!

[@Panzermeister36]

Thank you!

[@LaDaynaRae]

Thanks man, this video you made things i can use on my own dioramas. Keep up the great work.

[@Panzermeister36]

Thanks for the nice comment! I'm glad my videos are helpful :)

[@46ace]

Very cool! nice job...

[@skylersims511]

Great video. Just what I was looking for. You're very talented.

[@Panzermeister36]

Thank you very much!

[@stephenmoore7772]

Panzermeister36 I

[@moraleshtc]

nice job...i really like it.

[@Panzermeister36]

Thanks Carles :)

[@jernulf268]

speechless, just speechless. Awsome job!

[@Panzermeister36]

Thanks Robin :)

[@jernulf268]

Panzermeister36 No, thank you for being awsome! :D

[@sprint234]

wow. great job! i'm definitely going to try to make a cobble stone street diorama. Thanks for the tips!!

[@Panzermeister36]

Eddie Andres Thank you Eddie! I'm glad you liked the video and I hope it helps you out, buddy :)

[@vikkiwilson5069]

Grreat tutorial Panzermeister, your results speak for themselves. I LOVE Sculptamold for modelling and the street is a great e.g. Really helped me to see what it can do in this context. Sculptamold throughout the curing/drying period different states at different times ie you can only smooth it at the end of its time. *I've love to see more of your sessions of "winging it" with this material. Thanks for making this one! V

[@SeaDog6667]

Outstanding job! Love your videos, and hope for more like this! Thanks again looks great!

[@Panzermeister36]

Ken D Thanks Ken! I'll be doing a video on a small winter forest diorama for my T-40 light tank sometime this summer hopefully

[@gaustadtpanzer3606]

That is great!

[@davisjacobs3074]

Thanks for recognizing me, Evan! Means a lot to me! And your very welcome. Always willing to help out another friend of mine. I think the cobble stone road looks great! It look really worn down and a little busted up. I always thought I would have to get a Mini Art road to do something like this. But, after seeing how you do it, I bet I could do something like this.

[@Panzermeister36]

No problem Davis! Thanking you is the least I could do :) And thank you for the compliments on my work. I was going for an older town look, like one of the cities in and around Germany that are very old. I think it looks pretty beat up but I guess I could blame that on tank traffic and the numerous bombing raids... I hope this helps you make a road too; MiniArt ones are pretty pricey but this was cheap and easy and looks great, if I do say so myself! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

[@davisjacobs3074]

Panzermeister36 Merry christmas to you too, buddy! Hope Santa treats you well! ;)

[@Panzermeister36]

Right back at you Davis ;) Thank you

[@AndreasTT67]

Merry Christmas!

[@Panzermeister36]

Thanks! Happy Holidays to you and yours :)

[@michaelstikkelorum9313]

cool man let me learn more

[@Alcodog]

Really great work well done!

[@Panzermeister36]

Thank you Bill!

[@stephenmckinlay2618]

very good mate. looks like you nailed it. keep it up.

[@Panzermeister36]

+Stephen Mckinlay Thanks Stephen!

[@joaoguerreiro330]

Awesome!!!

[@Panzermeister36]

João Guerreiro Thanks :)

[@rickbeman2029]

Great Vid. Very informative. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[@Panzermeister36]

Thank you Rick :) Merry Christmas to you as well!

[@Ickie71]

well done kid great video keep it up,especially seeing as funds are limited at your age you did an excellent job here.

[@ModellerFinder]

Very cool! Very realistic!

[@Panzermeister36]

Thank you Sanek! And Merry Christmas :)

[@ModellerFinder]

You too a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[@Generalsplatton]

Great work on the base dude.

[@Panzermeister36]

Thanks Splatton :D

[@edm543]

awesome stuff!

[@Panzermeister36]

Dr Fun Thanks you doctor :)

[@MightyPacifist]

Thats fucking awesome dude…. im a younger guy trying to have fun with diorama building, and mine are ok, but i can't really build the tanks well, but you are helping a lot… when i look at yours and i look at mine i feel like utter shit :D

[@Panzermeister36]

Thanks Alex! Glad I'm helping you out with my videos; that's what I make 'em for :D Meh you should see some of my first models! I've been at this for over two years now, and it's all through practice. Buy some cheap models and practice painting, weathering, etc., or re-work some of your older ones you're not happy with. Try out new techniques; you've got to figure out what works for you! if you haven't then you should definitely check out some of Hamilkar Barkas' tutorial building and tank building, painting, and weathering vids.

[@ArmourEmpire]

Good tutorial. Nice Xmas haul on g+ too. Can't have too many stugs!

[@Panzermeister36]

Thanks Mark! I got an ISU 152 BL-10 as well - massive gun on that thing :D

[@MiniPainterV]

That's amazing! I'll have to try that technique one day! :)

[@Panzermeister36]

Thank you Victor :) Well, I was inspired by you!

[@F4collector]

first time watching one of your videos - this a phenomenal - a masterpiece - great job! i'm subscribing to your channel - I'm #7,637 will be going through the rest of your channel videos - thanks for making this video and posting Tom (F4collector)

[@AstonM1965]

Looks really nice for a dio, Great tutorial Evan and Merry Christmas!

[@Panzermeister36]

Thanks Charles! Right back at you buddy :D

[@Retro_Ibra]

Congratulations on 2000 subscribers!!!

[@Panzermeister36]

Thanks!

[@geekyrocket9714]

Wow that is a fantastic tutorial my friend, just incredible!! I've always been weary of making my own street dio's with cobblestones and side walks but I will definitely use this as a reference when I do muster up the courage to try my own! Great video Evan! :) P.s. Sorry for being so MIA the past few months, I've got a ton going on and haven't been at the bench much :( Cheers!

[@Panzermeister36]

You should definitely try it! It was very easy and fun to do. Thanks :) Yeah I was wondering what had happened to you...no videos since November! I'll have a bench update up tomorrow - my Nashorn is has been in the same state for the past month because I've got five other tanks on the bench right now haha!

[@themechanic.9545]

Try adding Oil Spills on the street as if there were vehicles with leaky fuel tanks...

[@themodellist]

You have done really a great job! :) Nice tutorial ! this video is so good to learn how to make streets like this for the dioramas! really nice job! :D

[@Panzermeister36]

themodellist Thanks for the compliments! I hope you find it useful!

[@themodellist]

Yes a lot! thanks to you! :)

[@lorenwang67]

Yo Evan you weren't kidding

[@silverfox2358]

DONT make it smooth because it will look cheap and plastic plus it looks awesome but needs more craters and shrapnel damage. Cobble stone streets never look even as a rule, so I say you've done and awesome job :)

[@Panzermeister36]

+silverfox2358 Thanks! Yes I was planning for a beaten-up road look, I thought this might have been a little to much but thank you for your comment :)

[@orion2960]

nice

[@thomazmumic6189]

Muito bom parabéns feliz natal um ótimo 2015.

[@Panzermeister36]

Obrigado amigo :) Feliz Natal e boas festas para você e sua família também

[@karlburke6983]

Nice job! By the way what is the mixture for Plaster of paris to get it to be like clay or the sculpt-a-mold you showed?

[@Kyocera-ot6hb]

Very Nice Bro Its Steve from G÷ page.

[@Panzermeister36]

Thank you very much Steve :)

[@Kyocera-ot6hb]

Panzermeister36 Anytime Sir

[@danffffffff]

O M G

[@masonmilesbutler]

Great job Man! Might try one myself! Definitely will recommend your channel :) P.S. Sorry I'm late for the feedback

[@Panzermeister36]

Thanks! I hope you have fun building one of these streets if you do :)

[@748solstice]

It would be great to see a list of materials used, especially for the base, I couldn't make out what you said you were using.

[@Panzermeister36]

The plaster I used for the base is called "Scuptamold" but you can use any similar sort of liquidy plaster like plaster of Paris. Or you could use soft clay.

[@richardcullen7941]

Hi ya mate . Brilliant. But when you paint did you start with just black . Then wash and brush with highlights. Answer appreciated...Rik

[@llmk2nll]

Hi mysterion XD Nice video, I wish I was as talented :o Keep up the great work! :D

[@Panzermeister36]

Butters Stoch Thanks buddy :) Do I know you? Now you've got me suspicious :P

[@llmk2nll]

:3

[@Panzermeister36]

Butters Stoch Argh stahp :P

[@KarimDavisFilms]

Amazing stuff, making Tekken Stopmotion web series so these tips are priceless, thank you so much! Whats the name of the 1st tune when you start putting clay on?

[@joaocosta7981]

Loved your vid! Gonna make my own diorama! I just need a tip... when you first painted the clay, did you do it with spray/airbrush or did you used a brush?

[@Panzermeister36]

+Broccoli Plays! Thank you :) I used a brush but spraying would be much faster for the base colour. My airbrush was giving me trouble at the time so i did it all my hand.

[@szymonjaszczurowski5019]

Hi.Im from poland on not good speek to english.Very very good film . Please you make film budling planes "Hunter hawher,, . Sorry for my English :-)

[@ucanluu3193]

Cool, what's that white putty thing

[@Panzermeister36]

It's sculptamold...basically plaster of Paris

[@jacksonholmes9955]

gerat video. i reallky want to do this. could you tell me where you get all of the ingredients. besides that its awesome.

[@Panzermeister36]

+Jackson Holmes I got them at local shops here where I live. I only used three paints, a wash, and a pigment for the street, which was made of AMACO/Woodland Scenics Sculptamold (you could use plaster of Paris from your hardware or craft store as it's quite similar) and water.

[@jacksonholmes9955]

Thanks...I live way out in nowhereville so I don't have a craft store but I can get it online like I always do. Thanks again.

[@georgesertitan5604]

Hi, very nice and interesting. Please can you tell me what paints and pigment did you use to realize this diorama ? thanks in advance

[@Panzermeister36]

Didn't I show the paints and everything in the video?

[@georgesertitan5604]

So, i'm at the beginning of the road in terms of coloring. So, I would have appreciated a more precise answer, such as: dry mud pigment mig p232. Thanks

[@Panzermeister36]

Exactly. Don't I show all those in the video? The point of the video is to watch it and see how I did it, otherwise I would be writing novels.

[@jamiewoodall3651]

Great tutorial! Just picked myself up some Sculptamold from Amazon. How hard did it set?

[@Panzermeister36]

Thanks Jamie! It sets pretty hard but you can still break it with your hands if you tried hard to bend and snap it...I also suggest putting it on the styrene sheets like I did here because a thin layer will be a bit flexible; this adds some rigidity.

[@Espingify]

hi! awsome work!, can you say me please, what is the name of the grass that you used in the diorma, can you say me the name and the brand of the grass...? thnx

[@Panzermeister36]

Thanks! The grass mat is called "Fallow Field - Spring" from the company Model-Scene: www.model-scene.com/index_eng.html

[@anthonyb1808]

Hello, what is the material you use for your pavement road? I do not this material? Thanks :)

[@Panzermeister36]

It's Sculptamold by Amaco.

[@JoinSquizGroup]

Cool! Do you know how to make a dirt on diorama? I want to make it, but I dont know how

[@Panzermeister36]

Real dirt will work pretty well. Mixing it with white glue and some water should make a sort of mud you can spread on and then shape to be more smooth before it dries. Alternatively, you could use pigments, but that is pretty expensive.

[@JoinSquizGroup]

Panzermeister36 Wow :O I'll try it, I saw on KZbin how to make a dirt, but I dont understand, after read your comment now I understand, thx :D

[@Panzermeister36]

+Mac Squiz No problem! Glad I could help :)

[@JoinSquizGroup]

Panzermeister36 Oh, 1 again! Do you know how to make a grass? I want to make it myself.

[@Panzermeister36]

+Mac Squiz Making grass is hard. I'd recommend either woodland scenics tall grass, noch grass tufts, or some kind of static grass.

[@mountainbloke40]

Sculptamol - is that what you called the white paste stuff -- wonder if you can get that in uk - what is it how you make the paste????????????????????

[@Panzermeister36]

+mountainbloke40 Sculptamold from Woodland Scenics. Mix it 50/50 with water and you get the paste

[@mountainbloke40]

+Panzermeister36 Nice one -- thanks

[@vikkiwilson5069]

+mountainbloke40 ebay. made in the US. Mixture of fine paper mache plaster and (i think) PVA glue.You can colour it. It's like porridge in the begininng and clay near the end of its working time. You can slap it in vertical surfaces and upside down horizontal. great stuff. Try paper mache a bit of plaster and glue. :)

[@GutierrezAnthony]

Did you dry brush the black paint on or just paint it normally?

[@Panzermeister36]

GutierrezAnthony I just painted it on by hand. I'd recommend spray paint of an airbrush though; it'd be easier for the base black coat

[@GutierrezAnthony]

I'm doing something similar in terms of plaster but instead i'm doing a worn asphalt street (no cobble texture) so would you recommend me doing the same steps or something different because I kinda already bought all the acrylic paints and such.

[@Panzermeister36]

GutierrezAnthony Well it would still be fine; it just takes a little while to paint the whole thing :)

[@GutierrezAnthony]

Sweet, thanks for the help! Hopefully this diorama turns out good :)

[@wanglongst29]

What kind of things you used? Just plaster and water?

[@Panzermeister36]

I used "Scuptamold" which is more liquid than normal plaster...but you could probably use plaster of Paris.

[@wanglongst29]

ok thank you

[@JOBUBOBU]

What is that white material ?

[@Panzerschrauber1]

Nice Video,looks good,but i build in 1:72.

[@Panzermeister36]

Panzerschrauber1 Thanks :) I think you could still do this at that smaller scale but you would need a less textured plaster mixer and a smaller stone pattern.

[@JOBUBOBU]

What is that white material on the beginning of video ?

[@Panzermeister36]

Apollo 99 Sculptamold, but you could use a thick Plaster of Paris mixture

[@shadowman8883]

those are paving slabs not cobbles.

[@roubexgaming8194]

schade, dass es das nicht im kunstunterricht gibt :(

[@ЕвгенийЛомков]

I make good diorama too .!

[@jorgecp8651]

de que material son los componentes del suelo de adoquines? Alguien me lo traduce? Gracias! Un trabajo excelente!

[@Panzermeister36]

+Jorge Cp es "Sculptamold" realizado por "Woodland Scenics / Amaco": cdn3.volusion.com/ztna9.tft5b/v/vspfiles/photos/AMACO-41819M-2.jpg?1456472651 Usted podría utilizar el yeso de París en su lugar, ya que es casi la misma cosa

[@jorgecp8651]

Gracias!

[@GTownmax]

what could i use in germany for sculptamold?

[@Panzermeister36]

plaster of Paris should be very similar to this product

[@GTownmax]

+Panzermeister36 thx dude

[@JoseTorres-sl2eq]

no music is much much better. Music distract to much sometimes.

[@Panzermeister36]

Thank you for you comment and opinion, Jose! I'll keep that in mind in the future

[@JoseTorres-sl2eq]

You know, its amazing how young you are and the excellent talent that you have on your hands, I love weathering and I would suggest you (promise you will love it a lot) to see the videos of this facebook group: facebook.com/1471378879820977/photos/pcb.1611921949100002/1611921902433340/?type=3&theater

[@Panzermeister36]

Thanks man I did check out that group and the work there is awesome

[@gamerhalim4717]

Use old newspaper can?

[@Panzermeister36]

Plaster like this would work much better I think

[@gamerhalim4717]

Panzermeister36 tks 😁

[@foulou-lz6ps]

c quoi le nom du matériel que tutilise pour le sol ?

[@Panzermeister36]

+foulou4446 C'est "Sculptamold" fait par Woodland Scenics. C'est come le plâtre de moulage, mais plus dense que cette poudre.

[@stovallholmes3060]

hey what tank model is that? could someone let me know?

[@Panzermeister36]

The E-50 is from Trumpeter

[@stovallholmes3060]

thanks

[@pablocantero2769]

Que masa ha usado ?

[@Panzermeister36]

Pablo Cantero "Sculptamold" but any liquid plaster should work, such as "Plaster of Paris" :)

[@UDMcreat]

What music?

[@Panzermeister36]

Intro - "Thin Red Line"... 3:23 - "Broken Fortress"... 4:54 and 5:30 - "Target Set"... 9:20 - "Mourning Over Moscow"... 14:16 - "Hunter's Moon"... all by Tom Salta in the original soundtrack from Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. 2.

[@simonmatus4985]

3:05 what's that???

[@Panzermeister36]

+Šimon Matúš Sculptamold from Woodland Scenics

[@simonmatus4985]

thanks :)

[@phddche5719]

+Šimon Matúš merci pour le tutoriel

[@Panzermeister36]

phdd Che Derien! Et merci pour avoir regardé mes vidéos :)

[@Retro_Ibra]

Friend, you are in social networks?

[@Panzermeister36]

Not really, I only have a Google+ page

[@orion2960]

I need to get better models kits

[@Panzermeister36]

What kits do you use now?