Finally a tutorial where someone actually speaks to you and explains things!! Sounds obvious but they are getting harder to find on youtube. All fast music and over edited. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this in depth video and to talk to us at a normal speed. So appreciated and I've learnt so much. It has given me the courage and knowledge to start making my own.
You are very welcome and i know exactly what you mean. Good luck with your projects and please feel free to ask any questions if they come up. Thanks for watching 👍👍👍
I feel the same and honestly I think it's because of a sense of elitism. If you're not willing to struggle as much as they have, then screw you basically. Or maybe they think if less people do it, then they can have less competition?
Indeed. I have boxes of branches and so many different types of foliage and flocks etc that I have built up over time. Maybe I will do a video about realism
When I got started I used paper, glue, scissors and pva sample paint. You can build almost anything with paper. Also, rubbish has some gems to work with, like lids, old pens, and plastic packaging.
Very true. Whilst I use a lot of 'professional' modeling materials, my favourite type of build is repurposing packaging, old toys etc. The only limit is ones imagination haha 👍
I usually get overwhelmed at these types of things when going into a new hobby, but laying it all out there like that makes it a lot more easy to digest. Not only that, but it's pretty relieving that I already have most of these tools.
That's exactly the same process I went through at the start. Half the battle is finding the names of what to look for. That's why I made this video. Hopefully it helps.
Thank you for this and major thanks for compiling it all into a list which I screenshot so I can reference without Internet access! I've been binging diorama channels this past week, mostly Boylei Hobby Time and North of The Border, yours is next on my list so again, thank you! ❤
Your very welcome. I cant tell you how many people found this little video really useful. I struggled so much in the beginning. I still make loads of mistakes when ordering products. But all part of the fun I guess. Reach out anytime if you have questions or need help with anything. I will always try to help where I can.
@@creativecuts7803 Thank you again!! Barre the models, what should I get first on £75 budget? I don't mind building up slowly over time before starting something small
@aspectnato8077 no worries. My 1st tip would be to get a basic hobby set - amazon -£15-20. This will get you a basic cutting mat, knife, cutters and a range of files and sanding sticks. None of this will be great quality but more than enough to get you started. That would leave funds for glue, paint etc. Bargain shops like poundland are also great places to make a budget go further. Hope that helps a bit.
It can be as expensive as you make it. You can get a cheap hobby set for around £20 - simple knife, ruler cutting mat etc. You may even already have some tools like a hammer or drill. That is enough to get started with. I started just making little houses out of coffee sticks. And slowly project by project I built up materials and bought the odd tool as I needed it. And before you know it I have boxes and boxes of stuff. If you are curious about the hobby I can say it is incredibly rewarding and full of rabbit holes to really explore. Happy building 👍
My goodness what a breath of fresh air your channel is to me! Calm and straight forward. You could make a great living in the states doing voice over work. Not many people can speak good English over here, including me! I grew up in farm country in Ohio.
So thankful to have a step-dad that will be able to provide me with most of the tools, that will save me a ton of money. Thank you so much for this concise beginner guide! I am going to get started finding supplies tomorrow.
The tool at 4:37 are called locking pliers or "Vice Grips" (brand name) here in the midwestern US. I'm confident, after working with craftsman from an international organization, that there is no true definitive tool lingo, only localization. But, I thought I'd say so, in case some puzzled new crafter asks and gets presented with a selection of adjustable wrenches or spanners, if you will. Fantastic video and much appreciated. I'm currently walking through your backlog and finding new and beautiful productions, thanks for your hard work!
Yes I completely agree. Some tools can vary by name and many have several names. I'm glad you found it useful and welcome to the channel. Plenty of fun builds for you to watch and more on the way
Even after this has been out for more than a year I find it comforting to know that I use about 98% of the tools and supplies that you have listed here. This video is an excellent source for those wanting to know more about the tools used. Thank you for this video!
Thank you for this! I've been really wanting to get into diorama making, but I think its just so overwhelming to figure out where to start, so videos like this really help! I've only recently discovered your channel but I love it, thank you for being here
I'm not really artistic; I struggle to draw even simple lines. Even though I know for myself that I would copy a lot of stuff from the internet, I am really captivated by this kind of things (dioramas) despite the fact that I don't have a creative mind or imagination. Thank you for the tips and for this informative video!
I completely disagree. I strongly believe everyone has an imagination and the ability to be creative. Techniques and such can be learned. Don't be so hard on yourself and dare to try. Even if it means copying stuff to begin with. Very soon your own ideas will emerge and there will be no stopping you.
This video calmed me. I'm so relaxed and informed! I stumbled upon diorama building yesterday and I haven't stopped thinking about it....can't wait to get into it, thank you for this!
I loved making polymer miniatures of food and objects as a child, but didn't have many of the tools. As an adult, I've acquired many of the tools, paints, and art supplies I used to want and had no access to- but I've never properly gotten into building miniatures because I've never been great with building things. I have been looking longingly at peoples' creations and thinking that if I only knew how to build and be handy already, I might understand the tools needed and methods used. This video is incredible. Straightforward, thorough, and with an appreciation for the journey that is finding cheap and adaptable materials. Thank you. This has helped me to understand what I can get quickly to build bases and add mass to non-polymer creations so my visions can come to life!
A wonderful introduction that not only gives me the necessary or "only" useful tools, but above all invites me to give my imagination space. Thank you for that! 🙏
Thank you for this awesome tutorial. I've been wanting to start building my own diorama, but did have a clue on what to get started with. I appreciate this video. Thank you
Your very welcome dude! There is so much to take in at first so I know it can be difficult to know where you start. I know I had to learn the hard way and made many mistakes along the way but hopefully this has made things a little easier. Always happy to answer questions and good luck with your projects
Thank you for making this video. I have been thinking about getting into making, or at least trying to make dioramas for a little while. This video really helps!
I’m so glad my dad has towers of insulation board behind his house, that I can just take! It has helped me a lot when starting diorama. Now I just meed all the paints and other stuff like the self healing cutting mat
To have access to insulation board is amazing. It will come in very handy. You can find good quality cutting mats for cheap on amazon in various sizes. With regard to paints, my tip would be to buy good quality as cheap paint is generally awful. And don't feel you need to viy every colour all at once. My collection of paints has been built up over several years. Get some basic colours and then add to that as you go. Good luck!
@@creativecuts7803 Thanks for the advice! I’ll look into a good size cutting mat and some quality paints, do you have any good brand suggestions to get started on?
@Sleepybrainz cutting mat - any will do. Choose a size and colour of your liking. In terms of paint, I have tested many brands and my favourite are vallejo or pro acryl. But I keep a stock of cheap browns, black and greens - colours I use the most, for large areas. As using more expensive miniature paints for this is unnecessary. Hope that helps a bit.
@@creativecuts7803 thank you! This helps a lot!! I’ll see if I can find those paints somewhere, any tips on brushes? I really want to learn diorama and start painting my dioramas stuff, because insulation foam on it’s own is not that good looking.
@Sleepybrainz haha I hear ya. A good online hobby store is a good place to start. For brushes I just buy cheap brushes. I clean them regularly but eventually they get relegated to my pot of rough brushes and break out a nice fresh brush. Nail art brushes are great. Loads on amazon. Good luck
So interesting! Reminds me a former job of mine in custom signs shop, using a lot of these tools, matters and glue. I miss the vibe of that shop actually. The material smells and "how am I gonna achieve that" state of mind looking at a project sketch for the first time. A far lesser creative work than yours but that was satisfying. You make me want to feel that again, maybe I'll check to get some tools haha. Thanks!!!
Funny how inspiration comes from the most random places sometimes. I used to do a bit of sign work too. Practiced my airbrush skills whilst making custom signs for nightclubs or events. But yeah a proper space to work, make mess, make smells etc is a true blessing. Follow your heart my friend, you won't regret it
definitely a lot of things and it's quite intimidating as complete beginner. Some stuff are possibly already have around our home such as drill & boxcutter... but the rest, yeah. Paint, painting tools or airbrush, XPS foam, material to create grass & trees... those are the stuff that mainly intimidate me. No clue where to buy it locally, basically have to source them online. Buying things online isn't the problem, the issue is not having knowledgeable people to ask questions, how do I use this and that. If there somekind of local workshop class I'd definitely sign up for one, having hands on explanation & teaching I think is very important for this sort of things.
I completely understand. That's why I made a video like this. I was some overwhelmed at first and bought many things I didn't need or it was the wrong item. For me, the hardest thing was finding the actual name of something so hopefully I helped with some of that. My best advice is start small. You can get great hobby kits online on say amazon for cheap and that is enough to get started and then buy stuff as you need it or want to explore further. You will quickly end up with lots of leftover materials that you can use time and time again. And most importantly, feel free to reach out anytime if you have a question no matter how stupid you might think it is... we all have to learn so know that I am happy to help anytime. Happy building!! 👍
Great video. If I may add one item to your suggestions - either a headset magnifier or a magnifying lamp. Painting fine detail on miniatures can really strain your eyes after a while; I have one of those round magnifiers with an LED bulb like you'd see in a nail salon, and to me it's an invaluable asset.
Thanks Richard. Appreciate you taking the time to watch. And great tip. Funnily enough I have both. I bought a magnifying lamp but only used it a few times because the focus point was very narrow. I have mag glasses with a light which I use for super fine detail such as eye balls etc. But for the most part I just use some reading glasses and two architects lamps to provide good lighting. I guess everyone has different ways which work for them depending on their eye sight. But good lighting is key in my opinion.
Your video helped answer a lot of questions and also confirmed on tools that I already have. It was very useful and straight forward with no non-sense effects. Thank you for sharing.
On a tangent, I learned to call those retractable blades "box cutters." I used them for that on the job, and many other things. And the blades in them are (or were) "razor blades," for shaving. But I doubt very many people cut boxes with them or use the blades in razors anymore. And they're still really useful tools for so much. It's just about language and its use, but I find it interesting, especially once people generally forget terms or their original meanings. I also like hearing what other English speakers call things that I know by other words.
You are very welcome. I started someday too. I remember how confusing it was at the beginning. Plenty of videos on the channel with lots of tips and techniques.
Oo thanks for this! I’m really new to builds and have been playing with customising little matchboxes. Really great to know all the tools you find useful! And i think an airbushing video would be awesome. x
Thanks, about to try my first diorama for a tank. I have a good idea where to start now! It’s amazing how much stuff you can find for free if you just think outside the box.
Great video. I started my tool collection at car boots, bric-a-brac / antique stalls, you can get some lovely, nicely engineered and loved, old tools at reasonable prices, just need to check they aren't worn out, but I love the feel of them and the thought of stories they may hold.
You are very welcome. I made this because I had so many requests and made a ton of mistakes when I first started. All my builds a pretty much experiments so any help or tips are always welcome
You are welcome, I did this vid purely out of viewer requests, I'm glad you found it helpful. Give me a shout if your ever need more info about anything
Your very welcome dude. Glad you found it useful. I remember I I first got into the hobby, I had many questions myself so I tried to make a video that would cover most of the basics. Also I'm always happy to answer any questions you may have 👍👍
@@creativecuts7803 i have one ! What could i put on polystyrène so i could paint it ? I know some people use a sort of paint or paste but i can find the name >< (i wouldlike to peint with acrylique, i hope that's not a problème..)
@@cedjianimation hey ceji, you can paint on polystyrene no problem. You just need to seal it first. A couple of coats of Mod Podge is best. Its comes in gloss or matte but since your painting over it, it wouldn't matter. If you are on a real tight budget diluted pva glue will do the same job. You can also mix paint directly into the mod podge to skip a step. Once sealed you can paint it with pretty much anything. Hope that helps.
This is fantastic info. My daughter has recently become very interested in dioramas, she found Boylei HT videos and we have enjoyed watching his Imaginary wild west and she has mentioned that she would like to create her own type storied world. Your detailed explanation here was perfect, I had Amzaon window open adding each item to the cart. Thank you so much for sharing, it's a huge time saver!
Very cool! And please feel free to reach out and ask questions if your daughter gets stuck. It can all be a bit confusing to begin with. I whish her the best of luck with her creations 👍
Haha the eternal struggle! Organise and then reorganise. But time spent on getting everything in place will always be helpful in the long run. Thanks for watching
Glad you found it interesting. I had so many requests and questions about how to get started, I thought I'd make a video about it. Thanks for watching 👍
Welcome and happy to answer any questions if you have any. We all have to begin somewhere and we have a great community here who are always giving little tips etc. 👍
Thank you so much for the really good advice, whilst watching this I realised that I already own many of the basic tools needed to get started, now time for the Imagination to run wild. Great Vid ^^
You are very welcome. I'm really pleased you found the video useful and plenty more on the channel to help you on your way. Also, I am always happy to answer questions if you get stuck. I wish you good luck with your builds 👍👍
thanks for your help.. I do toy photography and would like to build dyoramas, im 15 but dont have many hobbies and dyromas is something I find interesting and would like to get into
Cool! The same techniques for dioramas can be applied to backdrops for toy photography. It's basically creating a world in miniature. If you get stuck I'm always happy to help answer questions
@@creativecuts7803 Ive watched many videos but I think yours is the best one and erm my question is that like For the diorama id like to make is like a forrest and im going to the craft shop tomorrow, ive seen many videos and I was wondering whats that paste that people put over the polystirine?
@vesuviuscat2319 you can use anything really. Basically something to give it some mass or texture - soil, small sticks, sand etc and something to bind it together - pva glue/water. A fantastic premade mix is called scultamold. It combines plaster, mashed paper so you just add water. Super simple and easy to use
Haha dont worry I make many messes too. Its all part of the process. Make some mistakes but learn from where you went wrong or could improve. We have a great community on this channel, so people are always sharing tips. Please feel free to ask if you have any questions - I have quite a few builds aimed at beginners but also show a few extra ways to get great results if you are feeling bold. The main thing is to keep building.
You are very welcome. If you need help/advice on something specific, let me know as I am always happy to help. You never know, I may even make a video about it.
What do i need to start making diorama's? Not much. Only every type of knife, every type of cutters, every type of glue, drill, tweezers, plaster, paint,... 😄Jk sorry i know you're just trying to show all types of equipment that can come in handy. Honestly am glad for videos like this cause im juts about start my first diorama
Haha yeah I know it can seem a little daunting at first but the important thing to remember is everything didnt just appear magically overnight - all these tools were collected over a period of time and I made many many mistakes along the way. The best advice I can give is just to begin. Start building and you will soon find out what you need. Also im here if you get stuck. Always happy to help where possible
@@creativecuts7803 i do have a question actually. I'm going to make a diorama for my neca turtles, how big should i make the bricks in a wall for them to be accurate in proportion? Seen alot of videos where people say how big they make them but they don't say for what type of figure they are making it. Also, any tips on how to make the cutting bricks process faster because that looks like the most time consuming part.
Good observation the scale at which you are planning to is different to a lot of hobby videos you will see. I guess a simple rule of thumb would be - imagine a single brick next to the head of your figure. Would it be bigger or smaller than the head and if so by how much. This will give you a basic measurement to work with. As long as it looks believable that's all that matters. Cutting bricks is a long process but if you make a basic jig and use a large sharp knife you can cut equal bricks more quickly. Another option would be to carve them into foam. Quicker then cutting and building. Hope that helps sorry for the long answer
Thank’s a lot! I’m actualy buying tools and got very few money. For exemple : how to get good results without airbrush? Aniway it’s very interesting to learn from you!❤😮
Hey, thank you for your kind words. If you're new to the hobby, i know it can all be a bit overwhelming and everything seems like it costs a lot. You can pick up a cheap hobby set from Amazon for pretty cheap £15-£20 which will get you most of the tools you need to get started. Sure the quality won't be amazing but you can always upgrade in the future. Airbrushes are amazing and I have several but can be very expensive. Sure, an airbrush is quicker, easier (if you are good with it) but most airbrush effects can be reproduced with a spray can (for larger projects) or dry brushing. Check out a channel called artist opus who does amazing dry brushing for more info. Hope that helps a little 👍
Awesome vid I lost one of my jobs due to the COVID lockdown so I have some spare time,I started collecting McFarlane and Neca action figures and wanted to make some backgrounds for them this vid helped alot so liked and subbed.
You are very welcome Dave. Hope it helps a little and always feel free to reach out if you need some advice. If you don't get round to building something I would love to see what you come up with. Good luck 👍
Thank you for the video. Really helps. I have like several projects in mind, some already halfway but im stuck cause dont want to fail and im not sure about couple details. For landmass i see that the way to go in order to make the foam more durable and work better is the plaster but when doing a castle type diorama... what can i use to accomplish that? Mod podge? Cause it feels like i will regret in future if i just start the paint job even when atm the foam looks awesome and it is the best kind of foam. Im afraid it can be damage "very easy" in future and i want same kind of protection
Cheers Steve and welcome. Plenty to check out on the channel. I'm always happy to answer questions and always interested in suggestions or tips. I'm always learning too. 👍👍
Thank you so much for making this video cuz its really helping me out. Im thinking of changing my job to make diorama so may i ask how do you make a living out of your work or this is just a hobby? Do people ordered you a specific type for advertisment or for decoration? I'd love to hear from you!
Hey Amelia, I very happy you found it useful. To be honest with you I do this as a pure passion project. I started building stuff during lockdown just to stay sane and after a while I thought it might be cool to document my process and started filming and put them on RU-vid. I never thought anyone would actually watch them, but after a few videos is completely humbled by the response I was getting and stories of how it helped get through tough times really inspired me to keep going with it. I was completely new to dioramas but did used be into warhammer 40k when I was in my teens. Since then I have an art degree, funds, and a wealth of youtube videos to learn from. Most of my builds are me experimenting with new techniques and ideas but now I have learned a few things and feel much more confident to push my boundaries and let my imagination flow. I dont really sell them but if someone offers me, then I am growing more open to the idea. I have accepted a couple of commissions off the back of my videos but as I said it is a hobby that I fit around a job which is pretty demanding at times but gives me windows of free time so use it more as a way to relax. I guess that doesn't really help you with your question but I wanted to be as open and honest with you as possible. Sorry for the long winded answer and wish you the very best of luck with your pursuits. I make a bit of pocket change from RU-vid which I basically reinvest in materials but ultimately do it for the love of creating.
Hi AnnMarie, I actually have an beginners guide to airbrushing on my channel. It goes through some of the basic equipment and how I use my airbrush to make my dioramas. I hope that helps a bit. But let me know if you want something more in depth and I will put something together.
Great video, thank you. Is "diorama building" still a thing on RU-vid? is there an audience for it? What is the average CPM? It takes a lot of effort to build dioramas, would be disappointing if there are no subscribers or the CPM is like $5 or lower.
Thank you for your kind comments and yes there is definitely an audience on yt. Sure make reaction videos or similar if you want clicks or low effort=money. But I do it because I enjoy it. I would be building them anyway so why not fill. It and share it with those who are interested. It is something I have wrestled with also. Even within the world of diorama building there are certain themes like 'zombie sharks' which seem to do well but then I go back to the question of clicks. If I want clicks - do something else. I guess my mantra is be true to yourself. Follow your passion. And that passion will naturally transfer to others. Apologies for the long winded answer but it is a topic close to my heart.
I have the problem of wanting a screen within the scene to be illuminated evenly across, and for the indiviual led's to be indistinct. I got some special diffuser plastic from an optical place but the lights are still so close to the back of the screen that they're obvious. I can't seem to solve this. And thank you so much for this video.
Great video. Thanks for sharing. Regarding the glue guns, how do you stop the glue from oozing out the end. I put it down for a few minutes and when I go back to it, half the glue stick has melted and come out the end.
Thanks, glad you found it useful. My number one tip would be to get a decent one. It doesn't need to be expensive. But I had a couple cheap one before and since getting a good one the difference is unreal. Also a dual temp setting will help your cause. I have a little leakage but nothing like you describe. Hope that helps a little.
Yeah, foam, plastic or wood are great supports. Cardboard can be good too but can fall apart easily if you put wet products on top of it like glue etc. 👍👍