Building a Diorama - Part #4 - Locating Your Path or Roadway

 Path or Roadway:  This will provide a stage to place your model for show or photography.  In my case it was a railroad track so the roadway was only 3" wide for HO scale, and I wanted it to be a little slanted front to back and higher to lower.  For your diorama it might be a path through the forest, a highway along the hillside or simply a stage area in your scene.

Below are some pictures of my creation using a sky board and mountain cutout to enhance the view.  These tricks and others will be discussed in future posts.  Remember, you can always change your mind.
 
 

 


This is an early version of the diorama with lightweight spackling rock formations.

The early version with some additional rock formations.

The present version after cutting the ravine, adding a small stream and wood trestle.  Notice the neat work area.
(Guess what,  I changed my mind.)

This is how I used the revised diorama to display a wrecked caboose. 












 I cut my profile boards to create my "slightly slanted" railroad roadbed.  I cut the first, #1, profile board with a 3" flat location for the roadbed.  Then I used the first board as a template to locate the other cuts by moving it over and up 1/4" for each progressive cut in boards #2, #3 and #4. 

 

  
Shaping the profile boards:  I used my small band-saw to cut the rough terrain shape in my boards, but you can use a coping saw or other tool to shape your boards.

The next step Part #5 will be erecting the profile boards and front and rear stiffener boards.