Want to learn to build action figure Dioramas? START HERE
Are you an action figure collector, Dungeons and Dragons dungeon master or an artist looking for a new medium to express your creativity? If you answered yes to any of these things, this blog is for you.
Today, I am going to help you make your first diorama.
In late 2018, I made my first action figure diorama which was a life-altering moment for me. Shout out to YouTuber, Al Figures, who really inspired me to get started and made me understand the tools, materials and artistic ability needed to formulate a foam sculpture. Since, I've created and sold more than 100 custom, hand-made pieces shipped around the world.
I've also started my own YouTube channel, dedicated to sharing my creations and teaching others some of the things I have learned throughout the years. You can check out the VASCO Toys YouTube here. Please subscribe if you like what you see!
But enough about my journey, this blog is about you, and the tools/materials you'll need to create your first diorama.
XPS Foam: Your new best friend
XPS (Extruded Polystyrene Foam) also known in the action figure diorama community as "Pink Foam," "Green Foam" or "Blue Foam" depending on where you live, is my go-to and most essential material for diorama building. I get my Pink Foam at Home Depot made by a company called Owens Corning. You can purchase 2' x2' sheets or 4' x 8' sheets (the more economical option). If you can't locate this kind of foam in-store, you can get it on amazon here.
Blades: The sharper, the better
You'll need something to cut your foam with, but you don't need anything fancy. Standard utility knives and an x-acto blade will work amazingly well, as long as you keep them sharp. Dull blades = frayed foam, which you don't want. I always recommend using new blades or newly sharpened blades on each project.
T-Square / Straight Edge
If you plan on carving bricks or just want straight lines in your diorama sculpting, you really need a T-square. I started off by using a regular ruler, but that doesn't allow you to reliably anchor the tool against the edge of the foam and makes it a lot harder to get truly straight lines perpendicular to the edge of the foam. Trust me on this, skip the ruler and go for the T-square.
Dual-Temperature Hot Glue Gun
The most basic glue I use in diorama making is low-temperature hot glue. WARNING - high temperature hot glue melts XPS foam. All you need is a low-temp or dual-temp hot glue gun and some glue sticks. Once you get more advanced in your builds, there are a slew of other useful glues you can try. Here's a guide on glue.
Magnets
If you want the ability to break down your dioramas so you can store them when you aren't using them you should consider magnetizing them. In order to do that, you'll need some ceramic magnets.
Paint Brushes / Acrylic Paints
You don't need to buy expensive paint brushes or paints for diorama creation! I use Anita's paints that are under $1 per unit and cheap soft bristle brushes without any issues. You can find all of these things at places like Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby, Michael's and other craft stores.
That's it! If you get these materials, you'll be well on your way to creating your first action figure diorama. Just in case you're a visual learner (like me) I am including a YouTube video that breaks down these materials embedded below.
DISCLAIMER - VASCO Toys is part of the amazon associates program. If you click on any of the amazon product links in this blog, I will receive a small commission on those sales at no extra charge to you.
I am not responsible for any harm or injury that may be caused a result of others attempting this type of project. Build at your own risk.