My kid is huge into these Calico Critters. I bought her a house set for her 5th birthday last month and I'd like to build her some scenery for it. Problem is I have no clue what materials to use. I can find unlimited pictures of what others have made but never any materials or crafting builds. I figure it's similar to tabletop games like 40k but people don't tend to make cute little ponds and hills, they prefer ruins and blown up houses and ripped apart bodies. I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction. Thanks
>>2889894> they prefer ruins and blown up houses My friend was a warhammer guy and there are a lot of intact infrastructure pieces, it’s usually the paint that is used to make it look worn/blown up, but you can paint it all pink if you want. The grass and flowers and stuff can be painted to your liking too.To really diy it Balsa wood is nice for crafts, as are thick veneer sheets. Sturdy cardboard too. Polymer clay too of course, you can even do that together (its non toxic, no bake and hardens in 48h). Clay working is pretty fun too. Building scale models used to be an obligatory course for architecture students, an architecture college supplies shop should sell whatever you need
>>2889894>I figure it's similar to tabletop games like 40kJust pick a different setting. Like Napoleonic or US Civil War, that kind of thing. I think the harder part would be to find the scale you need. That said, doll house furniture-type stuff might be more fitting.
>>2889894There's a couple of youtubers who do diorama stuff like this(i watch Boulder Creek Railroad and Kayakasaurus), but the general answer is glue+paint and random assorted other shit. Dirt? Spread some around and glue it down with spray glue.Grass? Put down glue and them use a static grass applicator.Water? Resin with appropriate dye + modge podge for optional ripples.Since this is a child I'm not sure you want to go that hard into it(since it will be abused), but cardboard + paint can get you a long way there, or even balsa wood and popsicle sticks. You can use actual rocks, tree bark, branches, ect. I suggest watching through some stuff and figuring out what you want to make.
>>2889897>>2889898>>2889924Thanks anons I will be following each of your suggestions, have a great night
Model railroad guys probably have a lot of ideas you could use or at least get you thinking about other stuff you could use.
There's lots of options for materials and people who do modeling and dioramas pride themselves on repurposing oddball stuff...as another anon touched on, scale is what dictates what's best, looks wise.It doesn't have to be perfect and fantasy settings can benefit a lot from distorting scale like assuming the creatures and house are in scale with each other you could make the surrounding landscape and trees and other elements slightly oversized at that scale so the house and figures appear extra diminutive and cute...the reverse is how they did all the Godzilla models, so a man in a rubber suit looked like he was hundreds of feet tall next to them.Once you get that sense of scale it will be easier and easier to see and think of what might be best for certain effects and to mimic certain materials.For building up terrain, a go to material is Homasote board (pic related)...its sort of Iike paper egg carton but thick, easily cut and also torn, chipped, split, carved, sanded, torched, etc. to create random surfaces that mimic stone and other hardscapes. Model train guys use it a lot; it's soft but absorbent so paints and glues will soak in and create a tough exterior. Paper mache' is another way to make big hills and other shapes, and can be similarly toughened up with coatings.Other suggestions offered are good, I'd add Foamcore and styrene sheet, clear takeout food containers are good for "glass" and often have interesting ribs and other shapes that can mimic things at scale.If you have any specific shapes or items you want to do I can probably help with ideas.Hobby Lobby type craft stores have tons of things that can work, and some Dollar Stores have pretty good craft sections too.
>>2889894You might have better luck with model train people. They get super nerdy about the scenery. I guess the one issue is durability since they aren't very rough on the stuff I don't know how well the trees and stuff would hold up.
>>2889894Google model train sites that sell that type of stuff. There's channels on YT of guys that do elaborate HotWheels car sets with buildings and trees and shit.
