CREATE A ‘CHOCOLATE BOX’ DIORAMA
When you think of a ‘chocolate box’ scene, a quaint thatched cottage in the countryside, with a pond or a babbling brook nearby, would probably come to mind. Despite being a stereotypical view of England, there are still plenty of villages that follow this pattern and stand virtually unspoilt, despite sweeping changes made elsewhere across the centuries. In fact, some seem so untouched by modernity that it feels like stepping back in time. That makes this the perfect opportunity to produce a scene that will be equally at home on both a steam or modern-era layout; with only minor alterations required.
Some such scenes feature in television programmes – a classic being ‘Heartbeat’, filmed mostly in Goathland. While a research trip up to North Yorkshire would be a bit far for me, I’ve used elements commonly found across the UK. These include a thatched cottage, stream, ford, village shop, telephone box, post box, and a war memorial. While the Pendon Museum ‘Vale Scene’ is undoubtedly the finest and most well-known recreation of a ‘chocolate box’ setting, during this article I’ll share how you can create something more achievable.
Landscaping
1 It’s worth taking the time to plan your scene out properly, making use of paper/card templates and scenic accessories. Think about how you can integrate multiple levels and lines of sight – the former especially important for a scene set in the countryside, where rolling hills are prevalent. On this diorama, I’ve tried to include forced perspective by having the road narrow at the furthest, highest point.
2 Transfer the plan onto translucent paper, and use these templates to start cutting up rigid insulation blocks to form your basic terrain. Glue the blocks with PVA; weighing them down overnight or until the glue has cured. You can rub with sandpaper to further develop the shapes. When cutting or sanding rigid insulation, always have a vacuum cleaner to hand to remove the static particles!
3 Mix up a cup’s worth of household plaster, adding emulsion paint – brown for grass, grey for roads and tan for gravelled areas. This avoids stark white showing through later. Brush a layer of PVA on the desired area, and apply the plaster, working from the centre of the diorama to the edges. Use whichever tools you find most appropriate, and don’t worry if the plaster hardens prematurely.
The raised kerb for the bus stop is achieved by cutting 2mm square section styrene into 13mm lengths, and gluing them into place with PVA. Once the glue has cured, it is backfilled with plaster and left to harden overnight. The roadway
