G'day All,
Having just started modelling again I am trying to establish links for purchasing products / kits etc.
Can anyone help with suggested suppliers in Qld (I am in Toowoomba) for such. Especially diorama scenery.
Also what do you use as ground material for your dio's. I have tried some clay from the local elcheapo store (big fail) and I am going to give plaster of paris a go next, any suggestions ??

Regards
Alex H

PS I have found a rather cheap and very reliable supplier of Dragon models in Malaysia avail online. I have used them several times and they are great.
http://www.hobby888.com/

Alex as I do not do dio's I cannot help with the suppliers but be aware that Plaster of Paris shrinks quite badly and will crack. Try and use Gib rock plaster instead as this has minimum shinkage and cracking. Another option is to make your own paper mache using wallpaper glue.

cheers
Cliff

PS> I am in Gympie a couple of hours to the North/East from you.

Howdy Alex,

I've recently relocated to Toowoomba myself. (Cliff, we never made it to Gympie and apoligise for not dropping in to say g'day). I'm in the same boat in terms of purchasing. There's bugger all here really. I don't know if you know but there's a modelling club in Toowoomba that say that they can help you in buying kits a lower prices. I haven't been to a meeting yet as I only just settled here myself. I plan on going to the November meeting.

Maybe we can catch up some time and compare notes.

Cheers
Shane

G'day

I am only new to this group . I am from Bris. The only suggestion is Vogler c.j and son at ipswich. I know it is not that close to you but I think you may be in for a treat.

As I said I am from Bris but lookforward to going there as I don't believe there is an equivilent here in the Capital.
Madboof

G'day all.
Shane, the club you are looking for in Toowoomba is AMMS . It is held in Loganlea but two blokes from there attend each month.
www.ammsbrisbane.com
As for kits Dragon, AFV Club, Hornet and lots more try where I work The Military Workshop.
www.themilitaryworkshop.com
Cheers Jason

Hi Alex,
Seen as how I am here in NSW can't help with a local Qland supplier for Dio supplies but have a suggestion for your Dio base/groundwork. I was putting together a North Africa dio and used the finest sand I could get my hands on. Mixed it with water and white glue until it was a dry slop. Lined the top of my base board to the required contours and let it dry. Sets like concrete so make sure you are happy with final lay of the ground before you leave it to dry. One this was done I put down a thin layer of dry Spakfilla and then dusted this with a water misting spray bottle. Enough water to allow full penetration of the Spakfilla. This also set hard and provided a more realistic scale sand cover, Sprayed desert colours and it turned out great.

Lee

G'day Jason. Tanx for the info BUT, there is a club here. It's the Darling Downs Scale Modellers. Brissy is a bit too far for me (although in my younger days living here we used to drive to Brissy for Hungry Jacks). Sri, should've put the club name in the original reply to Alex.

Hi Alex.
My name is andrew and i own a company called SouthEast Hobbies www.southeasthobbies.com.au and we are Melbourne based. Apart from doing alot of accessories and conversions we do supply diorama items. Too many to mention. If i can help you in any way please drop us a line, we have alot of customers in Qld. We also offer a VIP club which makes your hobby a little bit cheaper.
Thanks
Andrew

Hi Alex,
For groundwork I find some foam carved to shape and PVC glued down (let it dry overnight - or in Toowomba for 5 mins - :-)
Then go to the local art shop and buy some pre-pulped paper mache - it goes under a number of brand names but it is a powder like paper mache mix.
Mix in some water and water based paint for a base colour ground work and your away.
And it works out very cheap and looks fantastic.
Celluclay (US version of above) if you can find it here is very expensive.

Hint : Add a large dollop about 2 tablespoons of PVC glue to the paper machemix when making a batch. It stops the edges curling up / cracking when drying.
This suggestion is shameessly regurgitated from Shep Paine's book "Building Military Dioramas"

Thank you all for your assistance. This thread has been going a while now and by scanning the net, the local art and craft supplier and toyworld I am fast gaining knowledge and a cupboard full of crap that I may never use. I am really enjoying spending money now I just gotta figure out what to build.

Regards
Alex H