Basics - Baseboards

A baseboard is the first step in building a diorama. It is the foundations of the build and therefore important to get right.

It is not a necessity to have a baseboard though. If you are creating a basic farm or one that needs to be packed up out of the way you may favor having small bases under each shed and using roll out grass mats for fields etc.

But if you are aiming for more detail in your diorama, or you plan to move the diorama around for storage purposes or for shows a baseboard is a good idea.

The key to a good baseboard is keeping it strong and sturdy while aiming to keep it light, particularly important if you intend on moving your layout around alot. The last thing you want is for your baseboard to warp or break. 

I will start by showing you some links that explain constructing base boards far better than I can

New Railway Modellers is a site you will see linked alot within this blog as it is a great source of information and particularity step by set guides. Ignore the model railway jargon used here and concentrate on the construction and location advice
New Railway Modellers

One of many videos online showing how to construct a baseboard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTVpRRc71iw

The model railway guys have been at this for years and really know what there doing when it comes to creating a baseboard that will stand the test of time. A quick google will bring up countless debates on what materials are best to use and its really up to you dependent on budget, availability, tools and skill level.

My own choices when it comes to baseboards are MDF and Pine. The last layout I built was heavily over engineered and therefore heavy to lift! Constructed from a sheet of 12mm MDF and 3x2 timber it weighed a tone. Realistically a 6mm MDF base with 2x1 timber laid underneath in strips approximately 1-2 feet apart wont warp, will be plenty strong enough to support all your buildings and models and be light enough to carry. In construction I use self tapping screws, though as you'll see in future updates my latest baseboard is just glued.

To add to the weight 3x3 timber was used to create relief in my last layout, safe to say it was a work out moving it to shows.