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# Everything you need to get started with Dioramas and miniatures

By [Shawn Kennedy (@RFDHobby)](https://listium.com/@RFDHobby)

527 views · 2 likes  
Published 28 April 2022 · Updated 28 April 2022

Category: hobbies & interests

This list was created to help you get started with Dioramas. Everything you need in order to start out, practice and learn the craft. 

Finding out the materials and tools you need can be daunting without someone to help you get started, so clone this list if you want to check each of the items you have already purchased or could find around the house, and this can be your perfect shopping list. Feel free to watch the full video \[here\](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvh1A1GiUEg&t=24s).

I have categorized the item based on the main function, and have assessed whether or not each item is essential, helpful or not necessary. 

Follow me on \[YouTube\](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqVI6_u3PnTDUXMMDjSXCcg) to learn more about the hobby!

## Items

### 1. [Cutting mat A2](https://listium.com/@RFDHobby/68775/everything-you-need-to-get-started-with-dioramas-and-miniatures/0/cutting-mat-a2)

Item ID: `0`

- Image: ![Image](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/pxhmzzswmyh6ehkeonqc.jpg)
- Necessity  (Essential, Helpful, Not necessary): Helpful
- Category: Support
- Comments: Having a slightly large size, if you can fit it on your desktop is beneficial, just saves you having to move your cutting mat or your object around to complete large cuts.
- Video link: [https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=24&start=24&end=48](https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=24&start=24&end=48)
- Where to find: Amazon
- Link to Buy: [https://amzn.to/37I54Wu](https://amzn.to/37I54Wu)

### 2. [Steel ruler](https://listium.com/@RFDHobby/68775/everything-you-need-to-get-started-with-dioramas-and-miniatures/1/steel-ruler)

Item ID: `1`

- Image: ![Image](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/kamnn2vglr1xgokecqtk.jpg)
- Necessity  (Essential, Helpful, Not necessary): Essential
- Category: Marking
- Comments: I highly recommend a steel one, not a plastic one, otherwise you'll have some trouble when cutting with a craft knife. If you can get yourself a slightly thicker ruler, it will save it from bending over time.
- Video link: [https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=49&start=49&end=76](https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=49&start=49&end=76)
- Where to find: Hardware store
- Link to Buy: [https://amzn.to/3Jv4Z5y](https://amzn.to/3Jv4Z5y)

### 3. [Craft knife](https://listium.com/@RFDHobby/68775/everything-you-need-to-get-started-with-dioramas-and-miniatures/2/craft-knife)

Item ID: `2`

- Image: ![Image](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/x4fa5v0rljsqvi6hfdt2.jpg)
- Necessity  (Essential, Helpful, Not necessary): Essential
- Category: Cutting
- Comments: The craft knife itself doesn't really matter, the important thing is having plenty of replacement blades for it. If you're cutting lots of stuff for long periods of time, you might want a more comfortable handle for your craft knife, but honestly you can get away with the cheapest varieties, so long you have spare blades.
- Video link: [https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=77&start=77&end=105](https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=77&start=77&end=105)
- Where to find: Cheap shop
- Link to Buy: [https://amzn.to/39rbBWt](https://amzn.to/39rbBWt)

### 4. [Garden shears](https://listium.com/@RFDHobby/68775/everything-you-need-to-get-started-with-dioramas-and-miniatures/3/garden-shears)

Item ID: `3`

- Image: ![Image](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/aktaummd60n7sn6pdqne.jpg)
- Necessity  (Essential, Helpful, Not necessary): Helpful
- Category: Cutting
- Comments: These work a treat, especially for cutting the paddle pop sticks and we did that for making some of these tank traps and stuff. Very handy to have to save your hands from overworking as you cut through thicker pieces.
- Video link: [https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=106&start=106&end=136](https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=106&start=106&end=136)
- Where to find: Cheap shop
- Link to Buy: [https://amzn.to/3JzqaDp](https://amzn.to/3JzqaDp)

### 5. [Scissors](https://listium.com/@RFDHobby/68775/everything-you-need-to-get-started-with-dioramas-and-miniatures/4/scissors)

Item ID: `4`

- Image: ![Image](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/ekekeieufcsb7ylx9x5h.jpg)
- Necessity  (Essential, Helpful, Not necessary): Essential
- Category: Cutting
- Comments: It's always good to have a couple of sizes on hand.  You should have no trouble finding a pack with varying sizes of scissors for very cheap.
- Video link: [https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=137&start=137&end=147](https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=137&start=137&end=147)
- Where to find: Your house/ Cheap shop
- Link to Buy: [https://amzn.to/3uAmLQy](https://amzn.to/3uAmLQy)

### 6. [Pencil/Mechanical pencil](https://listium.com/@RFDHobby/68775/everything-you-need-to-get-started-with-dioramas-and-miniatures/5/pencilmechanical-pencil)

Item ID: `5`

- Image: ![Image](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/iywge2g5zptdcanuyejj.jpg)
- Necessity  (Essential, Helpful, Not necessary): Essential
- Category: Marking
- Comments: For marking things out. Very handy to have. Prefer a fine tip. I also suggest you get yourself 2 or 3 of these as I spend more time looking for these than actually using them.  These are perfect for etching foam terrain pieces.
- Video link: [https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=148&start=148&end=178](https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=148&start=148&end=178)
- Where to find: Your house/ Cheap shop
- Link to Buy: [https://amzn.to/37K2jUh](https://amzn.to/37K2jUh)

### 7. [Hot glue gun](https://listium.com/@RFDHobby/68775/everything-you-need-to-get-started-with-dioramas-and-miniatures/6/hot-glue-gun)

Item ID: `6`

- Image: ![Image](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/fxcjb3j7bqq2umxbcas9.jpg)
- Necessity  (Essential, Helpful, Not necessary): Essential
- Category: Glues
- Comments: We do use it in most of the builds. You can get larger and more expensive ones, with heat control and that sort of thing. But if you're building a small terrain, a simple glue gun, which pushes the glue sticks when you press the trigger, is more than enough.  A temperature control can be helpful for gluing up foam, as a lower temperature prevents the foam from melting too much during glue up.
- Video link: [https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=179&start=179&end=236](https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=179&start=179&end=236)
- Where to find: Amazon
- Link to Buy: [https://amzn.to/3rnib6m](https://amzn.to/3rnib6m)

### 8. [Super glue](https://listium.com/@RFDHobby/68775/everything-you-need-to-get-started-with-dioramas-and-miniatures/7/super-glue)

Item ID: `7`

- Image: ![Image](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/vbg7g2wosvs2oe1ppujt.jpg)
- Necessity  (Essential, Helpful, Not necessary): Essential
- Category: Glues
- Comments: To glue the pieces.  I use the cheap stuff, usually in a pack of 6 for really cheap.
- Video link: [https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=237&start=237&end=257](https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=237&start=237&end=257)
- Where to find: Amazon/Your house
- Link to Buy: [https://amzn.to/3LVcYu8](https://amzn.to/3LVcYu8)

### 9. [PVA glue](https://listium.com/@RFDHobby/68775/everything-you-need-to-get-started-with-dioramas-and-miniatures/8/pva-glue)

Item ID: `8`

- Image: ![Image](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/lgyhtu2s2oqnkjkl4ng2.jpg)
- Necessity  (Essential, Helpful, Not necessary): Essential
- Category: Glues
- Comments: PVA glue is perfect for gluing just about anything when you need some extra working time with the glue before it dries.  I find this happens quite a bit, and will often use PVA instead of the much faster Glue Gun for this reason.
- Video link: [https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=237&start=237&end=257](https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=237&start=237&end=257)
- Where to find: Craft store/ Amazon
- Link to Buy: [https://amzn.to/3uBWhyj](https://amzn.to/3uBWhyj)

### 10. [Paddle pop sticks](https://listium.com/@RFDHobby/68775/everything-you-need-to-get-started-with-dioramas-and-miniatures/9/paddle-pop-sticks)

Item ID: `9`

- Image: ![Image](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/ntupojjn0plrs3gz4sft.jpg)
- Necessity  (Essential, Helpful, Not necessary): Essential
- Category: Materials
- Comments: You can find these on a variety of different sizes and having them is really handy. If you want small bags, go to the craft store to buy them, if you want a large one, go to the office supply store to buy it (stirring sticks instead of 'craft sticks' and you should find them way cheaper). And the quality is the same.
- Video link: [https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=258&start=258&end=340](https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=258&start=258&end=340)
- Where to find: Craft store/Office supply store
- Link to Buy: [https://amzn.to/36758ym](https://amzn.to/36758ym)

### 11. [Matchsticks](https://listium.com/@RFDHobby/68775/everything-you-need-to-get-started-with-dioramas-and-miniatures/10/matchsticks)

Item ID: `10`

- Image: ![Image](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/baa1wbzhorg6jgimchsj.jpg)
- Necessity  (Essential, Helpful, Not necessary): Essential
- Category: Materials
- Comments: To build some pieces.
- Video link: [https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=341&start=341&end=353](https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=341&start=341&end=353)
- Where to find: Craft store/ Cheap shop
- Link to Buy: [https://amzn.to/3O9xiKg](https://amzn.to/3O9xiKg)

### 12. [Foam board](https://listium.com/@RFDHobby/68775/everything-you-need-to-get-started-with-dioramas-and-miniatures/11/foam-board)

Item ID: `11`

- Image: ![Image](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/daxjugqajrrnbrgaydm9.jpg)
- Necessity  (Essential, Helpful, Not necessary): Essential
- Category: Materials
- Comments: Brand: Crafters Choice. You can buy these in bags. Hard to take the paper cover from it. Recommend it for building buildings and small scale terrain.  If you can get the paper off, this stuff is perfect for etching in details.
- Video link: [https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=354&start=354&end=535](https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=354&start=354&end=535)
- Where to find: Craft store
- Link to Buy: [https://amzn.to/3vktcqm](https://amzn.to/3vktcqm)

### 13. [Corrugated paper](https://listium.com/@RFDHobby/68775/everything-you-need-to-get-started-with-dioramas-and-miniatures/12/corrugated-paper)

Item ID: `12`

- Image: ![Image](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/kqjn4f2beufayvsrncly.jpg)
- Necessity  (Essential, Helpful, Not necessary): Essential
- Category: Materials
- Comments: Really handy. This is what we use for the shipping containers. It can be flexible or rigid, according to your wishes. You can bend and dent it. And it takes paint really well too.
- Video link: [https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=467&start=467&end=515](https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=467&start=467&end=515)
- Where to find: Craft store
- Link to Buy: [https://amzn.to/3JDXQQy](https://amzn.to/3JDXQQy)

### 14. [Cardboard](https://listium.com/@RFDHobby/68775/everything-you-need-to-get-started-with-dioramas-and-miniatures/13/cardboard)

Item ID: `13`

- Image: ![Image](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/l1tl3qhdo3gx8as2si5x.jpg)
- Necessity  (Essential, Helpful, Not necessary): Essential
- Category: Materials
- Comments: You can recycle cardboard from packages at your house, like cereal box cardboard. Nice to have around, I always keep myself stocked up with 3 or 4 sheets of this ready to go. It's great thickness to use, really easy to find and handy.  Chipboard is also very handy, a bit thicker and more rigid, it helps to add some structural integrity to builds where needed.
- Video link: [https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=516&start=516&end=551](https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=516&start=516&end=551)
- Where to find: Your house
- Link to Buy: [https://amzn.to/3JBwSZU](https://amzn.to/3JBwSZU)

### 15. [Wet wipe](https://listium.com/@RFDHobby/68775/everything-you-need-to-get-started-with-dioramas-and-miniatures/14/wet-wipe)

Item ID: `14`

- Image: ![Image](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/l8mlcbhgrztpcesn8pfo.jpg)
- Necessity  (Essential, Helpful, Not necessary): Essential
- Category: Materials
- Comments: To make a blanket, for example. Not so useful, so you'll only need a few.  You shouldn't need to buy these in bulk.
- Video link: [https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=552&start=552&end=569](https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=552&start=552&end=569)
- Where to find: Your house
- Link to Buy: [https://amzn.to/3xlewtp](https://amzn.to/3xlewtp)

### 16. [Toothpicks or Cocktail sticks](https://listium.com/@RFDHobby/68775/everything-you-need-to-get-started-with-dioramas-and-miniatures/15/toothpicks-or-cocktail-sticks)

Item ID: `15`

- Image: ![Image](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/bpozcxfbtthldwsuj37w.jpg)
- Necessity  (Essential, Helpful, Not necessary): Essential
- Category: Materials
- Comments: There's tons of uses for toothpicks and wooden skewers in terrain building, the scale is perfect for small beams and posts.
- Video link: [https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=570&start=570&end=581](https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=570&start=570&end=581)
- Where to find: Your house/ Market
- Link to Buy: [https://amzn.to/3KQbIby](https://amzn.to/3KQbIby)

### 17. [LED tealight candles](https://listium.com/@RFDHobby/68775/everything-you-need-to-get-started-with-dioramas-and-miniatures/16/led-tealight-candles)

Item ID: `16`

- Image: ![Image](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/vpddsu3ikdpup7kry1ff.jpg)
- Necessity  (Essential, Helpful, Not necessary): Essential
- Category: Lighting
- Comments: There are some varieties. They come with a battery. They're easy to pull apart and to reuse for different things.  These are a great way to add lighting to your dioramas.
- Video link: [https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=582&start=582&end=619](https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=582&start=582&end=619)
- Where to find: Craft shop/ Cheap shop
- Link to Buy: [https://amzn.to/37LGy6z](https://amzn.to/37LGy6z)

### 18. [Large straws](https://listium.com/@RFDHobby/68775/everything-you-need-to-get-started-with-dioramas-and-miniatures/17/large-straws)

Item ID: `17`

- Image: ![Image](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/klk34w7guvukr993ua2g.jpg)
- Necessity  (Essential, Helpful, Not necessary): Essential
- Category: Materials
- Comments: You can cut and cover them with paper to add some details.  These are also handy for making piping and barrels for example.
- Video link: [https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=620&start=620&end=657](https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=620&start=620&end=657)
- Where to find: Cheap shop
- Link to Buy: [https://amzn.to/368ZKuF](https://amzn.to/368ZKuF)

### 19. [Craft wire](https://listium.com/@RFDHobby/68775/everything-you-need-to-get-started-with-dioramas-and-miniatures/18/craft-wire)

Item ID: `18`

- Image: ![Image](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/cnopcdfjdlcaj7vxq1az.jpg)
- Necessity  (Essential, Helpful, Not necessary): Essential
- Category: Materials
- Comments: Quite thin and can be used to make some details.  Thinner wire is best here, it makes it much easier to manipulate and bend to your will.
- Video link: [https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=658&start=658&end=683](https://youtu.be/Tvh1A1GiUEg?t=658&start=658&end=683)
- Where to find: Craft shop/ Cheap shop
- Link to Buy: [https://amzn.to/3jzzEUO](https://amzn.to/3jzzEUO)