🏜️ How to create a desert terrain base with Vallejo Diorama FX

Desert diorama with barrels and palm tree painted with Vallejo paints - Mr Resin

Desert Terrain Base with Vallejo Diorama FX

Want to give your dioramas or bases a professional, realistic finish? 🌵
In this tutorial we show you how to create a desert terrain base using Vallejo Diorama FX products, achieving natural textures, smooth transitions and an arid effect that will look like it came straight from the Tatooine desert itself.

The process, carried out by Javier Redondo, combines texture pastes, pigments and washes to achieve a believable and durable surface.

🛠️ Step 1: Base Preparation

Start with a rectangular foam PVC base.
Use small stones glued with PVA glue to recreate a low wall and add volume.
Allow to dry thoroughly before applying the textures.

Vallejo tutorial part 1 how to create a desert diorama step by step - Mr Resin

🏜️ Step 2: Main Texturing

Apply Desert Sand (26.217) across the entire terrain surface.
To generate variations and depth, mix the same reference with Light Brown Mud (26.810) and use it on the front section.

💡 Tip: alternate the mixing ratios to create more natural gradients.

🪸 Step 3: Adding Colour and Detail

Vallejo tutorial part 2 how to create a desert diorama step by step - Mr Resin

Mix three stone tones of equal granulometry in a small well:

  • Warm Orange (26.321)

  • Alkali White (26.302)

  • Arid Yellow (26.314)

Paint each stone by brush with different ochre tones to break up the uniformity.
Then, use a piece of sponge to texture the transition between the terrain colours, softening the changes.

🏖️ Step 4: Placing Stones and Reliefs

Vallejo tutorial part 3 how to create a desert diorama step by step - Mr Resin

Distribute the stones randomly across the base, especially in the transition zones between heights.
Press them in lightly so they sink into the still-wet paste: this will create a realistic effect of weight and anchoring.

In some areas, add larger stones using Alkali White (26.303) to enrich the composition.

🎨 Step 5: Tones and Nuances

Vallejo tutorial part 4 how to create a desert diorama step by step - Mr Resin

With the surface already dry, apply different tones with an airbrush:

  • Model Air UK Light Stone (71.143)

  • Model Air White (71.001)

  • Model Air Beige (71.074)

Do this wet-on-wet using Premium Color Retarder (62.065) to better blend the nuances.

🌾 Step 6: Vegetation and fixation

Place small bushes and dry grasses from Hobby Scenery at strategic points on the terrain.
Reinforce adhesion by applying by capillary action a mixture of Terrains Fixer (26.322) with Airbrush Thinner (71.161), using a pipette.

💧 Step 7: Washing and volume enhancement

For a more realistic finish, apply washing with Wash FX in different areas:

  • Oily Earth (76.521) on stones and cracks.

  • Light Grey (76.515) and Desert Earth (76.522) over the flatter areas.

This will help define the volumes and unify the overall tones.

🏁 Final result

Completed desert diorama from the Vallejo - Mr Resin tutorial

And that's it! 🌞
Your desert terrain base will have depth, colour and an incredibly natural texture.
Perfect for miniatures, dioramas or post-apocalyptic scenes.

👉 Discover the full Vallejo Diorama FX range at Mr Resin.

✨¡Happy Printing & Happy Painting! 🚀