“That's perfect—it's mushroom season...”

"The Last of Us" model diorama featuring two painted figures surrounded by miniature cars and a van

A diorama created using forced perspective, which will therefore feature multiple scales...

Based on the video game *The Last of Us*, which is being adapted into a TV series...

The resin figures are 1/24 scale, as are the first two vehicles. A test layout is set up to recreate the atmosphere...

Vehicle models being assembled: a van, interiors, and a yellow car on a model-building table

The two 1/24-scale models: a Volkswagen bus and a T-Bird, worn-out kits that have been restored...

Model of an abandoned, weathered sedan with broken windows, in a post-apocalyptic setting reminiscent of *The Last of Us* The T-bird is painted aluminum. A very diluted mixture of brown and green Winsor & Newton oil paints was applied to the entire surface to create a green moss effect...

The Volkswagen bus, on the other hand, shows signs of worn paint and advanced rust...

A rusty, abandoned model car with the body separated from the passenger compartment, which is littered with fallen leaves The windshield wiper streaks are created using matte varnish and a stencil. The interior of the vehicle is decorated with sand, flock, and fallen leaves (birch seeds)...

Model of an abandoned car body with a rusty interior and vegetation, top view

Details...

Two weathered model pickup trucks, one black and the other blue with a patina, sitting on the workbench Model of a weathered and patinated blue Ford pickup truck, three-quarter front view, "The Last of Us" theme The Ford Bronco—on a 1/32 scale—which will be in the background, is painted medium blue and then "dry-brushed" with a lighter blue and white. Weathering is added at the end using Humbrol 93 and pastel powder. The roll bar and tires are painted matte black, then dry-brushed with gray and sandy yellow plus white for the marks on the wheels...

The first two models are finished. The miniatures are painted with oil-based paints from Winsor & Newton, Humbrol, Revell, and others...

The Setting

Here is the description:

Gray plastic model parts on a sprue for a "The Last of Us" diorama The foreground on the left side of the diorama features a building that runs along the street. It will be made of thick drawing paper and plastic cardstock. The window frames are also made of plastic...

Model under construction of an urban setting featuring a high-rise building, a yellow ladder, and buildings inspired by *The Last of Us*

The perspective-distorted element in place with a few future accessories...

Urban model featuring a high-rise building, a yellow ladder, dumpsters, and ruined buildings reminiscent of *The Last of Us*

Another view. The buildings on the right are from an old kit...

Model cityscape featuring brick buildings, glass-fronted skyscrapers, and the 1st National Bank building Printed backdrops from the same box will be used to ensure the building appears to extend into the distance...

Diorama under construction with a cardboard building, wooden floor, and painted sky background

The building is glued to the polystyrene, which is then coated with a layer of acrylic paint. A painted background—a blue sky with clouds—is attached to the back of the building...

The Tower

The trickiest part… and the most labor-intensive! The tower, built at roughly a scale of 1:43 to 1:50, is made from drawing board, balsa wood, and plastic card. It’s somewhat dilapidated, so it’s not symmetrical…

Diorama of a ruined city featuring a collapsed skyscraper, abandoned cars, and two figurines of armed survivors A view of the diorama to get an idea of its size and location. The black building in the background is made of plastic card and airbrushed, with a grid used to create the windows. The floor in the foreground features tiles that are embedded in the polystyrene...

A model under construction of a dilapidated multi-story building cluttered with debris

Model of a multi-story ruined building with blackened structures overgrown with vegetation

Placement of furniture and miscellaneous debris. Painting of the entire space...

Model of a ruined, leaning building with gouged-out upper floors on a base, with a post-apocalyptic atmosphere

Model of a ruined skyscraper with a skeletal structure, mounted on a cardboard base

First basic colors...

Model of a ruined skyscraper with an exposed structure, a destroyed facade, and debris at the base

Model of a ruined building overgrown with vegetation, with an open roof covered in moss, in the style of *The Last of Us*

Removing the flocked finish and sand from the roof...

Final paint scheme for the tower (based on photos from the TV series) featuring yellow, orange, and white, with various flocked accents added...

The finished piece...

The Entire Set

Model of a ruined building overgrown with vegetation against a blue sky, with a *The Last of Us* vibe The side building is partially covered with various types of flocked material to represent the proliferation of greenery...

The side building is partially covered with various flocked textures to represent the proliferation of greenery...

Figures of Joel and Ellie in an urban diorama featuring ruins and abandoned vehicles

Both figurines are attached to the floor...

"The Last of Us" diorama featuring Joel and Ellie near an abandoned van in a devastated city The floor is coated with a thin layer of fairly runny filler. Fine sand, flocks of material, and tufts of grass are placed in the wet filler...

The bus is attached to the ground with wood glue, along with the signs and posts...

Model of a ruined building overgrown with vegetation, featuring an abandoned red car Longer dried grasses and plumber's twine are glued to the tower to accentuate the vegetation...

Diorama of an abandoned, rusted car in a ruined city overgrown with vegetation

The T-bird is parked right up against the curb...

Model of a weathered Ford pickup truck in a post-apocalyptic urban diorama featuring ruined buildings A rusty blue model pickup truck abandoned in a sandy post-apocalyptic diorama featuring a vehicle and vegetation

Next up is the Ford Bronco...

Post-apocalyptic diorama featuring a rusted-out American car abandoned amid overgrown vegetation and ruined buildings

The Dodge Charger—also in 1/32 scale—joins the diorama...

Post-apocalyptic urban street diorama featuring an abandoned red car overgrown with vegetation in front of a bank

The 1/43-scale Ford is positioned within the scene...

Diorama of a ruined building and abandoned cars in a post-apocalyptic city inspired by *The Last of Us*

The small, redesigned buildings are placed at the back of the diorama...

Painted backdrop featuring ruined skyscrapers under a cloudy sky for a *The Last of Us* diorama

An acrylic-painted background will complete the scene...

Post-apocalyptic city diorama featuring ruined buildings, abandoned cars, and figurines of survivors

An overview of the finished set...

Model of a post-apocalyptic city featuring a collapsed skyscraper overgrown with vegetation, along with rusted buildings and cars Model of a dilapidated building overgrown with vegetation, with a collapsed facade covered in moss and ivy