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 Post subject: Stuff. Thangs.
PostPosted: Tue Jul 05, 2016 9:58 pm 
Kinsman
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Hey all.

As a hobbyist, I am notorious for two things:
a) Being a hobby butterfly
b) Starting topics then neglecting them after a few weeks

With that said, I've been bitten by the LotR bug so thought I'd start a WIP here to show you all what I've been up to, and to try to keep my momentum for once.

Recently I set myself the task of building myself a new board and making some good looking terrain to go with it.

The plan for now is a 4 foot by 4 foot board made up of 2x2 squares, 4 feet of river including a bridge, a few forest sections and a Rohan house or two. I'll probably add some hedges and fences, but that's the general plan for now.

Onto the photos.

Image

The board is made from MDF with Duct-tape around the edges to protect them. It's then covered in sand and painted. I've found that the PVA doesn't stick very well to the tape, so most need at least two coats of sand and glue around the edges.

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I've got all four sections painted brown, though some need a touch up and all need drybrushed.

For the river, I'm planning two 1 foot long sections, a 1 foot long bridge section and two 45 degree bends.

So far I've cut out the two long sections and the bridge bases.

Image

The bases are made from 6mm MDF and the sides are sloped using a saw.

Here's the rough plans for the bridge base.

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Here's the base after it's been cut out and neatened up.

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For the sides of the river, I'm planning on using cardboard then covering it with either masking tape or paper mache before adding the sand to it. Has anyone any idea which method is better? Will PVA stick well to both?

Comments and criticisms welcome.

Dallo
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 Post subject: Re: Stuff. Thangs.
PostPosted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 12:25 am 
Loremaster
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I'm not sure if pva glue will stick to masking tape (though I'm sure that it should), but I know that it will stick to paper mache, as that is what I used to make hills on my board.

I like the idea of making the board in sections of 2' x 2' boards, it probably stores better than a 4' x 4' like mine :-D

Hopefully we can help you stay motivated. 8) It's definitely a great idea to use a community like this to motivate your work.

Looking forward to all your other stuff!

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 Post subject: Re: Stuff. Thangs.
PostPosted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 8:34 am 
Kinsman
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Thanks for the comment Wah Wing. I'll look into using paper mache then. Storage is one of the main concerns for this board. My original board was 6x4 but it's pretty awkward to store. One issue is that my table isn't wide enough to support two sections, but I might look into pegs to keep it all together.

Cheers.

Dallo
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 Post subject: Re: Stuff. Thangs.
PostPosted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 12:32 pm 
Kinsman
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Two updates in two days? You lucky people you! :D

Firstly I have paper mache-ed one river section to see if it works. If successful, I'll do the other sections.

Image

Next I did a bit more work on my bridge.

The main body is made from three pieces of foam board. The middle section is scored to allow it to bend to shape.

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Gluing it together actually took a lot of work. I used paperclips to pin the sides together and used PVA to stick it together.

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I eventually managed to get it all together and more or less level.

Image

If I were to do it again, I'd suggest having a slightly shorter middle section as it overhangs slightly. Not a huge problem, but worth mentioning.

Image

It's looking a bit rough at the minute, but it should hopefully polish up quite nicely. I plan to add pillars to the end to cover up the overhang and add some card detailing before painting. Any suggestions are welcome. It will eventually be attached to the base shown in the first post.

C+C appreciated.

Dallo
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 Post subject: Re: Stuff. Thangs.
PostPosted: Thu Jul 07, 2016 1:07 pm 
Elven Elder
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You are making good progress.

Sorry, I am late with my suggestions.

Yes, PVA will work with masking tape.

A hot glue gun works better/faster for foam core than PVA.

This paper craft video ilistrates PVA and tissue paper and hot glue texture

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=dm+ ... ORM=VRDGAR

This video illustrates texturing foam core

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUwrtRk5dYQ

Every one has a favorite technique. I skip the PVA and tissue when I make trees and just use the hot glue gun.
I use MDF instead of paper or card for bases.

Image

I skipped the tissue and PVA and made ten Halloween trees in less time than PVA takes to dry. A hot glue gun is a good investment if you use card and foam core.

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 Post subject: Re: Stuff. Thangs.
PostPosted: Fri Jul 08, 2016 10:58 am 
Kinsman
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Thanks for the links Oldman Willow, that looks like a great series. I'll take a look through the other videos when I get the time. I'll certainly have to give some of his projects a go.

I'll have to look into gettin a glue gun, though I've already blown my hobby budget for the past few weeks. I got the extended edition of the Hobbit trilogy, and picked up the first 52 BGiME magazines complete with models along with a few other bits and pieces.

Your trees are looking great. What did you do for the branches?

Cheers.

Dallo.
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 Post subject: Re: Stuff. Thangs.
PostPosted: Fri Jul 08, 2016 11:21 am 
Craftsman
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Looking very promising! I am hoping to get started on a similar project soon :)
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 Post subject: Re: Stuff. Thangs.
PostPosted: Fri Jul 08, 2016 12:08 pm 
Kinsman
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Thanks for the comment Slinky. I'm hoping that by documenting my terrain projects, I can inspire people to to likewise and that they can learn from my mistakes.

I received a couple of boxes of model trees but I'm not sure if the scale is right. They range from 2.4 inches to about 4. Pictures will follow (probably today once I get back from work) What modelling trees do people use? Do you just make your own?

Cheers.

Dallo
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 Post subject: Re: Stuff. Thangs.
PostPosted: Fri Jul 08, 2016 1:56 pm 
Elven Elder
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Dallo wrote:
Thanks for the links Oldman Willow, that looks like a great series. I'll take a look through the other videos when I get the time. I'll certainly have to give some of his projects a go.

I'll have to look into gettin a glue gun, though I've already blown my hobby budget for the past few weeks. I got the extended edition of the Hobbit trilogy, and picked up the first 52 BGiME magazines complete with models along with a few other bits and pieces.

Your trees are looking great. What did you do for the branches?

Cheers.

Dallo.


The branches are plastic Halloween thorns.

Glue gun suggestion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37aSs7jUaXI

I have several glue guns but did not use them very often. I saw the DM Scotty videos on line and now use them for all kinds of things.
High Temperature is usually unnecessary for foam crafts. I use the low setting on the adjustable glue guns.

Image

I purchased this batch of plastic thorns on discount at a craft store a few years back. There were all kinds of glitter covered versions last year.They work just as well but you need to prime them black.

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 Post subject: Re: Stuff. Thangs.
PostPosted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 9:36 am 
Kinsman
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Morning all.

Just showing the scale of the trees I bought. What do you make of the smallest size? Does the scale work ok? My gut says yes, but I'm a little unsure.

It's 2.4 inches tall, if you're curious.

Image

Cheers.

Dallo
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 Post subject: Re: Stuff. Thangs.
PostPosted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 12:44 pm 
Elven Elder
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Trees come in all sizes. I think they look better when mixed.

Image

Making your own trees

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5jPBzb ... 2&index=22

Pines

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzWMqGV ... 5DF01AE022

grasses

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO4Y1r98X6g

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 Post subject: Re: Stuff. Thangs.
PostPosted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 10:34 pm 
Kinsman
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Thanks for the links. I considered making my own trees out of wire and clump foliage. Ultimately I decided that buying ready made trees was a better use of my time, and around the same price it would be to buy all the materials I'd need. Perhaps further down the line I'll give it a go.

Image

Just a small update tonight. Here's the first WIP shot of a forest piece I'm working on. I have another eleven trees which will be spread around a few more forest bases and I'll use one on my bridge base.

The base is MDF and the trees are secured with superglue and pinned using a hand drill and some paperclip.

I have since added more trees, reflocked the tops of the trees and put the first layer of sand onto the base. When I'm doing the next forest piece, I'll put the sand on first, then reflock the trees. If the glue on the trees is still wet when you sprinkle the sand onto the base, some will get stuck to the trees.

I'll put up the next WIP shot up once the glue dries.

If you guys ever have any questions, feel free.

Cheers.

Dallo
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 Post subject: Re: Stuff. Thangs.
PostPosted: Tue Jul 12, 2016 6:08 pm 
Kinsman
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I've made a little more progress on the first of my river sections. Still unsure of what to do for the water. Polyfilla maybe?

Image

I've also made good progress on my forest piece.

Image

Believe it or not, that is sand, not snow.

Image

And a PIP shot.

It doesn't photo very well, but I've added a different shade of flock to the tops of the trees. It needs touching up, but I'm happy with the effect.

Dallo
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 Post subject: Re: Stuff. Thangs.
PostPosted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 2:20 pm 
Elven Elder
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Polyfilla maybe?

Polyfilla is not a brand I can get. I like to use dry wall filler/mud. I have been using calk to make flexible roads. I have seen some very nice flexible rivers as well.

Image

Make sure the product you select can be painted.It will be on the label.

Image

I used some packing material for the base but news paper works fine.

Image

Painted and flocked. There is no reason you could not use blue for water.

Image

The flexible road used with a large ACW ridge wip

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The ridge was placed under the mat. The water is Christmas decoration from Lemax. The toy soldiers are from the estate of a friend that recently passed. They are more than 60 years old.

Tip
What ever brand you use read the label. A friend created a beautiful river but did not check the label of the caulk. The product was not intended to be painted. All of his work was ruined when the product dried. The paint cracked off and fell off in chunks. The products was intended for bath tiles and designed to stay white so that it would be easy to keep clean .

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 Post subject: Re: Stuff. Thangs.
PostPosted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 5:25 pm 
Kinsman
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That's great. Thanks for the in depth response Oldman Willow.

Dallo
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 Post subject: Re: Stuff. Thangs.
PostPosted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 8:48 pm 
Elven Elder
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Dallo wrote:
That's great. Thanks for the in depth response Oldman Willow.

Dallo

You are welcome.
There are all kinds of different techniques. Some are way better than others. It is always best to learn as much as you can.

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