Alien tufts?

**Wyrmypops** · 06-12-2012, 08:14 PM

Anyone know of any?

See, I don't enjoy basing. Anything to cut down on that but also look fancy is a very good thing far as I'm concerned. So I rather like those "tufts" that various brands are doing. But, all I've seen reflect regular grass types. Nice ranges, but they go from dead yellow to vibrant greens. There's an absence (that I've seen so far) of anything alien. Purple, red or blue tufts would be spiffing. So, anyone know of any?

Or anyone played about with applying inks to dye a tuft? How'd that play out? Haven't tried it myself, could be the tufts would be resistant and not take on being dyed, or the inks could clump up on the fronds.

**PegaZus** · 06-12-2012, 10:43 PM

Not really a tuft, but before our cottonwood tree bit the big one, it would drop these little spikes all over the place. Dried them out, painted them purple with green. Look really alien and I'm planning to use them as a base plant. You might try looking around for things like that. Maybe some dried flowers of some weird shape when looked at mini scale.

**QuietiManes** · 06-13-2012, 12:34 AM

Inks and dyes can be used to colour grass and flock. It falls apart easily after it dries out.

You can paint it too, but that only works after it has been glued in place on the base, otherwise it does get all stuck together pretty bad.

Both options are pretty common practice. Not usually for aliens but more for variation in the groundwork.

If you want alien plants, not just grass, PegaZus has a good idea. Plastic plants or parts of plastic plants (flower section at the craft store, dollar store, fish section at the pet shop), various real seeds, certain spices like cloves, etc, all make really neat alien plant life when painted up and/or positioned oddly (putting things on their side or upside down breaks recognition).

**generulpoleaxe** · 06-13-2012, 04:07 AM

Just by some siflor and whilst it is on the backing plastic, airbrush section in whatever colours you wish.
Then you can highlight with a dry brush either whilst it is still on the backing plastic or after it has been attached to the base.

**BPI** · 06-13-2012, 09:46 AM

Hi Wyrmy, mention to mates (dog walking types are good) to be on the lookout for odds and ends of plant matter to stick in their pockets for you (I'm guessing you don't have a big garden given your location). This bit of plant matter on a Snotling base came from just such a source...

http://www.coolminiornot.com/234393?browseid=1893010

...dried out on the window sill then slung paint at it. Still quite pleased really looking back at it

Or avoid basing altogether and pin everything to clears...

http://www.fenrisgames.com/shop.html...oduct=12158849

**10 ball** · 06-13-2012, 12:58 PM

This is a great idea, look out for seeds and plant pods then paint them

**Dragonsreach** · 06-13-2012, 01:40 PM

Cloves:

Sennapods: Name: WKOPD00Z.jpg
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Bout as alien looking as you can get down here.

**Wyrmypops** · 06-13-2012, 07:57 PM

Cheers all, spiffing suggestions all round.

Reckon I'll have a play around with the purple inks on static grass and some green tufts then. If as it sounds they'll take it and return to their unclumped state after drying.

Hopefully the static grass shan't lose too much of the static nature.

Had forgotten to consider natural flora. Probably more my bad memory than my reticence to revel in basing. I had previously enjoyed using regular peas left over from dinner - when they dry out they take an on interesting shape. Slapped a dead fly on an early Nurgle mini too. Though as I recall using natural material required some sealing to prevent it rotting away.

**BPI** · 06-14-2012, 02:35 AM

I forgot about teddy bear fur thatch (for the rooves of cottages), get appropriate coloured old cuddly toy from charity shop, cut it up, apply PVA, then brush/comb/poke swirls and shapes to get an effect. Should dry rigid enough to be able to apply wash shades and then drybrush

**10 ball** · 06-14-2012, 03:24 AM

Originally Posted by BPI

I forgot about teddy bear fur thatch (for the rooves of cottages), get appropriate coloured old cuddly toy from charity shop, cut it up, apply PVA, then brush/comb/poke swirls and shapes to get an effect. Should dry rigid enough to be able to apply wash shades and then drybrush

Nooooooooooo! dont go around cutting old teddy bears up, its wrong!!! one day the teddys will turn and say "lets go around cutting old mini painters up for their hair"

**generulpoleaxe** · 06-14-2012, 04:13 AM

Originally Posted by 10 ball

Nooooooooooo! dont go around cutting old teddy bears up, its wrong!!! one day the teddys will turn and say "lets go around cutting old mini painters up for their hair"

I'll be safe then