Help with Lava bases!

[Jericho]

Hey guys,

I know there\'s been a ton of great models done up on lava bases over the years, and now it\'s my turn to give it a shot. The problem? I can\'t find any good photos that clearly show what the lava looks like from above.

Hell Dorado models grab my eye, and the work of others look great, but I can\'t see them clearly enough to try to emulate anything

I\'ve got almost every other part of the model finished, now I\'m worried about wrecking it by botching the lava. Some advice and top-down photos would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Dragonsreach]

Best I\'ve got.

 

[green stuff]

That\'s a great reference pic Mike! It shows a lot of the different variations that can be found in lava.

Thanks :beer:

 

[Einion]

I like this one since there\'s enough ambient light to see the surface of the cooled parts really nicely:

Lots more good images on these pages:
http://www.deephawaii.com/volcano_photos.htm
http://www.instanthawaii.com/cgi-bin/hawaii?Volcano.gallery
http://www.mediabum.com/html/Amazing-Lava-Photos.html
http://www.decadevolcano.net/photos/keywords/lava_flow.htm

Einion

 

[DaN]

The appearance of the lava is dependant on it\'s mineral make up - which determines it\'s latent heat and viscosity.

for example, Hawaiian lava tends to seep and bubble, flows easily and is extremely hot (Well DUH, it\'s lava! )

Lava of a lower heat is denser and less viscous - this is lava that tends to build cones, and, if the cone \"bungs up\" can lead to building pressure and explosive eruptions.

So lava\'s heat can be painted in the usual red spectrum, going from white hot, down to yellows, oranges, bright reds, dark reds, and then cooling to the scummy surface black and possibly greys for pumice.

Einion\'s example is my favourite too - as it shows the rippling effect of the lava\'s flow - it\'s direction, and the effect of the current BELOW the cooling surface distorting and fracturing the cooling black layer, and in some places, reabsorbing it.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by DaN
Lava of a lower heat is denser and less viscous...

Just to prevent confusion: more viscous, yes?

Einion

 

[DaN]

I forget...
Lower heat lava = thicker
Hotter lava = runnier

 

[COG]

if you check out the newest whitedwarf they have a really cool board with lava in it and it looks very realistic .
unfortunately they dont tell how they did it so...sorry about that but it might be a cool reference you already have and dont know it.
or you could use the really cool pics already given lol
cough cough
ok ..:drunk:

 

[Shawn R. L.]

Here\'s one I did recently - http://www.coolminiornot.com/190964

 

[redarmy27]

Excellent job on that base, Shawn. I was thinking about giving a base like a shot sometime. Maybe I will this weekend at some point.

 

[Jericho]

Dang Shawn, now you\'ve got me wanting to bust out the sculpting tools again. Wicked base!

Thanks to DR and Einion as well, those are some great pics. The vision in my mind has changed somewhat now, but I think it\'s all for the best

 

[arogers907]

The lava effect isn\'t over-stated or anything on this model, but check out the finished work this guy\'s done on his base. The lighting and bubble effects are both really sweet.

Actually, I learned a lot from reading this guys (quite long) tutorial. I don\'t agree with him on everything, but I did learn a lot and appreciate all the work he put into that tutorial.

I just scrolled through again and I think the best shot showing off the lava effect is toward the end of the article.

-Andy

 

[DaN]

@arogers - should there be a link there?
I didn\'t spot it...

 

[arogers907]

Oh!

Ahem...

Well, that\'s moderately embarrassing. Try this one:
http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.php?showtopic=105449

Sorry \'bout that. =P

-Andy

 

[DaN]

lol no worries
Happens to me all the time

 

[arogers907]

I\'m always doing that with attachments on emails too.

Uhg...

=P

-Andy