How to make HQ terrain

[Routaporsas]

I'm planning to build a duel diodrama and for that I need to build partially collapsed bridge. I have used plaster to create some of my earlier works (walls, floor etc.) but I wonder what other materials I could use. Perhaps clay, but I'm not sure about that. My biggest issue is, that will plaster last long enough. Like do I still have those pieces of terrain say after 10 years from now? I'm not sure how well plaster preserves.

I really like works by user Trull: http://coolminiornot.com/artist/Trull/orderby/Descending

And I would ask him what materials he uses, but I'm not sure how often he visits here.

The bridge I'm planning could look a bit like that one: http://a486.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/65/l_fcdcaf2e21e502dc1ed433783cdbd4ed.jpg

 

[freakinacage]

plaster should be fine, as long as it's resin plaster

pm the artist, he'd be able to tell you. most reply

 

[Shawn R. L.]

The details can often make a diorama really sparkle. Watch gears, wires, guitar strings, computer parts, CD player parts etc... - almost anything that has a cool look.

 

[Einion]

My biggest issue is, that will plaster last long enough. Like do I still have those pieces of terrain say after 10 years from now? I'm not sure how well plaster preserves.

Depends on the product. Standard plaster (plaster of Paris) is quite tough but pretty friable at the end of the day, although you can add plasticisers to help it hold up better.

Is this for working terrain that you'll be handling frequently, or for a static display piece?

Einion

 

[Routaporsas]

Depends on the product. Standard plaster (plaster of Paris) is quite tough but pretty friable at the end of the day, although you can add plasticisers to help it hold up better.

Is this for working terrain that you'll be handling frequently, or for a static display piece?

Einion

Static display piece. It's a duel diodrama. Two characters fighting on a partially collapsed bridge

 

[Einion]

Well for a display model you've got a lot of options. You could cast something like this in plaster (have to have a mould first obviously) but I certainly wouldn't want to try shaping it from plaster as it's drying.

If I were making something like this from scratch I'd probably sculpt it in epoxy putty, e.g. MagicSculp (over a wood or plastic armature) but I might try carving/shaping it from polyurethane foam if I had enough on hand.

Einion

 

[advancedterrain]

I pulled this translation from that one of Trull's works you linked to... German to English courtesy of Google, so it's not perfect:

"This diorama is 95% of own-produced items. The bridge is solid plaster cast with wire reinforcement (otherwise the 2.5 kg part broken from handling) The fronts of the houses and the tower are made of plaster, wood and Styrodur. The roof coverings are made of individually applied shingles. The tree consists of polymer clay and GS, he was subsequently embellished with real branches."

Lots of custom terrain is done like this... putty, plaster, or something good at detail over a base structure of foam or wood or clay. That polystyrene insulation foam is popular - rigid, lightweight, relatively strong, easily carved.