making a swamp display base.

[funnymouth]

hi all, im going to attempt a sculpy diorama base for the second time, and this time i want to get it right!

my problems:
1) the height of the slotta base - do i pile sculpy high - up to the level of the base and then sculpt my terrain features there? do i do it in layers? one layer of sculpy, cure it, than sculpt terrain stuff?

2) the diorama base will be on a wood block. do i sculpt it directly on tho the wood and cure it on the wood? will it damage the wood? if not, what should i sculpt in on top of?

3) elevating the diorama with sculpy seems like it would be awfuly thick, and take a long time to cure - should i elevate it with something else (styrofoam, cardboard etc) and sculpt only a thin layer for the surface terrain?

4) directions instruct me to bake it (at 130 deg or so) for \"X\" amount of time per unit of thickness. is there a better/ alternative curing method?

thanks for the help guys - im working on my largest project to date and id like to do it right!

 

[Patrick]

1) the height of the slotta base - do i pile sculpy high - up to the level of the base and then sculpt my terrain features there? do i do it in layers? one layer of sculpy, cure it, than sculpt terrain stuff?

Do you want to create a scenic base for already based minis? If that\'s the case, you will need to layer your material up after baking/curing previous layers. You can arrange the figures on the top layer and cut out around the bases with a hobby knife. Then its a matter of scooping out the material where the bases go either before or after curing.

2) the diorama base will be on a wood block. do i sculpt it directly on tho the wood and cure it on the wood? will it damage the wood? if not, what should i sculpt in on top of?

Your wood base may warp in the oven, this has happened to me. You may want to build up your first layer on a ceramic tile or some other no-metallic overn safe surface. Once cooked, you can add other layers on top and then bake them, then glue all of that to your wood base after painting.

3) elevating the diorama with sculpy seems like it would be awfuly thick, and take a long time to cure - should i elevate it with something else (styrofoam, cardboard etc) and sculpt ony a thin layer for the surface terrain?

DO NOT COOK ANYTHING WITH STYROFOAM IN YOUR OVEN! I only say that because it has a tendency to give off toxic fumes! Stacking up layers of just sculpey should work just fine. If you have a little trouble getting fresh sculpey to stick to baked sculpey, add a little vaseline to the cooked bits and the fresh clay should stick to it fine.

4) directions instruct me to bake it (at 130 deg or so) for \"X\" amount of time per unit of thickness. is there a better/ alternative curing method?

The info on the package is a pretty good guideline. If you build up layers cooking as you go, each baking session should only take about 20 minutes or so.

thanks for the help guys - im working on my largest project to date and id like to do it right!

Good luck! And post pics of your project (if you can) so we can see how it\'s coming out.

 

[Dragon Forge Design]

Id skip the sculpy and go with a material like Aves Apoxie sculpt. Aves Studio.com

It is a two part epoxy clay material, easy to sculpt with. Certified non toxic and easier to sculpt with. Plus it drys flat or how ever you sculpt it and in any thickness from a mm or less skin to inches plus you may make it.

There is two versions Apoxy sculpt and Apoxy Clay. The clay is more like real clay in working.

I buy the 4 lb kit for 27.00 plus shipping its cheaper than sculpt and in my opinion easier to use.

If you insist on using sculpy the key to cureing it is once its baked, turn of the open and let it cool to room temperature. removing it hot can cause it to crack and warp. When I used sculpy Id bake it and then let it cool over night.

 

[penguin]

As for the wooden base question: I would sculpt onto a 40mm GW base or whatever, then have the diorama removable from its wooden plinth

~Bill

 

[funnymouth]

wow! great feedback guys!

i am really interested in that aves epoxy clay, that suff sounds amazingly useful! i dont think ill use it for this project, but i am definately going to order some for future projects! thanks for the link DFD.

patrick - great tips!
i wasnt planning on putting foam of any kind in the oven!

here is my plan: place the slotta on the wood and measure it out etc. elevate surrounding diorama to the height of the slotta using cork board. sculpt the surface terrain on a piece of tinfoil and cure. build the terrain by gluing the sandwich layers together. paint and flock as normal. sound good?

here is my first attempt at a scenic base (and my second CMON post) so i think it will be similar, but MUCH better. im almost done with the painting on the mini and than ill start the base. ill post pics as i progress.

 

[Patrick]

That looks pretty good! Jeff\'s advice is spot on about epoxy clay and that is my preferred medium as well.

Here are some convenient links for you too.

http://www.avesstudio.com/
http://www.magicsculp.com/
http://www.sculpt.com/

And in No Quarter Magazine #6 there is a terrific article for making scenic bases for your units. A very informative read.
http://www.thewarstore.com/product7455.html

 

[funnymouth]

ok here is the progress i made last night.
1) cut cork board in to correct shape
2) made a tinfoil template of the area needing terrain.
3) sculpted ground. cured.
4) sculpted bricks. cured. sculpted more bricks. cured.
5) removed tin foil by peeling it from the bottom of the hardened sculpy.
6) glued sculpy sheet on to cork board
7) GS assorted rocky terrain

next: add a tree. i tried an armature, but it didnt look right, so im going to use a GSed stick.

 

[Ogrebane]

Is sculpy cheaper than milliput. There is alsoan airdried clay called DAS that is cheap. Just a thought. Interesting base.

 

[funnymouth]

update

thanks for the comment ogrebane. im interested in sculpting mediums so ill take a look at miliput too.

here are my most recent shots.

8) added the tree
9)added cork chunks and flock to the edge
10) GSed the top of the edge for a smoother transition

next: add textural terrain.

 

[penguin]

It\'s looking great funny! Nice display base too For the tree if you wanted more branches, you could try using a tree root like Romain did for his diorama. I\'m liking the wall too Can\'t wait to see this finished, and the mini(s) to go on it

 

[funnymouth]

thanks bill!
that tree root idea is a great one! ill definately use it next time.
ill be working on it steadily (and slowly; once i start painting things will slow down considerably), so whenever you see this thread bumped take a look. im thinking i might make it in to a little article when im done.

the mini that goes on it is a bit of a secret at this point. i\'ve been working on it off and on since X-mas and im excited to get it done. its a bit strange, though, in terms of quality because ive improved sooo much since i started it.

tell you what, if you can guess the mini in 7 guesses or less ill post a wip . the base matches the mini and its a relatively recent rerelease that i have yet to see on CMON.

 

[EArkham]

The wall looks very odd because the blocks are stacked on top of one another directly instead of each row being staggered over the lower (like bricks).

Otherwise, it is looking promising.

Kep

 

[funnymouth]

good observation kep. should i try and change it? i think i could easily.

edit: it might make a little more sense if you saw the mini (i was sort of imagining them as being piled). but still....

edit#2: fixed it. looks better.

 

[funnymouth]

posting to myself

a few update shots.

11) rebuilt the wall
12)added mushroom stalks
13) added flock for texture
14) added structure of wall vine
15) added mushroom caps
16) added chameleon in tree

next: add reeds, streem debris etc.

 

[funnymouth]

another update

i have done a lot to my base:

14) added reeds, more debris
15) masked and primered it
16) added the first few coats of paint
17) added some foliage

 

[generulpoleaxe]

looks cool man.

i have only just started to get into this part of the hobby, mick22 has kindly sorted out a load of tiny leaves for me to attach to some plants (what a guy)

can\'t wait to see it with the models on it as well funnytmouth, your imroving all the time.

 

[mickc22]

Aww you\'re too kind... just hope they are small enough


looking good FM, keep it up

 

[funnymouth]

ugh! i know your pain! ive been glueing leaves all last night and this morning! i think they are coming out well though.

im using aquarium plants, with real leaf debris and tinfoil for decaying leaves. what are you guys using?

thanks for the support too, i cant wait to finish but at the same time i am a bit apprehensive. the mini didnt go over very well in the wip thread.

ooooh snap! sr memberhood! my 500th post!

 

[krom1415]

Looks really good, I like the fluffy green grassy stuff. a lot of work there

 

[Thecadian]

what and where did you get that wooden base from??

james