Wonky water base

I

infrared

New member
Hi guys, my first post here, not long been doing this so wondered if anyone can help me out with an idea I'm having for a diorama.

I'd like to make a swamp base using some resin as murky water filler. Ting is all the ones I've seen have straight edges, I'm wondering how feasible and cool it would be to have one with an irregular edge (see attached pic).

A couple of questions really, has anyone else ever tried or seen anything like this? I think it could look kind of cool but I also wonder if it might look weird?

Secondly then, would be how to go about constructing the retaining walls? I'm thinking of maybe deforming some smooth thin plastic sheet and "gluing" it somehow to the base. The base by the way I've made out of some air dry clay and I'm nearly happy with it, just needs some tweaks.

Anyways, hope I'm making sense, would love to hear people's opinion and feedback on this. Thanks.
 
TrystanGST

TrystanGST

New member
Thin plastic retaining walls=impending disaster. The heat from the resin will warp them, making a huge mess. Voice of experience.
 
I

infrared

New member
Tristan - that's a good point well made, I hadn't considered that (your experience sounds painful). The other thought I had was thin Ali sheet that I could bend - unless you had any other thoughts? I've read that masking tape is meant to be pretty good but not sure how I'd get it to hold the shape?

bloodhowl - thanks for that, How funny i found the exact same link whilst researching the prep and pour :cute:

I suppose I'm after more feedback about the whole curved edge idea and how to hold it together? Id be interested to hear any thoughts you may have on that?

The more the merrier...
 
Bloodhowl

Bloodhowl

Active member
I wonder if you could use modelling clay around the edges? Something like Kleen Klay used for making two part molds?
 
I

infrared

New member
Sounds interesting, and like it would be suitable for the job. I don't suppose you (or anyone else) would know of an equivalent for us folks in the UK?
 
PegaZus

PegaZus

Stealth Freak
One thing I would worry about on the clay (and I don't know the UK equiv; sorry!) is that it is pretty greasy. I've had it sticking to my silicone molds in places and it's a trick to work out.

I'm a bit curious if a thin copper strip would work, or something from an aluminum can. First thought on that however is some sort of chemical reaction. Petroleum jelly perhaps? I dunno. Throwing things out.
 
I

infrared

New member
Yeah I thought about thin aluminium strip but not about any chemical reaction (so many things to consider) I suppose whatever I go with I'll have to do a test run of sorts.

I will need something to "seal" it with though, this is proving more awkward than I had imagined!
 
TrystanGST

TrystanGST

New member
infrared said:
Yeah I thought about thin aluminium strip but not about any chemical reaction (so many things to consider) I suppose whatever I go with I'll have to do a test run of sorts.

I will need something to "seal" it with though, this is proving more awkward than I had imagined!
Click to expand...

Aluminum would be fine - I actually melted mine in a pop can, and it came out fine. The can was shot, but that's to be expected haha
 
I

infrared

New member
Yeah I think some thin sheet metal might be the way forward with this. Going to have to do some testing I think.

What do you guys reckon on the wavy edge though? Worth the effort or am I just making life harder for myself?
 
Bloodhowl

Bloodhowl

Active member
What about making the base square, pour the resin, and then cut to shape with a scroll saw or band saw after the resin cures?
 
Milosh

Milosh

New member
When you did your base did you make a floor for the water? If so, making the dam will be very easy. Get some plasting card that is thin enough to bend to the contour of your water floor but thick enough that it won't melt (as Trystan mentioned). It does not have to be super thick as long as you don't put too much accelerator in your resin. Seal all of the edges with a wax or oil based clay and you won't get any leaking. make sure to seal your air dried clay floor so it doesn't release air bubbles into the resin as it cures. here is an SBS that shows a water base and the use of clay as a dam for seams.
http://www.coolminiornot.com/forums...angerous-swim-pin-up&highlight=dangerous+swim

here is a curved water base that used the same technique. This one wasn't a super clean pour but it didn't leak. http://www.coolminiornot.com/302697

good luck with the base sir. I'll be interested to hear how it goes.
 
I

infrared

New member
hi Milosh, yes the base has a floor, when i've finished it and am happy to not make any more changes i'll seal it with a watered down PVA mix. The dry clay sucks it right up and after a few coats it gets a nice plastic coating which can be primed and painted.

i'm liking what you did with those mini's, ok so looks like some sort of plasticard and putty seal is the way to go with this thing. Do you remember what sort of thickness you used that warped? Just so i know to buy thicker ;o)

As for the clay seal, did you use the same sort of material that Bloodhowl mentioned earlier, Kleen Klay? Or some equivalent?

Love the "Dangerous Swim" mini, that water is exactly the sort of look i envision for the swamp water, what colours/inks did you add to get that effect?
 
Milosh

Milosh

New member
The dangerous swim plastic was really thin almost as thin as construction paper. For the round base I used the plastic from the see through top of a greeting card box. It is pretty thick but still very flexible. I am not sure what "kleen clay" is but it sounds about like the stuff I used. For the coloring of the water I mixed in a tiny drop of brown ink and an even smaller drop of orange. It doesn't take much, when I say tiny I mean miniscule. I was going for a pond or lake look for my color but since yours is a swamp maybe a green instead of the orange will look great.
 
I

infrared

New member
OK great, i'll be sure to use some plastic around the same thickness. I quite like the murky orange colour you have going on there, there' no getting around it, i'm just going to have to do some experiments. I may well start a WIP thread and document it all there.

Thanks for all the feedback peeps.
 
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