What to use for base? (1 Viewer)

[ccdc11]

I am attempting my first use of the pink foam for a base and need to know what to use to cover the foam for a ground effect before i paint and use turf.
The terrain guy on YouTube uses spackle (drywall mud) or I've seen some suggest plaster of paris ?
Does that seem right?
Chuck

 

[waynepoo]

Depending on what type of terrain you wish I use two methods. If you are after a level surface (eg a field) I just paint the foam with a appropriate brown colour ( burnt or raw umber, burnt sienna and etc) then apply PVA glue all over the surface and then shake various grass flocks over the base until you have the desired affect.

If you wish for a rougher surface I make mix of a sifted coarse river sand, plaster of Paris and PVA glue. The mix is tinted with a brown colour (again raw or burnt umber and etc) the proportions I just guess at, trial and error. Once you have a slurry and the colour and texture of which you are happy with, apply to the base. I always mix more than I need keeping some aside which I allow to dry then I crush it up to a fine texture, this gives you 'dirt' to use on your project.

This is just my way but I hope it is of some help.
Wayne.

 

[ccdc11]

Thanks Wayne,
I didn't think I could just paint over the flat surface but i guess flock would cover it. I was more worried about the sides of a hill and sculpting the ground to meet it.
I think I'll try the plaster and sand first
You are always so helpful with answer.
Chuck

 

[theBaron]

I use wood putty-Elmer's-for texture over foam, or wood, to make terrain. It can be spread on right from the jar, or thinned with water to various consistencies. It can be tinted with liquid or powdered paint, too.

Although the subject is not a historical miniature, this is an example of a base, on which I used wood putty to replicate concrete; a hard, sandy soil surface; and a stucco finish:




I personally don't like to use plaster-too heavy, when it's cured, too messy.

Hope that helps, prosit!
Brad

 

[NEVINSRIP]

Use Liquetex Matte Modelling Paste or Resin Sand, if you can find it. It never dries out like spackle and it wont chip. It sticks to everything and everything sticks to it.

Somewhere on here, is my recipe for making ground mixtures. Basically, Resin Sand or Lightweight Matte Modelling Paste mixed with a 2 oz bottle of any dark brown acrylic paint. Add in sand, some ballast and your ready to go. One jar will yield you 2 jars of ground

*Here it how it looks when first applied:



And this is how it looks when you work on it.

First some mud.



And covered with grass/turf.



I've been doing this a long, long time. I've written several published "How to's" for various wargame magazines. Use a Michaels or Hobby Lobby coupon and buy a jar. You can always PM me for help. There is nothing better and I have tried them all.

 

[Parksie]

I am attempting my first use of the pink foam for a base and need to know what to use to cover the foam for a ground effect before i paint and use turf.
The terrain guy on YouTube uses spackle (drywall mud) or I've seen some suggest plaster of paris ?
Does that seem right?
Chuck

Chuck

I use blue extruded foam for the shape and height . This is easy cut , shaped and assemble layers so you can make different heights . Depending on the size of the base and what the terrain is .
Ready made spakfiller this a pre mixed plaster available at your DIY hardware stores ( used for patching holes in plaster ) there are different densities so it can be worked allows you to model the plaster in to shapes such as rocks and rock faces .
The other product I use air drying clay such as Das . the beaty of this is where you have an iterface you place the air dry clay over the plaster so you get the chance to model more detail into the base .
There is also Agnews water putty . This is finer than the plaster .
These are the main products . If the base is small enough you can use acrylic modelling paste . the beauty of this is you can add texture and pre colour with acrylic paints and spread over your base . As this can be manipulated with a spatula and paint brush. to the desired shapes and cleans up in water , I hope this assists .

Regards

Damian

 

[mikemiller1955]

Chuck...

plaster of paris is way too soft...
it does not dry hard...
you can scrape it off with your fingernail...

spackle is better...
but still a little soft to me...

stucco patch is really hard...
buy it at Lowes...Home Depot...any hardware store...
about $8.00 a tub and lasts a long time...
it won't scrape off...
I have built literally 100's of dioramas and buildings using it...
it's all I ever use...
it's the best in my opinion...