On a roll now. All my own work.

Here are some piccies of the small village I made. The little containers on the top are from the old Airfix Wild West set -I think...they are definitely Airfix anyway. Fences are made from matchsticks and the wheel is Irregular? All the rest is differing thickness of card covered with PVA, sand and paint.

Grassy, tufty thingys

Here is a quick and simple method on making grassy, tufty thingys that all discerning wargamers seem to have as part of their basing protocol. Yeah, yeah, I know the nylon tufty thingys look better but you have to buy them, this way they are completely free, and more immediately to hand. 

Cut a small tuft of sisal string and apply a blob of glue from your trusty glue gun to the bottom. Then stick it on a piece of spare card, I use the same card as for my bases. Only the quick drying adhesive of a glue gun works  because if PVA or contact adhesive is used, the lot falls over before the glue dries. 

When required, a sharp, angled tug will pull the tuft off along with a layer of card, thus keeping it all together. Cutting different sizes and lengths and gluing them down means that you have a ready supply of these totally indispensable items. Now you can use PVA or contact glue.

Damp is better.

Mick

Is masking tape the modern papier-mache? Part Two

8. You will no doubt notice that there is a gap at the top where all the wires are visible. Fear not! Cut a small tuft of sisal string and glue it in, making sure that you cover all the wires. This represents the new growth.

9 and 10. Now is the time to paint your trees. I used khaki for the bark, dry-brushed with khaki-grey and a light brown. The stems, leaves and tufts are painted dark green and dry-brushed with a lighter green.This photo shows the trees with the 'roots bent out so that the whole thing can be glued down. Bend the trunks slightly for a bit of variation.

11. As you can see, I missed out a step. Using a hot-glue gun -one of my favourite wargaming aids- glue the ends of the roots securely down to the base. Once that has set, using masking tape, cover the whole of the root system like you would with papier-mache, (ask a parent or older person if you don't know what papier-mache is).

12 and 13. These are close-up pictures -one slightly blurred, I know, sorry about that- of the base, showing how the wires covered with masking tape actually create small depressions and ridges, breaking up the otherwise flat uniformity. Don't worry about any visible folds in the masking tape, either cover it with another piece or gloop more PVA and sand onto the base.


14. Finally, a picture of the whole base with some small rocks added for effect. When I get a chance, I will post some piccies of the completed article.

PS Sorry about the picture/script ratio, still haven't completely figured it out.

Keep yer bristles damp.

Mick.

Is masking tape the modern papier-mache? Part One

Now, a few posts ago I showed you some buildings wot I had made. The other day I thought I could run through the construction process for anyone who wants to know how simple it is. But at the time I was having a go at making some 15mm palm trees so here is a pictorial tutorial on the way I make them instead. (The building piccies will happen, I promise). 

1. Using medium sized coated gardening wire on a roll (£2.99 from Homebase) cut out between 6 and 9 relatively even lengths. Accuracy is not crucial at this point.

2. Lay out a strip of masking tape with the sticky side up and secure at each end with thin strips of the same. Lay out the wires with the ends closer to the bottom, although once again, accuracy is not crucial. Leave gaps between each wire as per photo.  

3. Lay another strip of masking tape, sticky side down, over the first, making sure that the tape sticks in between the wires.
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4. Cut out in between the wires so you basically end up with some square lollipop shapes.

5. Cut each of the squares into spearhead shapes.

6. Holding all of the wires together, wrap masking tape tightly around the stem, starting about 15-20mm from the bottom. (In other words, leave enough to glue down to the base.) Wrap at a slight angle to represent the bark stopping when you reach the bottom of the leaves.

7. Once wrapped, gently prise the leaves apart and bend over in all directions. Do the same with the 'roots'.

Finally, got some pics for your delictation

Long time since my last post; things been moving along apace. Triples was good, spread out over a few halls but good nonetheless. My only beef was the positioning of the Bring and Buy, caused a lot of congestion as it was in a sort of funnel type corridor.

We arrived at Sheffield station with no problems and while waiting for YO to arrive in her nice new jam I took some pics of the nice water feature just outside, then put camera in coat pocket. Dozy ar*e that I am, I took my coat off in the car and bloody well left it there...didn't realise until halfway around the show that I'd left the sodding thing behind, so sorry no pics of Triples from yours truly this year. 

More pics of the boys as you can see...3rd and 4th LC and first LI units for the Sassy's all finished  and  the 1st unit of Byz Skutatoi finished, just need the base material done. Not only that but also, I have included some terrain bits wot I have made, namely a few bits of rocky broken ground, a little generic village for the Middle East and a few casualty markers. There are also a few pics of the whole of the Sassy force to date; next up will be the two units of clibs. I have some buildings done but not enough for a second base yet.

Oh, Hunnic Mongols figure total stands at 14 finished, another 7 undercoated. Worked out that if I get another 60 odd cavalry, I will have a couple of tumen. Its a start.

Mine are damp, are yours?

Mick