Free trees 3

Good progress on the sedum trees, I've started to make the 3 CD size bases the trees will go on. 4-5 of the Sedum trees per base with some smaller trees and shrubs as well. The bases are made from foam core board with sand PVA and small stones, I'm trying to make the bases terrain features in their own rights with the ground work consisting of small hills and gullies on the bases. I'm trying to re-create the type of terrain that I remember from watching the Last of The Mohicans film. Lots of running up and down terrain as I remember it?

The trees have now been spray painted with grey matt primer spray and the tops with matt black, this all helps to make the sedum's more robust. Then they have been dry brushed on the tops with a combination of green acrylic paints.The thing that makes the most impact regarding durability is the combination of PVA and sand applied to the branches of the stem, I have done this up to 3 times over the same parts to increase the strength of the branches. They will never be the most robust of terrain items but with sensible handling they should have a reasonable life span on the table top.

The top picture shows how the top leafy part of the trees look after the PVA and sawdust has been applied and spray painted.

Right of to pre-order some 10mm Indians and Rogers ranger from Pendraken to pick up at the WMMS show on Sunday.

All the best

Airhead

Free Trees 2

Steady progress on the sedum trees, the top picture shows the first three stages, the bare twig on the left, with added masking tape on the central one. Bound round the trunk and once bulked up the last strip of masking top put on vertically running up the trunk to reduce the visibility of the tap bound round the stem. The last picture on the right shows the trunk and branches with PVA and sand applied a number of times. I did think about spraying the seed pods on the top with a PVA and water mixture, but in the end went with the less subtle method of dunking the top into neat PVA in a small tub.

The middle picture shows more PVA applied directly to the top of the tree, which is then spread out with a paint brush, then covered with a scattering of saw dust. So fare its worked quite well. Once dry I'll spray the trees with grey primer paint and then the top part with the saw dust I'll spray that bit black, then it will be down to dry brushing on a number of different shades of green. Then its down to thinking about how to base them.

TTFN

Airhead

The Old Town 2

Down town old Asmara finally taking shape, after posting the original design sketches in January 2010, how can it be that long ago? well they do say time flies when you are having fun. I still need to add some more detail, such as outside steps and more clutter to the roofs. I also need to have a look at creating the roof inserts from the original sketches, to bring the buildings into the 21st century, with sat-alight dishes and air-conditioning units. The next stage will involve moving on to the shanty town section of Asmara.

Trees for free!

A great idea I came across about 3 years ago on the Gentlemen's Wargames Parlour forum. Posted by a member going under the name of "jaeger". Trees made from a plant named Sedum Telephium. Which we have growing on the estate. This year I finally got around to harvesting the dead sedums before the weather totally trashed them. Just got to them before the snow arrived, I did keep the link to the post on GWP but the pictures have gone, with just the dreaded photo bucket icon in their place.

The harvest has been gathered in and is currently in storage drying out. The very rough outline of the technique involves using 2-3 stems glued together, or in my version bound together with masking tape and covered in PVA and sand. I think I'll then spray them with a water and PVA mixture all over to strengthen them some more, and then I'll experiment with saw dust and PVA past applied to the seed pods at the top to create the leaf cover of the trees.

These trees will be a key part of my French India Wars skirmish project in 10mm scale, and the idea is to produce a board with lots of tree cover, the sedum trees being the biggest, but also involving some pine trees based on this great tutorial from the invaluable Matakishi's Tea House. One of the best gaming resources out there. Finally a big thanks to Jaeger for posting the original idea.

Mod Rock - Rocks

A project to extend the usability of my soft hills using mod - rock (Gauze bandage impregnated with plaster). The idea is to create a moulded section of terrain which will be shaped to fit the top of the hill. And will be able to be positioned on top of the soft hill and have a small wood or cops on it.

I started with a basic soft hill as made in my post from June 2009 I then covered this with cooking foil and then wrapped it in cling film, this protects the base soft hill model. I then placed the wet mod - Rock over the top in multiple layers and left it to dry. More to follow on this project.

TTFN Airhead

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Happy Christmas to all of you out there in Blog land, and all the best for the new year. Not sure what or who the robbo-santa picture is but I thought it was quite cool and seasonal at the same time. The 1/35th scale model of the "BEEP" a heavier version of the Jeep, is a Christmas present for my Dad, who fought in the Malayan emergency in the early 1950's and learnt to drive on a Beep while in Malaya.

Next year my aim is to up my posting rate on this year, and try for at least 3 posts per month. Lots of plans in my head, its just getting the work bench time to actually produce the stuff that is the issue at the moment. Big ideas/plans for next year are based around 10mm WW1 terrain, early on 1914 style, so no sea of mud and endless trench line. Also going into the micro world of 2-3mm stuff and hoping to produce the battle in a box idea.

All the best from me and the Airhead family, have a good Christmas and all the best for 2012.

TTFN

Airhead

R.I.P Glue Gun

My old glue gun has finally given up the ghost, after over 3 years of dedicated service, during which it contributed to the vast majority of the projects on this Blog. So I'm of to find a new one. Its my number one priority at the moment. If you have never used one, go and get one its my number one terrain making tool.

On other fronts very little progress at the moment, thanks to daughters university application on going /uni visits/Job/life in general. But still planning in the spare moments I get. The above sketches of 15mm scale helicopters were done on a Cross Country Train from Southampton central to Birmingham new street, running 50 minutes late last week (train in front of ours ran into a tree). The sketches show me working out how to mount my Israeli gun ships on wire, which is hidden within the terrain on the base. Click on the pictures for bigger versions