John Rosengrant
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2005
- Messages
- 329
outstanding work
WIP "Easy Pickins"
- Thread starter Steve Ski
- Start date
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Steve Ski
PlanetFigure Supporter
Gents and ladies,
I received a PM from Alan assuring me that AI is not and will not be used to operate Planet Figure, and that there is no AI actively running in the background. He also stated that a program was used to check the site initially because it had been flagged for having porn by google. I appreciate Alan clearing the air concerning this issue and will continue this thread.
I have always appreciated all of you guys and gals here on Planetfigure and I am very happy this issue has been resolved. Now, let's get back to "sniffin some paint and gluin our fingers together!"
Cheers, Ski.
I received a PM from Alan assuring me that AI is not and will not be used to operate Planet Figure, and that there is no AI actively running in the background. He also stated that a program was used to check the site initially because it had been flagged for having porn by google. I appreciate Alan clearing the air concerning this issue and will continue this thread.
I have always appreciated all of you guys and gals here on Planetfigure and I am very happy this issue has been resolved. Now, let's get back to "sniffin some paint and gluin our fingers together!"
Cheers, Ski.
Steve Ski
PlanetFigure Supporter
D’Vine Inspiration
The moment I’ve been waiting for, placing the ivy leaves. This has been a long time in coming, years in fact. I started cutting these leaves probably 6yrs ago in preparation for this moment. I know, right? What a moment to be waiting for, but here it is, finally. HA! This dio was started 12yrs ago, so it’s only been half the time.
Using my curved fine point tweezers, I began to work the left fence section to get a feel for how this would flow. As expected, no issues, just a few vines breaking, but they were pretty small anyway. Once you get a feel for what colors go where, as in, dark green lower, light green higher, the process moves quickly. It moves quickly as long as you can reach into the tight spots, and then it’s a matter of getting the leaves to stay put. Behind the tree has been a bit of a pain, but not undoable.
You may also notice that the leaf edges have already been touched up on the left cluster, but not behind the tree, not yet. This is not very difficult but does require a light touch to avoid flicking the leaves off the vines. When applying the green acrylics paint that is also the time to hide any shiny glue spots or discolorations on any of the leaves.
Hind sight is crystal clear, right? Right! I forgot to add moss to the backside of the tree and had to apply it after starting the vines because? Well, that’s when I remembered it, HA! My buddy Simon had mentioned it before, but I forgot to add it to the list. Not a real issue, just brush on watered down Elmer’s School glue where needed and then apply the flock. Scenic Express Flock and Turf in various shades of green works great for this. I crush the flock very fine so it won’t appear blotchy or out of proportion and unrealistic.
Before any flock can be applied there has to be a base tone added for depth and realism. I used Mig’s Slimy Grime Light and Dark paint. I thinned the dark and spread it carefully without going everywhere, then lightly blotched on the light green. That gave a really nice base on it’s own, but I still needed the flock.
So,……….do I tilt the base to the side and risk a major disaster, or figure out how to apply the flock in a safer manner? I already have a slight bend in the tree, so I tried using a small spoon to tip it in place. That was not going to work, but using a fat worn out brush did. I just held it above the area and tapped it lightly, flock falling into place nicely, just like I wanted it.
I’ll keep working the leaf placement over the next few days, as time allows, and then start on other foliage around the base.
More to follow soon and thanks for watchin. Cheers, Ski.
The moment I’ve been waiting for, placing the ivy leaves. This has been a long time in coming, years in fact. I started cutting these leaves probably 6yrs ago in preparation for this moment. I know, right? What a moment to be waiting for, but here it is, finally. HA! This dio was started 12yrs ago, so it’s only been half the time.
Using my curved fine point tweezers, I began to work the left fence section to get a feel for how this would flow. As expected, no issues, just a few vines breaking, but they were pretty small anyway. Once you get a feel for what colors go where, as in, dark green lower, light green higher, the process moves quickly. It moves quickly as long as you can reach into the tight spots, and then it’s a matter of getting the leaves to stay put. Behind the tree has been a bit of a pain, but not undoable.
You may also notice that the leaf edges have already been touched up on the left cluster, but not behind the tree, not yet. This is not very difficult but does require a light touch to avoid flicking the leaves off the vines. When applying the green acrylics paint that is also the time to hide any shiny glue spots or discolorations on any of the leaves.
Hind sight is crystal clear, right? Right! I forgot to add moss to the backside of the tree and had to apply it after starting the vines because? Well, that’s when I remembered it, HA! My buddy Simon had mentioned it before, but I forgot to add it to the list. Not a real issue, just brush on watered down Elmer’s School glue where needed and then apply the flock. Scenic Express Flock and Turf in various shades of green works great for this. I crush the flock very fine so it won’t appear blotchy or out of proportion and unrealistic.
Before any flock can be applied there has to be a base tone added for depth and realism. I used Mig’s Slimy Grime Light and Dark paint. I thinned the dark and spread it carefully without going everywhere, then lightly blotched on the light green. That gave a really nice base on it’s own, but I still needed the flock.
So,……….do I tilt the base to the side and risk a major disaster, or figure out how to apply the flock in a safer manner? I already have a slight bend in the tree, so I tried using a small spoon to tip it in place. That was not going to work, but using a fat worn out brush did. I just held it above the area and tapped it lightly, flock falling into place nicely, just like I wanted it.
I’ll keep working the leaf placement over the next few days, as time allows, and then start on other foliage around the base.
More to follow soon and thanks for watchin. Cheers, Ski.
Steve Ski
PlanetFigure Supporter
Still at it!
This is certainly taking longer than I had anticipated, but it’s a steady roll. I’m still waiting on some static grass to arrive, but working other parts to fill the gap in time. We’ll get there, eventually.
As you can see, there’s quite a lot of stuff used to work this veggie detail. The Heki grass was used for the base with a lot of grass clumps from Min-atur. I have made quite a bit of it myself from left over Heki scrap and will make more once the other grass arrives. I need long, short, in between, for a more realistic appearance.
I’ve used some of the Min-atur foliage to fill in gaps on the fence to add some interest in the vine category. They seem to fit just fine. More will be added as time goes on. I have a large inventory of real foliage from outside, so I will mix it up a bit. I’m finding the layering method seems to work best. As in, build it up, don’t cluster a mess. Trying to get a realistic appearance and not over-do it is what I’m working towards.
The grass area is only half done. When the other clusters are made, they will fill in the voids of the Heki grass and add some variety and realism, but right now it looks pretty weak as is. That rock is there to remind me to add rocks in the appropriate locations later on.
Once this side of the fence is done, I’ll be working the shop side. There will be a lot less foliage, of course, but weeds do grow in the darndest places. The shop side will need it’s own special attention to get the realism correct. I keep Chuck Doan’s pics handy, very helpful.
All comments are welcome and any suggestions as well. I’ve got time to do this right, so holler if you see anything needing attention.
Thanks for watchin. Cheers, Ski.
P.S. Laszlo Adoba has a great set of dio books that would be great for anybody's work bench.
[a href="http://"]https://www.adobaminiatures.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=24[/a]
This is certainly taking longer than I had anticipated, but it’s a steady roll. I’m still waiting on some static grass to arrive, but working other parts to fill the gap in time. We’ll get there, eventually.
As you can see, there’s quite a lot of stuff used to work this veggie detail. The Heki grass was used for the base with a lot of grass clumps from Min-atur. I have made quite a bit of it myself from left over Heki scrap and will make more once the other grass arrives. I need long, short, in between, for a more realistic appearance.
I’ve used some of the Min-atur foliage to fill in gaps on the fence to add some interest in the vine category. They seem to fit just fine. More will be added as time goes on. I have a large inventory of real foliage from outside, so I will mix it up a bit. I’m finding the layering method seems to work best. As in, build it up, don’t cluster a mess. Trying to get a realistic appearance and not over-do it is what I’m working towards.
The grass area is only half done. When the other clusters are made, they will fill in the voids of the Heki grass and add some variety and realism, but right now it looks pretty weak as is. That rock is there to remind me to add rocks in the appropriate locations later on.
Once this side of the fence is done, I’ll be working the shop side. There will be a lot less foliage, of course, but weeds do grow in the darndest places. The shop side will need it’s own special attention to get the realism correct. I keep Chuck Doan’s pics handy, very helpful.
All comments are welcome and any suggestions as well. I’ve got time to do this right, so holler if you see anything needing attention.
Thanks for watchin. Cheers, Ski.
P.S. Laszlo Adoba has a great set of dio books that would be great for anybody's work bench.
[a href="http://"]https://www.adobaminiatures.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=24[/a]
Brilliant....the Gardner has come out the potting shed
Nice planting there Ski , really coming together now
Perhaps a idea for the next dio
Great to see you posting young Sir
Looking forward to seeing more
Happy gardening
Nap
Nice planting there Ski , really coming together now
Perhaps a idea for the next dio
Great to see you posting young Sir
Looking forward to seeing more
Happy gardening
Nap
Steve,
Glad you're back. Been following your posts quietly, in the background and regretted seeing you leave pF.
Now I can lean back again, cuppa in hand, and marvel at your works and dedication.
Cheers
Karl
Steve Ski
PlanetFigure Supporter
Dang, Kevin, you'd get a rolling pin across the temple if my pretty little women ever saw that!
Still quite a bit more gardening, but we're getting there, Amigo!Thanks, Malc, slowly but surely.
Karl, thank you, Sir, very kind of you. It's good to be back.
Incredible. This is top notch diorama work. This is sooo realistic, it's well worth all the effort you are putting in.
Question - do you paint, tint or somehow colour your grass? I have found some quite realistic coloured static grass but even if I spray the base with matt varnish it the grass still has a bit of a shine, which annoys me.
Question - do you paint, tint or somehow colour your grass? I have found some quite realistic coloured static grass but even if I spray the base with matt varnish it the grass still has a bit of a shine, which annoys me.
Merryweather
A Fixture
Totally awesome, Steve!
I thought my Fusiliers diorama was a slow burner at 3 years but this knocks it out of the park!
I thought my Fusiliers diorama was a slow burner at 3 years but this knocks it out of the park!
clubcat
PlanetFigure Supporter
Your patience and dedication to realism is working out beautifully. This is first class workmanship, congratulations.
Melanie
Melanie
Steve Ski
PlanetFigure Supporter
Thank you, Nigel! You bring up a great point, one I've not really considered intentionally. When I did "Embarrassing Moments" I did hit the grass with DullCoat, but never paid much attention to the end result because I soon again hit it with IPA, 90%, right after it dried, and got that "dew" effect seen on the grass. It was a completely unintentional fluke, but it sure worked out ok. I don't recall actually bothering to dull coat my grass work. I have hit the grass with an airbrush occasionally to get a better tone, but I mix many colors in different lengths when I make my tufts. I guess I never really paid much attention to the sheen. I just got another shipment of static grass yesterday, messed with it last night, so I'll be looking for this now that you mentioned it.
Thanks, Eppi!
Thanks, Neil. Ya, like the "never ending story", lol. However, age and "wisdom" have finally caught up, I won't be doing that again.
Thank you very much, Melanie!
1969
A Fixture
Really good to see you back on the diorama Ski, this is pulling together very nicely now with all the little details all working together now, moss on the rear of the tree trunk was a real attention to detail idea which adds a lot to the scene.
Those diorama books look like they could be useful, will look into those.
Can't wait for more.
Cheers
Steve
Those diorama books look like they could be useful, will look into those.
Can't wait for more.
Cheers
Steve
Last edited:
Steve Ski
PlanetFigure Supporter
Thanks, Stevo. The moss on that trunk certainly made a difference, but all credit goes to Simon. He's always catching things and bringing up useful tips, so tip of the hat to Sir Simon!
I'm going to rethink the cattails and probably redo the green grass portion of each. Mine are too boozo looking and need to be much thinner, way thinner. I might ditch the pink and yellow flowery plants as well, too fake looking. Ah, that was a lot of time invested, but lesson learned. Looking over cattail pics in ponds, etc., I've seen quite a variety of flowers close by, so I'm digging for smaller substitutes for those big ones. I think I have some Mini-Atur flowers that will work just fine. More delays, but it's gotta be as close to realistic as possible, especially this far into the game.
Briggsy
PlanetFigure Supporter
Great read through what you have been doing mate, and thanks for the call out - sometimes I have bright ideas.
Loving the attention to detail and the mix of natural and product, nature certainly gives some great bits to use. Reminds me of a bramble patch I made many years ago, all well spaced with it's own height and all the leaves in place, then one of my cats slept on it and totally flattened everything. It was all I could do to get the cat hairs out and despite my best efforts it stayed flattened!
Lazlos books are fantastic, that man is some kind of alchemist to be sure, what he manages to portray is so realistic.
Anyway good to have you back big fella.
Simon
Loving the attention to detail and the mix of natural and product, nature certainly gives some great bits to use. Reminds me of a bramble patch I made many years ago, all well spaced with it's own height and all the leaves in place, then one of my cats slept on it and totally flattened everything. It was all I could do to get the cat hairs out and despite my best efforts it stayed flattened!
Lazlos books are fantastic, that man is some kind of alchemist to be sure, what he manages to portray is so realistic.
Anyway good to have you back big fella.
Simon
