Groundwork Supplies we use

[Guy]

I was asked several times what groundwork supplies I use and I thought I would start a thread that all figure painters can add to in what they use to create realistic groundwork.

I usually use the subtle but realistic approach as too much groundwork can over power the figure.

Julia recently asked me to share what I used to create the above groundwork. In the above photo that shows the white plaster sprinkled with gutter sand ( right after a good rain collect some of the sand that is always trapped along the street ) and then painted with acrylic earth colors. I later give it a black wash and dry-brush over the ground with Humbrol flesh. The dry-brushing brings into detail the small stones and sand you have sprinkled.

Below are some of the different products I used for the Elite Mongol figure.

Floral Moss

I purchase Floral moss from Hobby Lobby and store it in a storage container for use over several years. It last a long time.

EVD Grass

I use the EVD grass for dried clumps of grass, low in height and usually have them up next to taller grass. The EVD grass is made from seaweed.

Miniature Flowers

I purchased these over the internet from a German Miniature company and use them occasionally, but sparingly on some of the scenes. As you see above they come in different colors.

Static Grass

Static grass comes in several colors for both summer and winter needs. I keep it in a tupperware storage container.

Summer Foilage

Summer foilage is sprinkled on after an application of diluted white glue. It comes in Summer and Winter (darker dried look ) and I use it on most all my groundwork to immitate fallen leaves and debris.

Yard / Woods Debris

Whenever I am outside, especially in the woods I constantly look for small twigs and roots that can be used in scenes and keep them in various storage containers.

Woodland Scenic
Tall Grass

Woodland Scenic products are used primarily for model railroading but I use several colors of their tall grasses. They can be cut to legnth and applied with white glue.

Groundwork Storage

After 35 plus years of painting figures I needed a means to store all the supplies and things you collect over the years and found the above cabinets from Wal-Mart as well as empty instant coffee cans to kep the loose supplies in. I started out with one 7 drawer storage cabinet on wheels and now have 4 cabinets that also hold bases and figures.

I hope this has helped and other figure painters will chime in and add some photos and text about what they use for groundwork.

One of the best sources for purchasing groundwork supplies is Military Miniatures Warehouse. Below is a link to their groundwork section.

Groundwork & Diorama Aids


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[theseeker]

Guy,
Thank you! This is very helpful and nice you to share.
Rocky

 

[megroot]

Like Guy i use for my groundwork plaster..
Lately i use Milliput.
Then i sprinkle fine sand (for birds) over it and paint it with MIG pigments.
Then i use foliage, collected roots etc, flowers from Fredericus Rex (Guy mention it) static grass, small stone's for imitating rockx, or i made them myself out of milliput.
When needed i use from Diorama Materials (from Italy) schrubs, grass.
Well, it is something similar like Guy, but i use what i think that is needed to fit to figure in the environment that i was looking for.

Marc

 

[John Bowery]

I sometimes use paper machete for the base and sometimes epoxy putty.

I use some sandblasting sand for some ground texture as this is a finer sand than the usual. It seems to work well for any of the figures.You can obtain a lifetime supply of used sandblasting sand from a shop that does sand blasting. They only use the sand once and will be happy to give you some. I have 5lb coffee can full.

If you have used some of the plaster of paris buildings then you can use some of the pieces left over. Place the larger sections in newspaper and hit with a hammer and you have some great various sizes of large rocks to add to the bases. After gluing them to the base give the plaster a coat of diluted white glue to seal the plaster before painting.

You can also use a generic kitty litter that is a clay. Do not use the fragrant kind. If you do the same as above and hit with a hammer you can get three different sizes and keep in three jars.

1. Unsmashed.
2. Smashed.
3. Powder

As a side bar: kitty litter is a great oil absorbant. If your Automobile has leaked oil on the driveway, just sprinkle the kitty litter on the spill and grind in with your feet. Let sit for a couple of hours and then sweep up the spill. (magic)

Like Guy I also use static grass and if you buy three different colours you can make jars that have different mixes like 30% of each color. 60% of one and 20% each of the other two. I am sure you can see how you can get many variations in colours to start with, before you add paint to the grass.

I also use some of the ground foam grasses and do the same as above for the colours.
Like Guy I also use the woodland scenics field grasses and the new Tufts from a German Co. I use three colours and different sizes. These are individual tufts of grass and splayed out and up 360 degrees.

This will give you lots of different textures and colours and variations in height of the ground cover.

Cheers
John

 

[Dan Morton]

John - a cautious word about sandblasting sand...Do you know what the sand removed? Metals - lead, chromium, etc., - can become contaminants in the sand. Just wash up thoroughly after handling it.

All the best,
Dan

 

[John Bowery]

Thanks Dan,
The sand was used in a rental shop for cleaning off Rust prior to painting Equipment. I washed all the sand off, as I thought the primer paint may not stick to it otherwise. I should have added the above to my post.
Thanks
John

 

[chippy]

I make use of the Woodland Scenics tall grasses but find a better method than just glueing it on is to tie it up in little bundels of different lengths and thickness, then drill different size holes in the ground work ,3mm to 6mm and plug the grass into the hole ,it gives the impression of growing out of the ground
chippy

 

[mcsneed17]

all i have to ask if you do not have a back yard should i start ssearching the neighborhood for anything that can be used for ground work and put them a way from people who like throw anything out.