Terrain Modelling & Airbrush Techniques

[Jamie Stokes]

Compendium Films have been releasing a series of DVD aimed at the hobbyist, particularly showing 'how to' some areas.

While many coming to the site will already be aware of this video series, (cross over hobbies) it will help many beginning to intermediate modelers bring their finished projects up to ever improving standards.

Terrain Modelling, by Richard Windrow, shows how to create realistic, life like scenes for dioramas, vignettes and of course, figures.
It covers use of materials, where to find materials (on the cheap too,such as when walking the dog, or going to the beach) as well as how to use them.

Off beat items, such as deer hair for long grass, can be found in fishing shops that sell material for creating fishing lures.
Autumn leaves can be gathered, crushed, and then added to leaf litter. So can herbs from the spice rack in the supermarket.

Snow and Ice is also touched upon, building up bases, buildings and associated items (piping, wiring, joists & beams), plus weathering them all in an appropriate way.

References for terrain are up to each individual modeler; wrecked buildings can be Googled-imaged, while a trip to countryside with camera will yield results too. A wander around the neighborhood will add more data to the modelers reference folder.

A showcase of Richards Work is also included, and there is also a chapter selection menu.

Airbrush Painting Techniques, by Geoff Illsley, covers airbrushing and its applications.
While I (and many others) sometimes struggle with the airbrush, Geoff's video on the subject takes out a lot of mystery, and puts methods of using it within reach.
Topics include painting metallics (a American Civil War pistol is painted up with blacks, pearlescent effects, case hardening and bluing), using oils through an airbrush to paint a figure (my eyes popped at that one!!), painting markings, and painting camouflage patterns.
Geoff also goes through airbrush cleaning, maintenance, a few simple methods for easy disassembly & assembly. He covers the major brands in this process, Badger, Iwata, Aztek, Paasche.
Again, a showcase of Geoff's work is included, as is a chapter selection menu.

The advantages of this DVD series is you can see (camera over shoulder mode) the work as it takes place, in real time. Something not always easy with printed step by step photo method.

Recommended for clubs, modelers trying to get their projects that much better, or those of us who may be remote area modelling, with a digital modeling club.

According to reports on other websites (eg Missing Lynx) plays Ok in Australia and Europe through DVD & PC, America PC or X-Box/ PlayStation.
Should be available through quality hobby shops & some website stores.

 

[vergilius]

woo sounds very interesting
what does the shop have to rever to when ordering?

 

[Jamie Stokes]

Compendium films reference

Hi Vergilius,
thanks for ask the question many others have too.

the direct link for compendium films is here

http://www.compendiumfilms.com/

where there is a list of the ISBN & the actual compendium number. That, plus the images should enable many shops to track it down for you. Unless you wish to order direct, of course.

There are more DVDs to the series,

Yes, very interesting. Re watched both last night, the airbrush dvd has tips on airbrushing designs onto feathers, painting wood grain, correcting common mistakes, lots of simple skills that are there to be shared.

Cheers

 

[Bluesking]

You can order them through Historex Agents too.

 

[Tommi]

Looking foward to getting this in my xmas stocking, seen a sample of the book, lots of good ideas and techniques, nice groundwork really goes towards making a well painted figure stand out.
Tommi

 

[Jamie Stokes]

A small experiment in ground work, part 1

Hi all,
just did an experiment over the last two nights, using the techniques described on the DVD.

Made up a mix of water putty, some fine dirt and tinted the lot with some acrylic leather brown, as the putty is a bright yellow in its raw state.

On the block, scored the wood with a pocket knife to add some 'tooth', and hammered in some small nails (very small, didn't take pictures though)

The masking off, I masked off with Tamiya tape, and a hint here is to layer some electrical tape on top of the masking tape. The idea is that the Tamiya stuff prevents adhesion, while the electrical tape allows for a clean 'lift', because of its strength. Masking tape may break or fragment because of groundwork putty mix

Added the slurry mix to block with a palette kinfe, and impressed some small stones and a twig into the mix.

so far, looking good.

 

[Jamie Stokes]

Groundwork covering experiment, part 2

The next night, while everything was still masked up, gave it a few light coats with an airbrush, although if you have added a tint to the mix, this step may be skipped. I'm just doing stuff to see what works, etc.

The stones didn't look right, so (spot the irony) I chose to paint them to look natural.

The twig was removed before airbrushing, then glued back in with scenics groundwork glue. took a bit, so I added a small spot of super glue under it, then added some more scenics glue.

brushed on some scenics glue, and lightly added some of the static grass (or flock) from the railways accessories line of Scenics. Looks ok, colours are a bit off in my opinion.

Techstar photo etched plant, while two dimensional the way I have used it, was quickly polished up, primed, then given a coat of green.

Added some more static grass, gave it a shot of us army green to add some 'life' to it.

removed the masking tapes, bit of a tidy up, experiment done.

Photograph results, share with planeteers.

cheers

 

[tonydawe]

Hi Jamie,

That's a very simple but extremely effective method of creating scenic bases for figures.

The Techstar plants look very realistic. Are they etched brass? Can you buy them in shops or do you order them online?

I hope you'll finish the wooden base off with some stain and varnish, just to add that "finishing touch".

 

[Jamie Stokes]

Techstar P/E plants

Tony,
(and all others wondering)
Techstar stuff I ordered on line, from Firestorm.
http://www.firestormmodels.com/store/cart.php?target=category&category_id=161

link to the specific page.

Yes, its etched brass, so 'flat'. I order on line because the Local Hobby Shops cant really cater to the niche market of figure painters...fine if I do railways or R/C stuff, that's a different topic.

its rated at 1:35 scale so it remains ok for that scale, maybe a little bit either side. It is a flat, so I would buildup the bull rush part at the tip of the plant by dipping it in superglue, and dabbing in sand, to replicate 3d effect. Id build up the stems with something like Vallejo plastic putty.

For larger scales, best to use some of those paper plant products Ian at Empire Hobbies stocks.....

for smaller scales, well, yet to do that experiment.

Hmm, may do a better write up in V Bench, so it can always be referred to in the future.