discussion You can't park there mate!

[Andy T]

Thanks Paul.

I've now edged the base in an appropriate material. I'll trim it once the glue has dried.

If you look carefully, you might spot someone's name...

 

[Tim Marlow]

Only way I’d work with those figures is a very sharp scalpel and absolutely no scraping Andy. It will be like trying to remove mould lines from kit rubber tyres. Soft plastic or rubber is horrible to work with…any inadvertent scraping will just create fuzz on the surface. The poses look OK though, and they should paint up OK.

 

[Andy T]

Thanks Tim.

Practicing on some of the unsuitable figures in the kit has definitely shown scraping and sanding create a right old mess

The freezer trick helped with cutting, but of course they are so small that it doesn't take long for them to warm up in the hand.

I'll crack out a fresh blade and try again.

 

[Andy T]

After a bit of trimming I got the craft paints out to put down some background colours. I don't have any brown but made something work.

 

[yak face]

Looking delicious andy , ( dont know why but I suddenly fancy a chocolate fudge brownie )

 

[John Race]

Can't see you having a problem with the painting of those figures Andy. The rest is looking really good, Ron would have approved.

 

[Andy T]

Thanks John, that means a lot.

As it happens I've abandoned those figures as the other set I'd ordered has arrived. They are so much better quality than the rubbery red guys that it was a no brainier. I had to jiggle around to suit their different poses but I'm even happier with this:



So I started to splash some colour on them



Next I needed to tackle the water. As we know, Ron was a master at this, so the pressure is on

He often used silicone but I react quite badly to the fumes, so sought a different method. I remembered this simple technique from a video I saw a few years ago so thought I'd give it a go.

Basically, using thinned down pva and toilet paper, layers are added and stippled until the paper breaks down, when it can then be manipulated. It came out pretty well for a first attempt I think and I'm sure I'll use this method again.



After a bit of time to dry I started to paint it, as if it were quite a muddy river. Hopefully after a few more colours and plenty of gloss varnish, it should be passable.

At this stage I also ferrited under my desk where I have a load of takeaway containers filled with all kinds of scenery bits from sand to dried compost, tea leaves, sawdust, and also some proprietary items from woodland scenics.



Beginning with some small stones rescued from a bag of out of date postcrete, painted & dry brushed, I've started layering bits and bobs.



More work to do, but it's getting exciting now.

 

[Neil]

That is looking excellent, now I know why I don’t do dioramas - because I can’t!

 

[Steven000]

Well that escalated quickly , so much progress! It all looks great, the new figures, toilet water, colors well done sir

 

[Andy T]

Thanks guys.

Neil - I've had plenty of failures but I keep trying and some of them come out looking okay.