|
 and
it will not fit
together as the real plating did. This is because there are a couple
of extra sections on one end that need to be trimmed with a sharp pair
of scissors. After the photoetch is in place press it in gently but
don't make it too neat. Then use your imagination to added various
puddle and rabbit holes as I did. I also added ruts from where trucks
had driven around on the wet ground unprotected
 by
the PSP. This is easy to do with the handle of the spatula shown.
Wait a few days
for the clay to harden before proceeding to mask off the PSP
 ready
for adding the grass. This is the stuff you get for model-railways and
I am using the ground sponge variety by 'Woodland Scenics'. I use
mostly "Earth Blend" Blended Turf with a little bit of "Burnt Grass"
Fine Turf (for visual variety - apply the latter in large patches
after applying the first). To glue it on I used a spray-on "UHU" glue
because I didn't want to use a water-based glue on the wooden base.
This type of glue sticks really well to the Polyurethane base coat. If
you can't afford this
 type
of glue then watered down PVA is OK - just be careful as it really
soaks in the sponge grass making it lumpy. You will probably need to
apply several layers of grasses before it obscures the under-lying
clay colour. Alternatively paint over the clay first.
Between each
coat of grass brush the loose excess off with a soft brush onto paper
and then you can re-use it. Next remove the
 PSP
Masking and proceed to paint the PSP. I used Humbrol enamels in
various shades of Brown and Rust. Next I picked out the exposed earth
in the holes in the PSP with a soil-coloured enamel and dry-brush mud
around the puddle-holes. The painting is then finished off with a wash
of oily black paint. I chose thinned down Humbrol Gun Metal Metalcote.
Once the
painting is finished with, add a few oil stains (as you see fit)
before putting the paint away. I used Woodland
 Scenics
"Realistic Water" for the puddles but, with hindsight, this was
somewhat of a mistake as it is simply too thick to look realistic. It
is a water-based resin so there is much water-tension making it 'bead'
in a way that scale water does not. I tried thinning it with water and
washing-up liquid but it did little good. I finally resorted to
copious amounts of Xtracrylics Gloss to blend it all in. Even then the
layers built up a little above the surrounding area hence making the
 puddles
look like large lumps of jelly. I finally resolved the issue by adding
some more grass around the edges!
The final touches were then to add random
blobs of PVA glue along cracks and it holes in the PSP. Then more
Woodlands Scenics grass is rubbed in. Then it was all blended
together with some ground up Pastels normally used for weathering
Models. By Sunday 10th September 2006 it was all finished... |
