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Dioramas: Water Effects
Water! A sometimes intimidating effect.
Hosted by Darren Baker
Mud glorious mud
HONEYCUT
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Posted: Friday, November 02, 2007 - 06:06 PM UTC
Well I guess mud contains water, therefore can be classed as a 'water effect'
This is my latest diorama in progress. The plan is to have a M4A3(75)W advancing through the muddy field which is soaked with late Autumn rains in the Lorraine
(Reminds me of that old joke about " I can see Deirdre now Lorraine has gone"... Ok, where was I? )








The most 'muddy' coloured poolings have just been poured. The remainder will get the same treatment tomorrow to bring an even levelling and colour to the water.
If anyone is interested in knowing what I used let me know, as I'm all outta typing energy for now...
Cheers
Brad

::EDIT:: Yeah yeah I know it's an M4 pictured; it is a 'serving suggestion only'
youngc
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Posted: Friday, November 02, 2007 - 06:52 PM UTC
I would be interested to know how you created those puddles?

Chas
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Posted: Friday, November 02, 2007 - 06:53 PM UTC
Very nice so far!
Better make sure the driver keeps the speed up or she is going to bog!
HONEYCUT
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Posted: Friday, November 02, 2007 - 09:00 PM UTC
Thanks lads. I'll try to show her motoring through, although it may be hard to make 'flying' mud spatters look the goods...I can work on the trail left behind her by showing sloppy mud being squirted out of the ruts maybe.
Chas, the puddles are created by a couple of products available from Bunnings. I used a wood putty called Agnews, and casting resin with catalyst. When the wood putty (mixed with water) is starting to cure, I ran a spatula at the respective widths for Shermans from a plan I already had roughly sketched. Helps to know what parts will need high ridges of mud/dirt, and when the putty is in this hardening stage you can really shape some detail; mostly blobs of churned mud for me here. An acrylic tint was added to the putty when starting (El cheapo $2 shop stuff) This gives me a 'solid' brown throughout the cover, so if any breaks off it is the same colour underneath, not white like painted Plaster of Paris for example. The kit's tracks (rubber band type) were pressed into the setting putty. A wash with some brown ink was added next, letting it serttle into the nooks and crannies.
Long story short, I don't know what will look the part, moreso I know what doesn't so a bit of trial and error...
The cler resin was decanted into an empty Tamiya acrylic glass jar, then Tamiya desert yellow was added (about 3 or 4 substantial drops) then the catalyst. This was mixed thoroughly, then using the jar itself, I poured a thin stream in a continuous motion along the centre of the ruts to the depth required. Taking care not to exceed about 3 or 4 mm in height of each pour, to ensure zero shrinkage. Using the spatula (long thin flat flexible-bladed one ) I carefully worked the centrally poured resin to the edges, where it 'clings' a little and levels itself out a bit. Make sure there is no dust or wind as this will embed in the resin, possibly ruining it. Make sure you have a mask, as this stuff is leeful!
Brad
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Posted: Friday, November 02, 2007 - 09:09 PM UTC
very good mud ground
Henk
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Posted: Friday, November 02, 2007 - 09:34 PM UTC
I'm glad to see that you are making more progress on this one Brad, you are creating some stunning muddy puddles here. Some very inspirational stuff.

Cheers
Henk
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Posted: Friday, November 02, 2007 - 11:33 PM UTC
Great water/mud affect. I like the odd angle you put the two sets of tracks on. It reminds me of photos where tanks are deploying all over a field tearing up the ground in scattered directions.

Don't forget to pour some mud/water in the track marks behind the sherman, where it would hav pushed it out and it flowed back in the recess.
alanmac
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Posted: Friday, November 02, 2007 - 11:58 PM UTC
Hi Bradley.

Looking really good, capturing the wet and sticky mud very effectively. I like it.

Could you clarify something for me.

You mention "wood putty" when describing your groundwork creation.

What is this exactly?

I'm in the UK, so it may be a product we have here but under a different descriptive name.

Looking forward to the finished scene.

Cheers

Alan
HONEYCUT
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Posted: Saturday, November 03, 2007 - 12:29 AM UTC
Thanks Petros!
Henk~ Thanks and yes, it is time I got my B hind into gear and get something finished!
Scott~ Tanks crossing a field was the exact look I was going for havnig seen pics of similar myself. The area behind the tank will be done close to last, as this will be the most disturbed ie. different, compared to the other mud, with more spatters etc.
Alan~ The wood putty is in a powder form, fauny in colour. This is mixed 2 parts putty to 1 part water. It is called Agnews, and sets rock hard and can be drilled, sanded etc. It has a working time of a couple hours, which can be accelerated like plaster with more powder added. I"m sure there would be something similar. I have used P of P to good effect, but find that the working time with this is better suited.
Brad
thedoog
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Posted: Saturday, November 03, 2007 - 02:35 AM UTC
Man, that looks VERY REAL! (I twice brushed my fingers off on my pants just typing this! )
It's amazing to me how MANY different approaches and methods guys have for making mud and groundwork; this is a new one that I haven't heard of before....FABULOUS WORK!
alanmac
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Posted: Saturday, November 03, 2007 - 03:04 AM UTC
Hi Brad

Thanks for replying. Did a Google on Durham's and found the product you mention, but I can't seem to find out if it's available in the UK.

In trying to find the UK equivalent I think what we may be taking about is good old Polyfilla. It's not plaster of paris as such.

www.polycell.co.uk/products/polycell_multi-purpose_polyfilla_powder.html.

It's a product I know. It's just when you mentioned yours I was thinking you had something different, but I've a feeling its the same thing, although the drying time of Polfilla at an hour seems a lot quicker.

Maybe that 's extended by adding more than normal water to the mix extending the drying/hardening time.

One other thing. When looking at your photos the first time I thought the water in the puddles looked a bit too green and should have been more brown earth colour, but as I've not even made one diorama I thought I'd keep quiet.

Upon taking my dog for a walk over the fields near me I came across a few puddles. It rains in the UK a fair bit in case you didn't know

The colour you've shown is in fact spot on, perfect, certainly to the rich brown soil in my part of England. Well done.

All the best

Alan
Grumpyoldman
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Posted: Saturday, November 03, 2007 - 03:25 AM UTC
Looks good so far Brad.
guygantic
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Posted: Saturday, November 03, 2007 - 06:48 AM UTC
That's mud Brad, the real thing ! G.
HONEYCUT
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Posted: Saturday, November 03, 2007 - 01:59 PM UTC
Here are a couple of pics from the start, showing the putty I used and the mix. Apologies to Alan, as I mentioned the wrong putty initially. It should have been Agnews...






I actually ended up using the whole tube of acrylic to tint the mix...





Brad
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Posted: Saturday, November 03, 2007 - 02:48 PM UTC
Excellent effect!
Cheers,
Charles
guygantic
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Posted: Saturday, November 03, 2007 - 08:17 PM UTC
Hi Brad thanks for your new update. How did you get the muddy structure in this massive blob ? By brush ? G.
marcb
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Posted: Saturday, November 03, 2007 - 10:11 PM UTC
Very nice,

It really captures the impression of BAADDD weather very well.
You could make an Overloon battle dio as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Overloon
This post was removed.
HONEYCUT
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Posted: Saturday, November 03, 2007 - 10:59 PM UTC
Thanks fellas. Guy, from the 'blob', I smoothed it flat (or flattened it smooth;) level with the base edge abouts. Once this had hardened a little I worked on the ruts and furrows which held in place, and then just 'turned' the putty with the spatula tip which became more clump like.
Marc, thanks for the link. it is a battle I was not aware of, and has prompted further reading!
Brad
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Posted: Saturday, November 03, 2007 - 11:33 PM UTC
Beautiful groundwork Brad !!! I was wondering when you were going to re - attack this project, [ look who's talking, l.o.l. ] .
Other recent comments aside, how about putting a little flotsum and jetsum on top of the water ? You know the swirly, filmy crap on mud puddles and such.

Not to steal your thread but I've said it the first time I saw you working on this and I'll say it again, the excellent mud work you've done would look great in something like this. I mean it's not like you're lacking in the Sherman dept. l.o.l.
Pic. from Armor At War Series - Steve Zaloga's - THE M4 SHERMAN at WAR - [ The European Theatre 1942 1945 ]

Sorry : Concord Pub. Co.

exer
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Posted: Saturday, November 03, 2007 - 11:39 PM UTC
Look terrific Brad- you could lose your boots in there.
youngc
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Posted: Sunday, November 04, 2007 - 12:39 AM UTC
I am truly amazed at the quality of your water puddles. I went out to the local hardware today to get some resin but they only had the catalyst! Bunnings will have some I'm sure.
RoelGeutjens
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Posted: Sunday, November 04, 2007 - 03:58 AM UTC
Hey

Your groundwork looks really good. Realistic and very muddy. Would want to end up with my tank there

Grtz
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Posted: Sunday, November 04, 2007 - 04:11 AM UTC
Hey Brad,
Fantastic work on the mud and puddles mate,will any of the figures end up part of this dio,would make an exellent place to show them off.

nice one mate

Steve
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Posted: Sunday, November 04, 2007 - 10:19 AM UTC
Great work Brad, A very realistic base indeed The answer maybe staring me in the face..what is the name of the clear resin you used? as I have a bunnings close by and for once I maybe able to get one of these fang dangled resin things you folks are always talking about
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