Hello all.

At the end of last year I sculpted my first terrain pieces out of plasticene and have finished creating moulds from them... I am about 10 days away from casting them for the first time... my intention is to sell them on eBay... along with other future terrain pieces I have yet to sculpt.

Anyway, this link shows you how things were looking at the plasticene stage... imagine them as cast models, fully painted and shaded.

http://uk.geocities.com/yuri13oct/DARK_FOREST.html

What I want from you lot is some feedback. First of all, there are different mediums that I can cast things in; something called Keramin, which is like tough plaster; there is Stone Powder, which is tougher still, or there is Resin, which is very tough but dearer... So I need to experiment with materials and costs.

keramin and stonepowder would be very cheap and affordable but a little 'chalky'
resin is expensive but solid and hard wearing... I am looking into a method of mixing stonepowder with resin... which could be a happy halfway solution. (this is how some chess pieces are made)

Anyway, when I sell things on eBay I want to be able to quote some happy customers; so what I am proposing is that if anyone wants a couple of freebies, IM me with your address, and in about 10 days I'll send you a couple of free trees, one will be in Keramin/stone powder, the other will be in resin... I'd like you, in return, to try painting each one and then post back here which was preferable resin or plaster etc.

The difference in the long run is just prices for ebay. small pieces need to be resin cos its tough and durable, but big things like a house or bridge or 'Oak of Ages', in plaster could be a whole lot cheaper... as a rough idea, a small building in stone powder would probably retail about 5.00 gbp, but in resin would probably be 'at least' 15.00 gbp... plus postage! so I have a lot to figure out before I sell things on ebay... and the best people to help me is you guys.

So again, if you wants some free samples IM me your addresses. This offer is to all, but any overseas members, cos of costs, I'll only send you two of my smallest pieces which are fallen down tree stumps about 2" in length, the idea is that like 'walls' they would give a model soft cover. uk members I'll send bigger trees to. (As already prearranged, I am sending Xarhain a cast of the 'Oak of Ages', but cant do this for anyone else (Its just too damn big!)

These trees. like Fanghorn Forest in the LotR movies are meant to be old and large, big twisted roots etc, to create a creepy dark forest feel... as such they are specifically built with Woodies in mind but would also be suitable for Forest Goblins, Vampire Counts or even Lizardmen... of course there are forests everywhere and all races could use them.

So, thanks for your time and help. Dont post your address here, send it to me in private and about the 15th/17th of March I'll be ready to send off samples. Any nice positive responses I'll want to quote on my Ebay advert

Cheers

Burp!

Well, I can easily check out whatever you're sending Xar and give you some feedback, but if you wanna throw in a couple of trees for me I'll happily paint them up (duh ;) ).

If you send with his stuff I'm sure he can pass it on. Cheers.

:thumb:

The site's down at the moment, but I'll have another look later.

*Has decided PMs aren't enough to display true gratitude*

:wub: :wub: :wub:

hmmm, very tempted, but my mum got annoyed at me for giving my address to Chili for the conflict ticket, so I guess I should pass on this too. For what it's worth, they do look very good. :)

Mmmmmm. its quite right that you young'uns shouldnt go round giving your address away over the internet. After seeing Omid's concerns.

If you are young then please check with your parents first.

I am quite transparent in my business dealings. Your parents can view my own website (I'm a self employed artist) here,

http://uk.geocities.com/yuri.leitch@btinternet.com

and your parents can call me on 01458 830483, if they have any concerns.

Being a student, I'm never one to turn down freebies, but I'm wondering how quickly you'd like to have painted pics of them. All my paints and stuff are at home, but I won't be back for the Easter break for another five weeks, and then it'll probs take about three weeks between my exam revision for me to actually get them finished. If that's too slow for you, then that's fine, otherwise I'll send over my address as soon as you give me the nod.

Also, I'm curious as to what the tops of the "Twisted Bog-Roots" pieces look like, the pics on your website kinda chop them off. Ideally I'd like a couple of the twisted bog roots and one of the small fallen logs, I could make a pretty decent forest terrain piece out of that. It'll be better than the shoddy hill I take to tournaments at the moment!

Cheers,
DLJ

Jim, your time plan is fine... you can always just comment on the detail and say what you think about stone powder verses resin etc; texture wise

All the tree pieces are approximately 6 " tall, then are just cut off... You have to imagine that at 6" the forest roof/canopy has been removed so that you can see the forest floor.... there is no other way it can be done, if you continued up higher then with all the offshooting branches you wouldnt be able to get your fingers in to move the models around; I decided on 6", any taller and it would be difficult to move minis around without knocking trees over etc, you need to be able to get your fingers down between the trees for game play.

Hey, I like trees (rat crouches behind tree awaiting to catch prey off gaurd). I haven't painted any decent terrain in a long time. Damb forge world stuff is too expence and I have to wait untill Games Day. I can send you my info when I get back from work. Should I use your e-mail address from the here or from your site?

Just IM me from here, click on my name 'Burp Foulbreath' (above my avatar) and send an email that way.

cheers

Today it begins!!! Naargh hah hah ha!

I have just recieved my delivery of Resins, plasters and stone powders; (with my moulds completed) I now get to start experimenting with different combinations of material... to see what works best

Picture Burp mad in his Laboratory for the next few days, covered in plaster dust and resin dribbles.... You wont be far wrong... hopefully by next week I'll have a happy recipy for casting and will be able to put up some photos of my first attempts.

watch this space LOL! :thumb:

Burp!

How did you do the moulds?

The original sculptures were made from plasticene, and then a rubber mould was made by painting on layers and layers of liquid latex... eventually you have a rubber mould, like a thick condom... lol

You pull the rubber mould off the original sculpture, then you pour resin or plaster into the rubber mould, to reproduce your original sculpture as many times as you like.

Big rubber moulds can bulge out of shape so you have to make a stiff outer-case to stop the rubber mould from warping out of shape.

So, there is a lot of preperation involved but once its all done I can create as many trees and stuff as I like.

Hi, just wanted to say a BIG

:thumb: THAKYOU :thumb:

To all those who responded; I have quite a few of your addresses now to send bits too, so I must close this offer now... Sorry, to those who have/will come late, it has to be a kind of first come first gets it type thing.

Anyway, those who I have had feedback from, (you know who you are) Cheers, and I'll start sending off samples in about a weeks time

I've started painting my first castings, and I'm pleased with the results... watch this space

Burp!

Darn, a little to late to get some great stuff, and my gf have Wood Elves too. Ah well, they look great regardless.

Next time you do a batch, could you take some photos? I'd love to see your rubber condom system in action. It just sounds so different to any moulding method I've heard of.

Has anyone seen the documentary on the Star Wars Episode II DVD where they make the Vader mask? They use a very similar method to Burp.

Ya here that Burp? At first some trees, next; star wars memorabilia! :clap:

Mmmmmmmm,.... I feel a disturbance in the Firs!


:ph43r: