Los Angeles 2029AD

[tcoat]

[McCoy]

Wonderful build! I really like it!

[Whiterook]

Holy Terminator! …where did you get those? Wonderfully cool build!!!

[tcoat]

Mar 23, 2023 19:04:35 GMT -5 Whiterook said:

Holy Terminator! …where did you get those? Wonderfully cool build!!!

Pegasus hobbies for the T800s and HK




The base is tin, wire, styrene rod and random aircraft parts on a drywall compound and sawdust mix. The base is painted to match the lighting in the opening scenes of the movie but it doesn't show well in pictures.  

I have the tank (3 stories tall in 1/32 is HUGE) and am going to use a 1/35 pickup to do the tank vs resistance battle scene.

[Whiterook]

Super cool… thanks for the Kit references.

Question on the groundwork: you say drywall plaster with sawdust mixture… do you generally, just scoop it down on the wood base, or do you spread some white glue (or similar) to help it grab and stay?

…I’ve looked online to find out how to attach a drywall, plaster, celluclay, permastone, etc., type compound onto a wooden base, and I can’t find squat.

[McCoy]

Em, it's always a good move to seal the wooden base first with varnish so that it doesn't warp from the water exposure.

[tcoat]

Apr 1, 2023 11:50:52 GMT -5 McCoy said:

Em, it's always a good move to seal the wooden base first with varnish so that it doesn't warp from the water exposure.

Exactly!


Rough up the wood surface with some grooves for the compound to stick too. Then seal it well with any form of flat enamel paint. Then just slap the compound on in a thin layer.. If you want several levels use Styrofoam to make the levels. Always keep the layers of compound under about 14 inch thick so you don't get cracking. I usually will push sawdust or kitty litter into the surface to give the texture I want. Let it dry thoroughly and then seal and paint.



With fine kitty litter.




heavy kitty litter

[Whiterook]

Apr 1, 2023 14:46:36 GMT -5 tcoat said:

Apr 1, 2023 11:50:52 GMT -5 McCoy said:

Em, it's always a good move to seal the wooden base first with varnish so that it doesn't warp from the water exposure.

Exactly!


Rough up the wood surface with some grooves for the compound to stick too. Then seal it well with any form of flat enamel paint. Then just slap the compound on in a thin layer.. If you want several levels use Styrofoam to make the levels. Always keep the layers of compound under about 14 inch thick so you don't get cracking. I usually will push sawdust or kitty litter into the surface to give the texture I want. Let it dry thoroughly and then seal and paint.

Excellent advice, guys! …and the best I’ve heard on the subject, after looking around quite extensively. I’ll do this on future diorama bases where I apply a wet compound too. On my Panther dio, I glued foamcore board directly to untreated, bare wood and then applied computer above, so shouldn’t be any warpage.