I'm in need of a very simple base depicting Afghanistan like terrain. The base needs to be mostly flat, as the vehicle's suspension has no travel, but a little rise may not be a bad thing. Basically looking for the standard tank mouted diagonally on a board, with some minor terrain to either side.

Considering Afghanistan has some vegitation, but is also somewhat rocky and not a sandy desert, I need any and all help determining what sort of materials I should use on the base.

Hi,

for such a short question it could have a massive answer. There is so much written about basic layers of groundwork its hard to know where to start with an answwr without writing volumes.

Might I make some suggestions. First , find a picture of the ground you want to make, there are thousands of good AFV on typical rocky Afghan ground photos if you look for them online.

Once you have a pic, then at least the size and shape of materials to use could be suggested.

As a precurser to your photot though, might I suggest buying some kitty litter or BBQ fat absorber (kittylitter is cheaper). the sandy coloured odd shaped rocks make for a good "gravel" base, and can be ground down to create several smaller layers until finally a dust is applied. This wont do much for the vegetation but a visit to your local seaside could provide much sandblown twigs and sticks that look great in scale. (saltbush stalks)

the base for the vehicle is quite a simple one of which you speak - a trip to your hardware store will get everything you need - the board, some white glue, some edging (quad or moulding) etc

show some pics and perhaps I can offer some more suggetsions.

Adamskii

You could use Durham's Water Putty, a plaster-like compound sold in hardware stores. It's tan, rather than white, and can be colored with water based paints or dry pigments while wet, or painted after it dries. It comes in a can as a powder, and it doesn't chip as easily as conventional plaster. You mix it with water to the consistency of batter, and spread it on your base (mask any edges you want left clean). Then sprinkle dry Durham's straight from the can onto the mixture. It will soak up the excess water, and create an instant, gritty, earth-like texture. While it sets up, you can press any wheel or track marks into it, and embed any scale vegetation. Pull up any masking tape before it hardens completely.

Guys, thanks! Both those ideas are just what I'm looking for.

One other thought: cocoa powder looks like it would be an ideal color/texture to use as a terrain pastel. Am I crazy to think that some common, finely ground spices would be a good idea for weathering and terrain coloring?

I used ground sage once - and something else not sure - smelt really nice for a while. But spices also encourage vermin and other insects that might find it smelling nice too. Cocoa powder might look appropriate for what you need, but will it change with humidity ? if it gets damp on a humid day will it "rot" or start to smell bad? perhaps see if the local model railroad shop has some cheap landscaping materials that would do the same thing but are synthetic. maybe find some fine silt mud in a creek somewhere and oven dry it on a tray and then seive it until it is fine.. alternatives are all around us. I think Verlinden or Shep Paine once said that the gutter in front of your house has a wealth of tiny pebbles and rocks that are most suitable for dioramas.

I have seen dried parsley flakes used to make leaves etc, but generally I wouldnt used herbs and spices unless they were to be sealed under a good coat of matt varnish or sealed under a white glue misting spray. (all groundwork should be srayed with white glue mist to make sure it doesnt "erode".. especially rocks and sand).

texture and colour - two characteristics of any medium in groundwork. Texture is always highly valuable and natural texture looks far more convincing than manufactured ones. Colour is also prized, but we always add washes, drybrush, paint etc and that invariably alters the colours, and, desert dioramas would have some sort of dust applied that would conceal most colour, and be used on the running gear of the vehicle. so whaever the lower half of the vehicle has been dust coated with in the weathering process, would probably be applied to the surface of the groundwork (covering whatever colour is already there)

hope these considerations help!
Adam

They do indeed, thanks again.

One more quick question. For brands available in the US, what kitty litter works best? I'm assuming non clumping, cheap is best?

Sweet idea! I was planning something much more complex for my 1/9 Cav tribute (OIF), now I'm stoked that I don't have to go to so much trouble!

Hi,

You could try using some of the plaster they use to fill cracks in walls. It has a fine grainy texture perfect for diorama making, and I have used it for a couple of projects. To color the plaster you can either mix paint in with the plaster while it is still wet, or you can lay it on the base then paint it when it is dry. I find it easier to mix the paint in because i don't have an airbrush Hope I have helped!