MusingWarboss’s Scenery

[MusingWarboss]

A thread to show my scenery (once I’ve got it done).

Inspired by @Kiblams and also partially because I’ve been meaning to do this for years now, I’ve decided the time is right to crack on and get some scenery built and painted!! Also due to lack of storage space this stuff needs to be packable as much as possible. Hence the “Kiblams challenge”.

All I really need is enough to start skirmishing around and over so I’ll probably build this up piecemeal.

So as a taster I decided to whip up some... erm... test pieces! I’m going for a classic 1995 blue, rusting with age. I may even add the Outlanders green!!

Platforms obviously, I’ve yet to construct. To start with though please (hopefully) enjoy my test pieces. I’ve got to dig out the rest of my bulkheads, probably get a few more and then expand from there.

Classic bulkhead and N17 barricade. #2

• MusingWarboss
• Apr 3, 2020
• barricades bulkheads scenery

An old bulkhead meets the newer N17 barricades.

Classic Bulkhead and N17 barricade. #1

• MusingWarboss
• Apr 3, 2020
• barricades bulkheads scenery

An old bulkhead meets the newer N17 barricades.

 

[ClockworkOrange]

Right then you’ve had (the Troll consults his big Micky Mouse face watch) 11 hours, where’s the first completed building?

I like the shade and they really look awesome, but I think the classic Necromunda look is more ultramarine?That said a table like this would be great

Also if space is an issue I’m sure Ed at Wargames Tournaments would knock you up some of the flat pack buildings we designed @Fat Charlie although I’d make a couple of improvements if you’re interested?

 

[MusingWarboss]

Right then you’ve had (the Troll consults his big Micky Mouse face watch) 11 hours, where’s the first completed building?

We don’t all have time-bending abilities you know.

I’m focussing on getting the bulkheads sorted out first, then I’ll get my plasticard out and craft the floors.

I like the shade and they really look awesome, but I think the classic Necromunda look is more ultramarine?That said a table like this would be great

It sorts varies across the cardstock buildings and walkways. The walkways I think were more ultramarine-y whereas the platforms seemed to be a paler colour, particularly the square tower one. I’ll have to check.

Back in the 90s I’m sure I used Shadow Grey spray to paint the mounting card versions I did. Long since warped and rotted away after being left in a shed. The bulkheads were Dark Angel Green.

For this batch I found a particularly nice colour called Olympic Blue and as I’m slapping wash over I need it to be a bit lighter as it gets too dark.

Anyway I’m happy with it. Some stuff will be more rusty, others less rusty and I’ll get more graffiti on there too.

Also if space is an issue I’m sure Ed at Wargames Tournaments would knock you up some of the flat pack buildings we designed @Fat Charlie although I’d make a couple of improvements if you’re interested?

I’m not opposed to a bit of MDF, I’ve got some TTCombat to finish off but for now I’ll have a look at getting the old bulkheads back into work!

Space wise I can have some stuff assembled as long as it’s not too big and wasteful, it’s essentially go to fit into a box for storage and transport really.

 

[Fat Charlie]

If you do want some of the buildings clockwork used I am happy to make some for you. I would also be happy to incorproate inprovements.

 

[ClockworkOrange]

@Fat Charlie it was nothing major I just had to cover each side of the magnet with cardboard strips so they didn’t pop out.

 

[Fat Charlie]

Ah ok. I guess I could cut some sort of detail part to go there as a feature.

 

[ClockworkOrange]

Possibly because I splurged on fairly strong magnets - I put card board strips on both sides and on the bases of the floors to lock them in, not quite sure how you’d solve it differently tbh, MDF strips might be too thick @Fat Charlie ?

 

[Fat Charlie]

They proably would be. I was thinking mount card ? would be 1mm thick rather than 2mm.

 

[undertaker]

Very tasty as a starter. Now we all want more!

Not to dishonor the mighty @Kiblams method, but the bits where you've masked the blue spray and it doesn't make a crisp edge (presumably the masking tape lifted) look a bit odd. E.g. bottom of the barricade. The way it's fading from brown to blue doesn't look like paint flaking from a rusted surface. Other than that, amazing!

 

[MusingWarboss]

Very tasty as a starter. Now we all want more!

Not to dishonor the mighty @Kiblams method, but the bits where you've masked the blue spray and it doesn't make a crisp edge (presumably the masking tape lifted) look a bit odd. E.g. bottom of the barricade. The way it's fading from brown to blue doesn't look like paint flaking from a rusted surface. Other than that, amazing!

Yep, that’s gonna get the sponge stipple I think!!

Also WIPs are WIPs!! This is why I test. I think I need to tear the tape into tiny little bits otherwise hard edge syndrome ruins the effect. If it comes to it they can have a visit to the Dettol bath.

But MDF has been tempting me more so no progress made on the limited plastic piles of bulkheads...

Talking of which...

 

[MusingWarboss]

ZONE MORTALIS

So some of you may have seen my posts on the painting challenge day. If not here’s a reminder and then a follow up on my MDF madness.

Vallejo rusty rust heaven.

• MusingWarboss
• Apr 12, 2020

Getting the rust on the Labyrinth.

Zone Mortalis: Iron Labyrinth

• MusingWarboss
• Apr 11, 2020
• iron labyrinth ttcombat zone mortalis

I found a method of doing my TTCombat Iron Labyrinth kit that I like. Quick, efficient and looks...

This is the TTCombat System which I got a year or so back (other similar systems available).

Thing is with MDF and scenery in general is I want it to become a backdrop to the games, I don’t want it to take focus away from the Miniatures which are the real stars.

The new plastic stuff from Games Workshop is awesome but bleedin’ expensive. MDF is much more affordable but clearly less detailed. Not to worry though chaps, we can use this to our advantage.

Textured paint is the real winner here. It allows me to paint quickly and add faux detail to the smooth MDF.

So my process is this: prime grey, spray Rust-o-lium Aged Iron. 90% of your job done right there!!

One thing to do though (and it is worth it) is to spend time with some wall filler and fill in the little telltale square points that show that’s it’s an MDF kit. Just smear the filler on, scrape off and it fills the gaps. Once sprayed you can’t see them anymore. Bingo! No MDF joins.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

Next move onto the fun stuff. Add paintwork as necessary, like the hazard stripes etc. Add posters to fill blank spaces, add graffiti if you like too. Then onto weathering!!

Get your rust powders out (picture 1) and corrode to your hearts content. You could also add mosses, slime, streaks of goo etc however you wish. I’ve yet to moss up but it’ll get there.

One of the big pluses of the texture paint is it’s incredibly tough. It boasts about it on the can. That means it’s able to survive a bit of scrubbing as you fit the parts together; Just remember to aid that you should leave the pegged/hooked sides unsprayed with texture. I painted mine black to make them neutral.

Hopefully it’ll last for many happy years gaming.

So here’s some more theatrical shots of my Zone Mortalis! Enjoy!!

Zone Mortalis

• MusingWarboss
• May 16, 2020
• zone mortalis

The darkened tunnels under the underhive.

It’s behind you!!

• MusingWarboss
• May 16, 2020
• zone mortalis

Zone Mortalis is looking good!!

 

[DaveDave]

They look amazing, well done! The texture paint is a simple, effective way to break all those smooth surfaces. And filling in the assembly slots really helps too. Love it!

 

[ClockworkOrange]

I tend to smother MDF in Vajello Oxid Red texture paint and that fills all the joins and stops the MDF look etc in the same way.

@undertaker and @MancInventor tell me that Vajello make other colours and textures, and shock so do other companies, but they never put paint to model so aren’t allowed an opinion.

 

[MusingWarboss]

Thanks @DaveDave you can get it in many finishes, like stone, if you wanted but Aged Iron was perfect for me! Plus saves dry brushing stuff too.

Here’s a top & bottom photo of the pillars and 1/2 wall sections which I think really shows the benefits of adding filler - plus you can see that the spray doesn’t obscure lasered-in details (unless you smudge filler into them).

Zone Mortalis Top & Bottom

• MusingWarboss
• May 17, 2020
• mdf zone mortalis

A quick photo showing the benefits of adding filler over the visible MDF mounting points.

@ClockworkOrange yeah, the Vallejo pastes are good; a mate uses them for bases and the like. For this though I had a tub of B&Q Diall wall filler to hand so used it. Especially as I’m painting over it anyway.

I also used it to create the three concrete pillars (to the left behind Stihl). For whatever reason I just don’t like the look of greyboard octagonal pipes. So I thought they’d be better as concrete, as if the walls are clad with iron panels and have a concrete core. Or maybe they blocked in an old doorway. Whatever.

 

[MusingWarboss]

So... no pictures yet. I had attempted a few test paints last year of more 3 dimensional scenery but I'm just not happy with it... its overly blue. So... its gonna get a repaint.

Glancing over to my Sump Cargo ship I'm really liking the cream and green look... yes I know, green, always with the green! But it looks so industrial.
So I need to do some more test runs of ideas and for that... I kinda need some more scenery. The bulkheads are resting in Dettol and will cleanup later. I'd like to introduce more MDF as I find it provides a decent scaffold for adding your own stuff at a reasonable price. Of course scratch built is the mainstay of Necromunda (does anyone remember that leaflet that told you to build your own platforms from card?) but I think a mix of MDF and scratch built detail might be a good compromise as you can texture to your own delight!

Also working on the Zone Mortalis (Zone MDFalis) has shown me the way! Its texture paints and rust powder for the platforms. I'm sure of it. Easy and more than anything else you can keep on adding grunge as you see fit.

The legs (bulkheads) I think will be either cream or green... unless it looks awful. I guess I'll just have to find out!

My issue... finding MDF kits that a: don't look too spindly and b: you can actually get your hands in there to play!
I like the 3" style of the bulkheads (although it was slightly smaller that that in reality) but find the 5" GW stuff a little too big. What we need is 4" platforms! I think that's what @ClockworkOrange had worked on his Trollholme magnetized towers.
In many ways a mix of all 3 would be great, plus a variation on styles to make it look very much like its been cobbled together from various structures.

I may have to design some of my own towers to mix in with commercial offerings. But what software do they use? Can I do it in Inkscape? (Well, yeah but that's no good if the cutter doesn't accept said files)

I also don't like MDF trying to be tubes... I think the beer can adaptation kits are a good idea but I'd like to go further - to the classic mini pringles can! And plumbing parts.

Well, Musing by forum name, Musing by nature eh?

 

[MusingWarboss]

Continuing on with the scenery stuff...

Here's a blue bridge! Its got its armoured shields glued on, so that'll be tricky if I want to repaint parts differing in colours.

Blue Bridge

• MusingWarboss
• Feb 10, 2022

I might dirty this bridge up a bit and maybe see how it fits in with future terrain. I do like an idea of mixing up things a bit to suggest that parts have been added over time. Another alternative is maybe to redo the shields to a different colour (possibly retaining the chipping to suggest it was repainted... which it will have been).

Anyway... I'm still thinking of designing a couple of towers and parts myself, maybe to add to commercial offerings.

I don't mind messing around with this kit as it was brought as a tester piece anyway.

 

[ClockworkOrange]

Salt chipped or sponge? can never be bothered to replace my trusty sponge of power it’s quicker but that looks great either way.

Ps the painting and colour choice on your ship was great more like that will look awesome.

 

[MusingWarboss]

@ClockworkOrange that’s salt chipping as I was experimenting with it at the time.
Nothing wrong with the trusty sponge! Many a building or mini has been grunged up with that time-honoured method.

Thanks! The ship is definitely going to be used as a bit of scenery for fighters to run around on in its own right! I’ll have it docked at a port somewhere (which I’ll also have to build I guess!!)

One beauty of cream is that it rusts, streaks and grimes up nicely!!

 

[MusingWarboss]

So... I’m back! A quick note on the blue bridge above. It’s still blue. I quite liked it in the end, especially after my weathering grime and filth process and generally doing the fun part of scenery - detail.

Now I’ve rather committed to bring some scenery along to YakMeet 2022 I’d better actually, y’know, paint the rest of my stuff!!

To that end I’ve been slathering filler over things to give it more texture and soon, soooon, I shall get more paint to put over them.

Industrial buildings getting textured.

• MusingWarboss
• Jun 4, 2022

I have however hit a big snag... my red primer ran out today, also found my Aged Iron also is empty AND my matt black!! So as it’s currently the Platinum Jubilee 4 day weekend here I won’t be getting any new stock til next week.

I have had a rummage around in my pile of random stuff and retrieved some old ruins from our friends at Wargames Tournaments which I shall reassemble and, well make more Necromunda.

Ruined buildings pack.

• MusingWarboss
• Jun 4, 2022

We used these years ago and they were temporarily tacked together for games, there are a few issues with TLoS and people getting “bunkered in” them so I’ll have to do some modifications here. But I guess that’s the fun of scenery building.

Heres an old photo of them in play from about a decade back!! EDIT: I checked, it was 2015. So not quite as long back.

Scruffy games table.

• MusingWarboss
• Feb 3, 2022

Lots of terrain, MDF, foam card, premade stuff too.

 

[Ben_S]

as it’s currently the Platinum Jubilee 4 day weekend here I won’t be getting any new stock til next week.

I may be wrong, since I'm not planning on going anywhere today anyway, but we've had the two bank holidays now. I thought shops would be open today, like any other Saturday.