Friday, September 16, 2011

For the love of grass

At first glance this might look like a post about Marijuana but that is not the case. I've been mostly underwhelmed with my desert bases. Sure I've got sand texture on them in two coarsenesses, and rocks added in two different shades, but it's all just a bit too plain. I ordered up some Silfor grass clumps. I've used these on other bases before, but I didn't have any appropriate for desert terrain. These are 4mm Autumn "Prarie Tufts" from Silfor. I've tried not to add too many - just enough to give some dimensionality to the bases. For the smaller sized bases things get pretty crowded so you have to pick the smallest of the grass clumps to use. I've gone ahead and added these to all of my completed infantry and artillery bases for my Australian/British forces in North Africa.

The photos here are a representative sample of how they look on the various sized bases. The only thing I can think of doing now to dress things up is maybe do some touch up on the tufts with a dry brush here and there to vary the colouring a bit. I'm interested in input as to what colors/shades might be appropriate, or if I should just leave them as-is.


6 comments:

Rodger said...

Really very nice AJ. I would leave them as is, I know I couldn't make them any better.

Monty said...

I agree, they are great looking as they are - good stuff!

Adler Hobby & Board Game Cafe said...

great AJ
I have one suggestion and only cause I know how Battlefront judges thier models at cons, they may take a point away for the "small of the base" not being covered by the grave/flock, when you get to such a high level of painting ( such as yours are)they start picking the little things, thats one the aways go after.

Mike said...

I agree. Another vote to leave them as they are.

AJ (Allan) Wright said...

Gordon mentioned my not covering the figure base under the feet. I agree it would be better to flock over them, but the 'sleazy easy' method I use to do my basing doesn't readily allow for that. Since I'm not likely to ever win any competitions, I'll be more than happy if my painting rates a 4 out of 5 possible points, more likely is 3!

Valid and constructive suggestion however. Thanks Gordon.

Adler Hobby & Board Game Cafe said...

Now that your a "master class" painter I figured you might strive for that "Iron Cross" award.
: )