Twisted. You need help!

Are you going to add any foliage or are these winter trees?

It's looking very good so far. Yeah, please give us a scale shot. The only trees that I've seen in games have been way too small (00 railway model ones).

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Painting again...

Thanks for the comments

@ Captain Ingold + Natarn Ulka - the scale was a major influence of my design because the GW trees are as you said too small. Now I'm no 'treeman' but I'd guess an average size for trees would be around 25 - 30 feet high. With that in mind I assumed the warriors height of 3.5cm to be 6ft. 30ft divided by 6ft left me with 5 so I multiplied 3.5cm by 5(ish). Did that make sense? Simple answer is this tree so far is about 20cm (7 and a half inches). I'll post some pics up with a model next to it. Do you think this sounds about right, or would you make them smaller/taller?



At the moment I think I will add foliage to the trees. I haven't got great expectations for my first sculpting experience however it shouldn't be too difficult right? Bark is just 'twisted' lines I think by adding foliage like Dagorlad did in his article, it should cover up most of my sculpting efforts. Ill have to see you it progresses.

Quick update
I've added more branches however I'm not sure whether it's just the appearance of the wire or the shape of the tree which is troubling me. Criticism and advice very welcome.

thanks

The bark should be relatively easy to sculpt. Have fun! I advise you to only use a small amount of putty at a time. This prevents wastage and inadvertently squashing your neatly carved work.

Mix the milliput, then wash your hands before sculpting and wash your hands after sculpting. Don't lick your tools. Get a little beaker of water in which to dip them.

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Painting again...

New photos?

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There and Blog Again ...

I very much like the scale of the trees.

I however would not use milliput for a tree.
Because:
1. I'ts expensive putty for a tree that big.
2. It sets rock hard which means it is actually more likley to break later on if dropped etc..
2. you have to mix all that putty before using it.

My advice would to be use "Super Clay"

This stuff is like a slightly stiff marsh-mellow. It sets like a foam, but without the bubbles.
You can mix colours together to make the right coloured clay you want. Especially if you don't want to have to apint all of it.
It is light too .. which means by the time you add foliage.. your tree isn't top heavy and requires ballast weighting on the bottom to stop it falling over.
Oh and this stuff is cheap. I apy $3.00NZ per 50g pack which would be more than enough to cover your tree.

Oh and the clay dries in the air nd does not shrink if at all.

This is a very good material.
Only problem is .. I'm not sure everyone can get it. It is however superb for terrain and I think you would love this stuff.

All I can say is here is the companies details that make it.
Artrain Industrial Ltd
Blk B & E, 4/f Shui Wing Ind'l Building
12-22 Tai Yuen Street
Kwai CHung
Hong Kong

or http://www.productpilot.com/supplier_11116_make_company__Artrain_Industrial_Ltd.php

or specificaly

http://www.productpilot.com/supplier_11116_product_168102___Artrain_Industrial_Ltd_.php?status=product

I have used it.. and it is good stuff. I'm surprised people don't use it more... often I hear of terrain items where people use sculpting clay.. which makes me wonder why? when there are better products to use.

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Ninth Ruling Steward of Gondor. Dior was born in 2328. He was the son of the Steward Barahir

Thanks for the comments

@Dior - I actually have some milliput that I've been dying to use for a long time now, and this is probably my first chance of using it. Thanks for the link though

@Natarn Ulka - Im using a wooden sculpting tool which I bought a few days ago. I may use a craft knife if the wooden blade is too thick. I'll try to remember not to lick the blade Although my parents do say that I have a tendancy to lick sharp metal lol

Okay here are some updates. Im not slow ... no ... I have had other projects on the go, but I think I'm pretty much done with the 'wiring'. If you think that it looks odd or it needs some more wire please say, otherwise I'll begin strengthening it tonight.

Without furtherado, some pictures

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040154.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040154.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040157.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040157.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040158.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040158.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040159.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040159.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040160.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040160.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040161.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040161.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040162.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040162.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040163.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040163.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

And a scale pic - what do you think?

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040153.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040153.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

great! Natarn Ulka, you seem to mention not licking scalpels quite often - are you speaking from experience [bug-eyed stare]

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Does that pupil look like it was done on MS Paint to you?

That's my current signature.

Good size for that tree, Jack.

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Painting again...

I think that Tree looks very well sized indeed.

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There and Blog Again ...

the tree looks very good! I think the size could have been a little bit bigger , but that's just me.

What did you put in the middle? looks like a sort of putty?

Thanks, I was hoping it would get the thumbs up.



Lol! I wish it was, sadly it is hours of wire twisted into shape...how sad...

Btw I was looking at the amount of photos I posted, sorry for the excessive amount, I kind of went trigger happy! They seem to show the 360 degree view. Anyway no time to waste, I better get filling the poly or poly the filling, whichever

Looking good mate!

Now, how many more do you need to do?

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Studio gaarew; Gaming armies, by gamers, for gamers.

Lol, don't remind me. I plan on doing 6 of these larger trees as im creating 5-6 large modular forest bases. Next to these will sit slightly smaller ones and also the thinner looking trees. If you watch the Amon Hen sequence again, notice that there are lots of different tree shapes and sizes, that is what I'm aiming for.

The total number will work out at about 25-30

I like how the tree looks so far Jack, but think it would look much better with a root system at the base, possibly sculpted onto a flat piece of metal that could be used as a weight to hold it down.
Look forward to seeing how it pans out anyway !
Nice job so far.

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There are fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world

Yep Brian I plan to add root to the tree once I have sculpted all the bark, then I'll stick it to MDF and sculpt the roots into the MDF with a bit of luck. Thats a good idea about the metal weight. It does tend to topple quite a bit, so I may use some 2p coins (I have a horde of them lol) as a weight or maybe just polyfilla as thats quite heavy. Either way the base should help stablise the tree.

A large update just to compete with the likes of Gareew, the crazy dude who keeps producing an abundance of wonderful work in his thread.

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040180.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040180.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Some spectres - the armour was done last night. Below shows some test minis, Gondorian armour. I tend to paint all the armour for a batch of minis in one go and then move on to cloth for all the batch etc

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040184.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040184.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040186.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040186.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Ooh and to keep with the theme (Ruin of Arnor that is) here's some minis that require one more highlight - really easy and fun!

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040181.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040181.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040183.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040183.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


Terrain wise I'm building lots of smaller modular terrain to complement my walls. Heres some pics

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040188.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040188.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040189.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040189.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I have paper-mached the base of the walls so they now appear more 'ruined'.

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040190.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040190.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040191.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040191.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040192.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040192.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040193.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040193.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

And a finished ruin from a while back

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040194.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040194.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040196.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040196.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Thats all for now folks

I'm likeing the tree, I think it's a good size. Those are some nice wip mini's too.

Good work on those terrain pieces, Jack. I am liking them too.

You've used the grass and lichen well.

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Painting again...

Thanks for the kind words Nathan and theavenger001

Here's what I managed yesterday

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040199.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040199.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
I cut a base from MDF and polyfilled slopes to make it hopefully blend with the gaming surface (not really noticeable in the pic below)
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040201.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040201.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040202.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040202.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
I then added some dead sticks that look similar to the ones in the Ruin of Arnor supplement. Im goin for that effect.
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040206.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040206.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040207.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040207.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I let this dry and then added paper-mache to the centre of the terrain to hold it in place. There shouldn't be any warping because the polyfilla acts as a sealer preventing water from contacting the MDF.
Coming together now.
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040208.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040208.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040209.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040209.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040212.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040212.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Ooh and these are taken this morning, in natural daylight
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040216.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040216.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040217.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040217.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Finally a quick update on the ruins, I've added the rubble and basing material along with the beginnings of the battlements/crenellations
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040213.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040213.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040214.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040214.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040215.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040215.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Sorry to keep alternating between threads guys, my mind can't concentrate on one thing for more than 10 minutes without getting bored. So yesterday I did a 'gaarew'. Yes it is a term, it means I sprayed a horde of minis. Took some pics (just for laughs really), you know you want to see them

<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040242.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040242.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040243.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040243.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040245.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040245.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

When you start to smell the sweet flavour of the spraypaint you begin to wonder the meaning of life or at least the brilliance of spraying

Group shot of most of my Gondor in Flames minis and a few others
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040248.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040248.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

The passionate alliance of elves and dwarves united under black spray paint, how lovely.
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040249.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040249.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

And a few evil stinkers, nope no Gollum, but there is Burhdur and some Harad related minis.
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040250.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040250.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Finally a group shot (beat that gaarew )
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And just before the spray ran out I began on my 'Corrupted Trees' terrain. I've now realised that the roots are infact non existent so my first sculpting attempt will be this rather than the bark on the Twisted Trees, which is receiving polyfilla treatment as I type.
<a href="http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/?action=view¤t=P1040257.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z261/lorderkenbrand/P1040257.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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The Southern Fiefdoms: http://www.one-ring.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=21928

All that spraying just means you have a lot of painting to do now!

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There and Blog Again ...