WEATHERING TECHNIQUES AND FOLIAGE USED ON THIS BUILD.
The structure is built around a card framework using small cast bricks and tiles. These are built up using the same technique as a real wall, with staggered bricks, to trim the pieces some small modellers snips and sanding strips were used. The brickwork is stuck together using undiluted PVA, this bonds the bricks and also forms a fixing to the card backing.
Once dry the whole surface was coated in a mixture of undiluted PVA and grey fine powder, this is mixed and the brushed on and smoothed off using a lollipop stick. Once completed it was then wiped over using some kitchen towel-this leaves a rough texture in places and also serves as a mortar for certain gaps. This was left to dry for 24 hrs before I used a sanding block with medium course grade to smooth off and bring some of the original colour through. After completion the whole build was wiped down to remove dust etc, I used a bit of white spirit to wipe over and then dried off straight after with a clean cloth.
I thought I would try something different, not knowing if it would work or not but he who dares, normally ends up re-painting their model, but in this case...it worked. After my rusty liner model I still had the cotton buds with the rust pigments on the end from taking the rust back in places to show the white-ish superstructure. I dipped these into some white spirit to create a wash and wiped over the surface, this left a various light brownish stains that looked really good, so was rather pleased with my bravery. The rest of the weathering is done using enamels, black, dark green and a light grey. This were again applied in an almost dry-brush method and then I used a clean cotton bud dipped in white spirit and smeared downwards to create a darkened wash, paying attention to crevices, lintels etc. Once complete it was left to dry over night.
Foliage is a combination of summer grass mix applied to around the base, crevices and inbetween the roof tiles, this was added to by using longer self stick grass clumps, bought from the forum shop, these look superb and really break up the normal smaller grass areas. The wall growth is two greens of foliage clump foam just added to create a feature. Also added are some 'flower-soft' to represent flowers. All the grasses etc have been applied via a small brush or toothpick using undiluted PVA.
Once dry the model will have a clear matt varnish coat to help seal and protect.
Now the model has had a first coat of matt varnish to seal it it was time to house it on the board, in this case a hand made wooden bowl I picked up from a charity shop for £1.99-the round bowl accents the roundness of the piece, well that was my thinking anyway. Once it was sited and fastened into place it was time to plan the area around it. I used my good old supply of broken slate to produce some hardness and contrast to the tower. This was then filled in using PVA and grasses, plus the clump grasses to add texture and a different colour. Also added are some small branches, to represent trees, that are from a 1/35 resin tree set-these are spare branches. Again some flower-soft flowers added for colour.
More to do so will update. Thanks for reading.
Si
