Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Tiger II Display Base Construction














The Warlord Games Bolt Action Tiger II model has awful tracks. This is fine for wargaming, but not really acceptable for a dual use model for display or wargaming. To solve that problem I decided to build a little display base of the model.

The base was a simple wooden box that I picked up at an art craft store. After painting it black, I taped the edges and built the dirt out of a mixture of tan Magic Merlin plaster, dark earth weathering powder, static grass, ground up dry leaves, and a Tiger II track mold that I had made from a Rubicon Models plastic kit. While the plaster was wet, the static grass tufts and leaves were added. As the plaster dried and became moldable, I used the track mold, and the back of a paint brush to press in some details. After the plaster had fully set, I used an overall wash of a dark earth weathering powder. As usual, a little bit of Green Earth pigment was added. I love that stuff!

Despite the base having absolutely no gaming purpose, I think it adds a nice touch to a model that might spend more time on a shelf than in a game. After seeing how well the dirt turned out, I might just have to make an entire table using that technique.

6 comments:

  1. Great idea, dude. Nice touch for showcasing your favorite models. The ground looks entirely convincing, and the tracks are the perfect element of interest that brings the viewer into a scene, rather than just looking at a model.

    The positioning of the tank is clever, too, to make the display more dynamic. Although, I can't help but see the coy, over-the-shoulder, "Blue Steel" pose of Derek Zoolander....

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    1. I wonder if it is too late to put the German translation for Blue Steel on the tank. I was just going for imposing, by having the tank overhang the base. You nailed it with the Zealander reference.

      I'm glad you appreciate the ground. I keep lifting the tank and admiring it myself. Somehow it turned out exactly the way I envisioned it would. That almost never happens.

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  2. The painting is top notch but the basing is definitely the icing on the cake! I just love it.

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  3. Stellar work John. I'm a bit sad I can't bid on this guy. Maybe one of my friends will get a donation...

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    1. Very kind words greg. I see Tiger's in your future. :)

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