Flocking...Suggestions?

[YingJanshi]

So I've finally started to get serious about finishing all of my minis. As part of which I've started flocking  the hex bases. Was just curious what some of you guys liked to use.


I just picked up a couple of cheap things at my local store: "The Army Painter: Battlefields". Mash Grey and Black Battleground. Can't say I'm really happy with them. Never get an even coat. Either looks clumped together or leaves holes. I've tried both a white glue/water mix and a very liquid super-glue. Oddly I get better results with the super-glue.


Anyway. What would you use or what do you use?


Thanks in advance.

[Weirdo]

I just use Elmer's Glue applied and spread around with a toothpick, then dipped in railroad grass.

[Saint]

If you have already primed or painted your mechs then I'd do the same as Weirdo. I prefer to apply the gritty flock before I prime ( I only prime in flat black ) then with a dry brushing of citadel Bestial Brown,  then a lighter coat of Snake Bite Leather, top off with Codex Grey ( names of paints have changed ). Finally I add a random small piece of moss for a bush.

[Lorcan Nagle]

I do much the same as Saint.  I have a tub with 2 sizes of gravel I bought in my local modeling store mixed together.  After assembly I cover the base in white glue (I use Woodland Scenics Hob-e-Tac, but PVA works fine), and dip the mini in the tub.  After Ipullit out and remove any bits sticking to the model, I let glue dry a little, and then prime the whole lot.

I paint the base appropriately to the theme and look I'm going for while painting the mini, and then apply additional bits (I have woodland some scenics grass/leaves which I affix with superglue for standard woodland effects, or I mix wood glue, baking soda and water to make snow, for example)

[TheMaster1955]

I use yellow carpenters glue. It is more rubbery than the white. It holds better O0

[Psycho]

Anyway. What would you use or what do you use?

Depends on the look I'm going for. Are there things you like the look of and would like to emulate? That could help narrow down the responses.

[clansittingducks]

Also make sure not to apply a full amount of flocking over the base, have it go in patches with bare earth showing. More natural looking

[clansittingducks]

A cheaper alternative is an old blender you will never use for food, and foam for a cushion. add the foam and water to the blender, and puree for a few to get some small clumps, empty out into a bowl and add paint while the water is still in there, after it dries pull it apart and you got instahedges

[Cazaril]

It looks like The Army Painter: Battlefields is a little chinky to start with... What you might want to do is get some regular fine model railroad flock, apply a layer of that, then let the glue dry. After that, apply more glue and then do a layer of the Army Painter stuff... That should give you a good undercoat, but also a variation of flock size... But watch your glue. I find that watered down Elmer's, when adding a second coat, will (for lack of a better term) release the flock and allow it to float around again. This can cause bald spots in your terrain. Depending on what I'm doing and how much patients I might have that day, sometimes I'll use super glue (of course that can present it's own set of problems).

Caz

[Overkill C7]

I use yellow carpenters glue. It is more rubbery than the white. It holds better O0

I haven't tried that kind'a glue.  Gonna have to give it a shot.  Thanks for the info.  O0

[JadeHellbringer]

I start with Elmers glue, then use either GW or Gale Force 9 stuff- sand, snow, grass, bushes, etc., or even just some material provided to me by nature. Martha's Vineyard beach sand is in particular handy stuff!

I can't do it from work, but I can show a few examples of what I use when I get home tonight.

[NeonKnight]

here is the CHEAP method of basing by Neon Knight

1. If you live near the beach or some other area with lots of fine-ish sand bring a small container with a lid (like an old (BUT CLEAN) margarine or ice cream container. Scoop up some sand.

2. Take the sand home and fill with water to strain out all the crap leaving just the sand (this also allows to add some bleach to clean the sand).

3. Strain the sand to remove larger rocks/pebbles and stuff from it.

4. Lay sand out on a try and either bake in oven at a low heat (when wife/girlfriend not home) or place in the sun to dry.

5. Once dry, put in a small container for 'dipping' you mini bases in when you are putting the sand on them.

Once you have your sand and stuff, I then do the following:

1. Paint you base a flat brown or tan color. This is so when the sand is applied anywhere that misses the sand does not show and over painting of the color used when painting the mini (like blue, red, yellow, purple, etc)

2. use a slightly thinned glue (like Elmers) to coat the base of the mini, and place in the sand to coat the mini's base

3. lightly shake out the loose bits of sand

4. after doing a bunch of bases, and the glue has had time to dry somewhat, thin out some more glue so it is a slightly thick but runny white water.

5. get an old but pliable brush that can hold a lot of liquid in the bristles and paint the thinned glue/water mix on the sandy base. This will coat all of the sand with this thinned glue mixture so when it dries you no longer have loose sand falling about.

6. Once dry, apply any flocking (static grass), or bushes you want to the base.

7. Spray with ARMY PAINTER's Matt coat. This helps take the shin from the glue on the rocks as well as helps seal the static grass.

[NeonKnight]

WHOOPS - Double post - sorry

[Saatch]

I flock every company differently in terms of forest, grassland, woods, ruins, etc.

But I generally flock after painting, glue puddle then a combination of Army Painter and/or Woodland Scenics stuff if I'm doing outdoor terrain. Remember to hit your grasses and rocks and dirt with a highlight color (after they dry, of course) as well.

I don't really like the kind that's more static type, but I see that a used a lot. 

[worktroll]

I endorse NeonKnight's post - it's pretty much what I do.

Plus, I like those tinned Eclipse mints. So I end up with lots of moderately sealable little tins. I keep a bunch (empty) in the car. If I'm passing a mound of clean, dry construction dirt, of a shade I don't have, I'll stop and pick up a "sampler".

Also, the grit around the edges of a clay tennis court is the best thing for a Mars-like surface.



Using real dirt can have one other advantage. WHen you base with dirt, you'll often get a fine layer of fine dust clinging to the feet & lower legs of the minis. Don't brush it or blow it away; when you varnish, instant weathering! :)

[Acolyte]

I use cat fur, but not deliberately. ;)

For the past little while I've just taken some gravel from a gravel path and sifted it through three different grades of sieve. The coarsest gives me boulders, the second gives a gravelly appearance and the smallest gives a dusty sand/concrete look.

On top of that, a variety pack of tea gives tons of variations for flora of different colours and your spice cabinet gives more.

For some reason I get hungry while flocking.....

   - Shane

[theCrowe]

If you have already primed or painted your mechs then I'd do the same as Weirdo. I prefer to apply the gritty flock before I prime ( I only prime in flat black ) then with a dry brushing of citadel Bestial Brown,  then a lighter coat of Snake Bite Leather, top off with Codex Grey ( names of paints have changed ). Finally I add a random small piece of moss for a bush.

[img]http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj261/Saint304/

This is me too.

[YingJanshi]

Thanks for the suggestions guys! Now I have some experimenting to do... ;D

[Nahuris]

Something that might help, and something I learned from my grandfather, who does model railroad... he mixes white glue, water, and rubbing alcohol in a 40/40/20 ratio, respectively. He uses it to do his ballast on his tracks, but it also holds flock incredibly well ---- and you can spray it with a cheap dollar store spray bottle....... just pop the cap and spray water through to clear the pump after each use.....

The technique is to first use a glue/water mix, and then put your flock or ballast on, and then mist it with a touch of water, and then hit it with the glue/water/alcohol .... because the stuff is already a touch damp, the 3 way mix will soak in, and down through the flock layer, but it coats everything, and makes it stay nicely.... plus, you don't get that shiny glue look on the outside of the flock, nor the dry patches in the flock, that cause pieces to flake off after it's all dry and painted.

Nahuris