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Hello Everyone,

I am currently building an IG Sentinel for my new Death Korps army and thought perhaps it was a good opportunity to ask a few of the questions that I've been wondering about. Please keep in mind that I have just started with the hobby, so forgive my noobish questions.

To start, I have my model built and ready to pose. The plan is to have it walking through a muddy field with one foot up on a rock, as well as footprints, dead grass, and puddles.

Question 1:

How do I go about adding the model to the base? From what I have read some people say glue the model to the base first, then build up the mud, while others say build the base, then glue on the model. Because I would like to have a dynamic pose, how can I go about building a base that will allow me to pose the model the way I like?

Question 2:

Once I have built the base the model, should I prime the entire thing or should I prime and paint the model first, then complete the base? Ideally I would be able to prime now, paint later so I can play a few games with it.

Question 3:

What is a considered the best mud making technique? I have seen a few on this forum, but would like your advice to the most realistic and versatile method.

Question 4:

I would like to put a hatch wheel on the top (like submarines have). My girlfriend says that most people use the valve from the steam tank, bit I don't want to buy a steam tank model for those two parts. Any suggestions how how to find or make some wheels that will work?

As you can probably tell so far most of my questions have to do with build order. I appreciate you all taking the time to help me out.

CLM

When i scratchbuild stuff i do it in two steps.
1, Build up the base and legs
2, build torso and arms separately.
3, glue or pin it together.

I built mine in sections. I had one leg glued to the base around about the middle, one leg loose, the hips loose, the cockpit loose, the pilot out, the hatch off and the gun off. it is cool because after i painted it i only had to glue the cockpit on! i left the legs loose so i can vary dynamic poses and the gun loose for the same reasons and for interchangeability. You may not have to pin the model because even if you don't scratchbuild in plasticard, the way the model is desgned there is very little stress on any points and is very light.

that's also a good tip M.

Thebitzbarn might have the part of the steamtank you are looking for they sell bitz.

Q1: If you're wanting to pose your Sentinel in a dynamic way on a custom base, then definitely build the base separately.

You say you want it walking through mud with one leg on a rock? Well, get your Sentinel base (handy due to its size) and build your desired scene. A simple example of how to do it would be to put PVA glue on the base, stick a rock where you want it, then covered the rest in modelling sand. Once that's dried you'll have a very basic base which you can then prime and paint separately from the Sentinel. Once your base is painted you can pose the Sentinel how you want. That's a very basic method of making a base though, and since you are wanting it to be muddy modelling sand may not be the best but its merely an example.

Or you can just stick the Sentinel down where you want it and prime it along with the base, but I find it easier to do things separately where possible.

Hey Everyone,

Thanks so much for your replies!

Taking all your advice, I grabbed the required materials and in the next day or so will be attempting to build a base to display my Sentinel (I actually have 3). I picked up some spare bases from my local GW to try things on before I go for it.

I found a tutorial on these forums for mud bases using: Saw Dust, Sand, Glue, Water, and Paint. http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/180/314300.page


As for the Hatch Wheel, I have tried both BitzBox and BitzBarn with no luck. I'm still trying to figure out how to go about getting something, or making something.


Thanks again for all your replies so far.

CLM

Hello All,

So using your advice I was able to get my sentinels, nearly done. As you can see the only thing left to do is prime the base and paint.

For anyone that was following this thread. I was able to find the valve wheels at Model Dockyard

I used the following for my mud.

Garden Dirt
Pinch of sawdust
Pinch of fine sand
Pinch of course sand
Plaster of Paris
Clips of hobby grass
White Glue
Tiny amount of water

The only shame is that I need to prime the base because I really like the colors, but it has to be done I suppose.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.


Sentinel #1 - (Large Image)


Sentinel #2 - (Large Image)


Sentinel #3 - (Large Image)

very nice work. Really dynamic posing. I'd just be careful of #3 as you're cantilevering an awful lot from one ankle joint

Thanks Flinty,

I appreciate the complements. #3 is actually pinned all the way up to about the knee with a strong metal wire that loops onto the base as well. It's quite solid.

They look real nice.

Coffee Grinds
Coffee Grinds
Coffee Grinds!

You coudl probably have replaced some of your bacing compnents with used coffee. Now its summer, you should be able to air-dry it out in the open as well.