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I'm going to be trying to make a Swamp based, Voodoo Tomb Kings army soon, and I need some way to have bases that look as though they are covered in water. I intend on having models that look like they are raising from the water.

However, after reviewing the White Dwarfs I have, and looking through the Black Gobbo, I haven't really come across anything that points out as a great way to do it.

So, I pose this to the Dakka Community. How do I make Water Covered Bases for models, that look good.

If it helps, it'll be a mainly chariot based army, so fairly large bases.

Thanks in advance.

Try a google search on 'flocking gel'. This is a material specifically designed for miniature water effects.

Failing that, gloss varnish makes a useful substitute as long as you don't want texture on the base (waves etc.) For a swamp base, I'd work out how much water you want (probably only  few small puddles of open water), and flatten these areas ? either by gently scraping the textured surface of the base, or by smoothing it over with a dab of putty.

Then, paint the base a mixture of greens and browns, and mix a touch of blue into these mixes to get a nice swamp-water colour. Remember that the water in a swamp will tend to all be the same colour (and almost certainly the same colour in an area this small) depending on how waterlogged the soil is, so try and use one mix throughout.

Once this is dry, flock the drier patches, add some tufts of static grass and paint the puddles with gloss varnish. You can use PVA glue to sub as varnish. Cheap as the proverbial chips!

Swamp bases look cool, but are a lot more effort than regular scrub grassland. If you want a wetter marsh, make the puddles bigger and add reeds (model shops will sell this); there's also a great spongy material (the name of which escapes me) which is perfect for representing ground-hugging mosses. For drier fenland, remove the water entirely, and simply use vivid browns and olivey greens to drybrush the static grass (this takes out the shiny look, and makes it look more like the rich undergrowth of swamp plants). Google 'swamp' or 'fen' for some tips for the battlefield in general, and really note the colours and textures.

On another note, an undead voodoo army sounds cool as toast... but chariots and swamps really don't mix ? fenland is a bit more likely, but it sounds like you want a proper New Orleans-style swamp. How are you relating the two concepts? Using the chariot rules for some conversion you have planned? I mean, good luck and all ? I'm interested to see how this turns out ? but I am rather sceptical of how chariots and swamps interact...

Saint covered most everything, so I only have one bit to add. If your chariots are going to be racing through puddles or shallows in the swamp, you might consider trimming off bits of wheels and skeletal horses' legs so it looks like they're stepping into slightly deeper puddles - you might even be able to use glue to make a semi splash on some. That'd be sharp.

Granted, like Saint said, it will also be a lot of work.

Cheers,
Reodd

www.hivefleetmoloch.com

Molochs Necrons under "prey species" are the best looking swamp things I've ever seen. plus some great looking swamp bases.

The Brushthralls have an article on making water bases with a two-part varnish called Envirotex Lite, but I've seen most any clear resin used to good effect.

Posted By Cpl_Saint on 02/24/2006 6:34 AM
I mean, good luck and all ? I'm interested to see how this turns out ? but I am rather sceptical of how chariots and swamps interact...

Maybe the voodoo chariot has legs too? That would be kewl.  

Saint - Thanks for the post, I'll definitely check out the gel, although gloss varnish will probably be the first thing I try. I'm going for a heavy marsh, so lots of water, with reeds, etc. See below for central Ideas.

Reodd - I plan on going a bit further then just legs and wheels.....see below.

SirNotInThisFilm - Hive fleet Moloch is an amazing Tyranid site. As I do 'Nids for my 40k army, I have to say I'm a big fan of his work. I think he's using varnish and green stuff for his Necrons.

Construct - Thanks, I'll check out the link.


Central Theme/Ideas = I was planning on using Tomb King Chariots, drawn by Aligators. For 'gators, I was going to use Lizardmen Cold Ones. Take the wheels off the chariots, and you have river rafts drawn by 'gators, through the Bayou. So what if the skelies would be getting wet? They're dead. I was going to cut most of the body of the cold one, too, so it looks like they're partially submerged. Combined with watery bases, and heavy moss/plants, it should work out, I hope.

I was also planning on using Carrion (Big birds in the swamp? Why not? Mount them on sufficently Bayou-like trees, and they should be good to go.

For Tomb Scorpions, I was planning on finding sufficently big Crocs' to represent them. Submerge them in watery bases also, to represent "It Came From Below". Maybe a little upward splash, modelled from green stuff, like they're exploding out of the water. I have an old Lizardman Salamander for one, but I'm open to suggestions.

For the Tomb King himself, I was thinking Baron Samedi. Big Black Top Hat, white cane........Big Voodoo Zombie Lord.

And maybe a Casket of Souls, that is a big Pot o' Gumbo. Who doesn't like a big Pot o' Gumbo?

Thanks for the Feedback. Hope for somemore, guys!

the cheapest way i did water/swamp for my zombies was to use white glue on the base for the puddle/water with some sand on the edges. once painted and protective coated i added varnish to make it look wet. woodland scenics also makes water effects products. nearly twice as much as gw for half the price (in the u.s.). i'm going to try it on my skinks.

Oooh, oooh...big stompy voodoo doll for the Bone Giant! 

Okay, okay...you're playing it straight. If you're not adverse to non-GW product, take a look at Crocodile Games' War Gods of Aegyptus, specifically the Sebeki, Undead, and the Asar (human) Harbingers of all the factions.

Suggestions: The honking great Beloved of Sobek as a Bone Giant. The Priest of Sobek and Nekharu Witch Master as Liche Priests. The Butcher as an Ushabti, pretty please with an anthropomorphic meat cleaver-wielding beefcake alligator on top?

Edit: Convert the Carrion into roosters; it wouldn't be voodoo without big black cocks.

After reading your army ideas I immediatetly thought of Crocodile Games, but Construct beat me to it! Their Sebeki would indeed make great 'gators (well, crocs, but they look close enough). From pulling the chariot, to being tomb skorpions, as well as all sorts of characters and especially as Ushabti, they'll be freaking awesome. You could even have 'dem gator's be the ones making gumbo, with people parts in addtion to all the other ingredients. Ooo wee!

Say...if you've got 7 or so musicians in your skeleton units...you could make them out as the swing band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy...

http://www.bbvd.com/