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I am looking to do the crackle bases desert effect for my necrons. I have a lot of models to base (80 warriors alone) so probably at least 200+ models with bases.
I don't want to use a lot of Agrellan earth, does anyone have any recommendations on alternatives to see a similar effect?

I was looking at trying Golden Oirele Crackle paste.
https://www.amazon.com/Golden-35575-Crackle-Paste-8-ounce/dp/B002646MT6

I also found a few videos on youtube. One guys used wood filler as a base but then used the Agrellan Earth over it. I am trying to get away from the use of this texture paint. Anyone have any ideas on how they make it or suitable alternatives?

I use crackling colours from Viva Decor.
They recommend sealing with a medium first for better cracks.

It works pretty well and is easy.

Personally every time I've used Agrellan Earth its never come out how I wanted it.

Mainly because I probably was not laying it on thick enough, but I'd be buying a ton of pots if that was the case!

 Hanskrampf wrote:
I use crackling colours from Viva Decor.
They recommend sealing with a medium first for better cracks.

It works pretty well and is easy.

Yeah I saw a video with this as well. Did you also use the Viva Decor basing fluid or whatever its called. Some people are saying it flakes off and needs something to grasp(hence the wood filler or basing fluid).

So you would put the viva decor down. While its wet you spray Matte Varnish sealer on it? Then once its dry it cracks and you paint it?

DO you happen to have any pics?

 Dynas wrote:

 Hanskrampf wrote:
I use crackling colours from Viva Decor.
They recommend sealing with a medium first for better cracks.

It works pretty well and is easy.

Yeah I saw a video with this as well. Did you also use the Viva Decor basing fluid or whatever its called. Some people are saying it flakes off and needs something to grasp(hence the wood filler or basing fluid).

So you would put the viva decor down. While its wet you spray Matte Varnish sealer on it? Then once its dry it cracks and you paint it?

DO you happen to have any pics?

I use uhmm, some kind of sealing medium first. Also from Viva Decor. Don't know the exact name but can look it up once I get home.
I brush that onto the base and let it dry. I then use the crackling colour and let this dry. While drying, it cracks open. The more paint you use, the bigger the cracks.
Once it's dry, it can be primed and painted immediately.

I chip parts of it away with sculpting tools for an uneven look and add patches of watered down PVA glue and add fine and coarse sand and a few "rocks".

No pictures, sorry.

Any varnish, better yet gloss varnish will do as a sealing medium. I've used varnish and it worked fine.

Iv picked up some decoart crackle paste

its like 3 bucks for 4 oz

i need to do some testing to see if i can add pigment or paint to it as its only white.

but its cheap and you can get it at joaans fabric so deduct another 40% off on occasion.

 Desubot wrote:
Iv picked up some decoart crackle paste

its like 3 bucks for 4 oz

i need to do some testing to see if i can add pigment or paint to it as its only white.

but its cheap and you can get it at joaans fabric so deduct another 40% off on occasion.

Yeah I always use the coupons. Was looking at some of those as well but a lot of them did not work with acrylics, only "chalk" paint whatever the hell that is.

 Dynas wrote:

 Desubot wrote:
Iv picked up some decoart crackle paste

its like 3 bucks for 4 oz

i need to do some testing to see if i can add pigment or paint to it as its only white.

but its cheap and you can get it at joaans fabric so deduct another 40% off on occasion.

Yeah I always use the coupons. Was looking at some of those as well but a lot of them did not work with acrylics, only "chalk" paint whatever the hell that is.

Dunno about your local one but mine has a separate section near the canvas section (next to the oil paints and mediums) and the deco arts specialty stuff was there

including the crackle, iridescent mediums and a lot of interesting technical paints.

I don't know how easily you might be able to get hold of it, but I've found AK Interactive Light and Dry Crackle Effects to be a great product. It's mainly aimed at dioramas and the like, and it's the perfect tone for desert type basing. I've used the crackle paint on some patches of the bases, and the bits that I didn't want crackly I used their Light Earth, then darkened the whole thing overall and provided a bit of colour variation with a sepia wash.

Some images of a random selection of my crackly Salamanders and Deathwatch bases in the spoiler. The Dread has a thinner/varied layer with some thicker and some more subtle cracking, a couple of the terminators had a layer thick enough that it's not far from peeling off the base entirely.

Very nice. This was the AK interactive Stuff?

 Dynas wrote:
Very nice. This was the AK interactive Stuff?

Yep. My basing scheme for those armies is mostly AK Light Earth, but for some models I'll leave patches that I then use the Crackle stuff on. Those photos are some models that I used more crackle than normal. You can see for the pair of Deathwatch termies in the last photo - the more textured stuff under their respective left feet is the Light Earth, and obviously the cracked bits are the crackle paint. They're both lighter than that out of the pot - I give them an all-over wash of Vallejo Game Color Sepia Wash to darken them a little and add a bit of colour variation.

I painted the earth and crackle onto the bases after the minis were glued down and painted. The crackle likes to wick up the feet if you're not careful, so a few models look like their boots have been sinking into it and picking it up, which is actually doesn't look as terrible as I thought it would. Kind of a dry and cracked top layer, but sticky if you break through it so it clogs your boots up...

Howdy, i've been working on an Imperial Guard / Astra Militarum Steel Legion army, with the intention of creating a thick sea of mud such as World War I


I purchased a bottle of Crackle Medium made by FolkArt from my local WalMart




It comes in a huge 236 mL bottle:




First i painted the areas Black where the Crackle Medium would be.

While i did not apply a gloss sealer, i did apply three coats of Crackle Medium to assure it was well covered, allowing each coat of Crackle Medium to dry before another coat..




Unfortunately, the results were a little less than what i expected... (sorry for the crappy photography)




I then purchased the Citadel Agrellan Earth and applied it on top of two coats of FolkArt Crackle Medium, with much more definitive crackle results!

Good job!

I've also found basing posts for Vallejo Crackle Paint and Distress Paint. The latter is at Michael's -- remember your coupon!

http://forum.reapermini.com/index.php?/topic/43463-tutorial-creating-ice-bases/

I may try the Golden Crackle Paste. I use their pumice gel with great results.

https://www.goldenpaints.com/technicalinfo_crcklpst