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Hey guys,

I've been chewing over a WHFB empire modelling project for a while now, and I'm pretty much set on the details at this point.
Depending how things are financially at this end, I might grab a few boxes of Empire grunts in the New Year. The theme I wanna go with is a really gritty, grimdark band of skirmish-oriented mercenaries on the Easter frontier of the Empire. IDK, maybe I could use 'em for warcry. Or, depending on how the future pans out, ready in time for the Old World re-boot.

The bases are an idea I've been mulling over for a while - I want to try to get an effect somewhat close to the Dead Marshes of Peter Jacksons LOTR movies. I watched that scene when I was pretty young, and it had a really deep impact on me. On top of that, hiking in the Lake District in early Spring as a kid set my overactive imagination ablaze, as when you hit the swampy stuff, suddenly you find peat clawing at you boots, or firm-seeming tussocks just disappearing into knee-deep, freezing water as you trudge through the mist.

I picked up some nice fake mosses at the local 100円 shop, and I've scoped out some suitable-looking corpse-y bits, and I've still got plenty of Stirland Battlemire to fill in the gaps, as it were. (on this note, if anyone has any tips for like bits of driftwood or other swap detritus, I'm all ears! Or for that matter, any other cool swampy basing stuff! I clocked a few creepers and vines in the model railways stuff at the local model shop, and I'm pretty keen tbh! )
The most easily available, and seemingly (I've watched maybe like 2-3 youtube tutorials, that tbh weren't super enlightening, but hey-ho) simplest to use is Woodland Scenics.

Anyone else used this stuff for bases? Esp. for square bases? I'm a little apprehensive about how to work with/prepare/tidy up the corners if I'm totally honest.

I'm not planning anything mad and too submerged. I think I'll mostly have a few puddles of it here and there. I'm really aiming to not have the basing materials get much over 5mm, in height if I can help it. The idea of the water is mostly going to be swampy puddles. Because these bases will inevitably be a bit small at whatever the standard human infantry base size is, I probably won't cram them with too much corpse-y detail. The plan is to glue that straight onto plastic, then half-bury it with stirland and clumps of moss, sticking out in a few places, and the bring it all about level (with like some tufts and moss etc above base level) with the water, then pop the minis on top (or with like a foot in the puddle, if/when I feel very brave)

So yeah. Rambly, eh?

Anyway, thanks for stopping by, and any suggestions will be super appreciated! Love ya! McBogus, awayyyyy〜

If you want some small puddles, woodland scenics will suffice. Personally now I've got more experience with resin, I'd just use that as I find water effects can sink or deform after a time. You won't need to contain corners really as water effect is quite viscous and will stay where it's placed as long as you're careful and don't dob too much on.

Have a look outside and pull up some roots of plants(barky plants work best) I use these for trees but they also work for vines too.

Ooh, interesting that you mention resin - UV resins are dirt cheap out here, and really easy to get hold of - what do you reckon about it? I'm a bit nervous about trying it because 1. toxic and 2. super messy and I'm dumb as all hell, but I have been pretty severely tempted in the past...

Cheers very much for the advice! Glad to know Woodlands should do the job! Will see if I can find anywhere outdoors to scrounge stuff. It's mostly people's fields out here, and like, don't wanna upset any farmers.

UV resins are pretty decent, and they are also good for deeper water if you ever wanted to venture into that territory. If you live in a sunny area you don't need the torch either, although it can be useful for curing. I wouldn't worry about the toxicity. You will get some fumes when you apply the UV torch , but for tiny puddles it's virtually nothing and a well ventilated room will be fine. However, I would invest in a ripple gel, because even if you don't want ripples, it will provide a cured layer if you do get a stubborn UV resin that remains sticky whatever you throw at it, just apply a flat layer.

Try the water effect first, and then go into a UV resin if you get the feel for it.

I've used Woodland Scenics Realistic Water + Water Effects for swampy puddles / shallow water on some minis and am pretty happy. Just note that the first layer of Realistic Water will most likely just vanish, the shrinkage is pretty extreme.

Nice paint job!

I think I've also used glossy varnish or Tamiya Clear over olive or whatever color for good effect. Depends on how close to display you want to go (and if you're a lazy painter like I am.

Ooh. Reading your grimdark skirmishers scenario brought Darkest Dungeon to mind and the kind of miscreants you find in that game. This is very close to my own interests getting into the hobby. I'm doing a Vampire Counts / Undead army using square bases (the closely formed ranks and regimented look of the units is something I've always liked about WHFB), and I also what to do swampy marshland bases. I've been watching quite a few tutorials on YT, and found these ones look good results wise;








I also found a great channel called Paepercuts, now his stuff is next level diorama type stuff with a crazy amount of work and steps going into it. But, he lists every single bit and bob used so you might find some product inspiration and some ideas that might be scaled down to mini bases.








I think the basic approach I'm leaning towards is wet mud as bottom layer (maybe made from mixing PVA glue with fine sand?) with some sunken areas enclosed by mud for the still water. Using small dried twigs and roots to act as dead trees and wood, something for reeds, something for moss / algae, putting any details like a skull, or shield or something in one of the sunken areas. Then underpainting the sunken areas in very dark green, using a still water product mixed with a black-green drop of ink or paint, and finally priming and painting everything before sealing with matte varnish, before adding the water FX at the very end and sealing that with gloss varnish, maybe? Dunno, I'm brand new to all this!

Anyhoo, let us know how you get on, and post some pics to show us, too. I'd be interested in your results. (I'll be doing the same, when I get there, I'm planning to tackle the bases at a later time - ahhh!).

Okay lads, a big thank you for the help. Probably tomorrow (?) I'll get around to adding the water. One or two things to hammer out first, but otherwise this has been going well. Yet to try any twigs etc, but the stuff that's been contributed in this thread has been very helpful. Really appreciate it!

One last question...

...For the edge of the base, for slightly more underwater bits, how should I shore up the edges? I've seen one or two sources online just say use scotch tape, but tbh, that's pretty terrifying, just because I don't want to rip everything apart before it's finished drying - any tips? Should I just stop being a big baby?

Cheers!

With WS, it's viscous enough to sit on the base edge without overflowing if you're careful enough.

Cheers, QAR!

Okay! Super final preparation - what do we think about syringing woodland scenics? This is mostly for future reference, but I prefer my minis to look a tiny bit as if they're leaving footprints in the terrain, rather than perching perfectly atop of granules of wet mud. If I syringe the water into the puddle-holes at their feet, at least in theory, it means this will all be less fiddly, right? But would bubbles be more of a problem? Also, will I just gunk up the syringe after the first session?
Thanks very much for all the feedback, fellas! Really appreciate it!

You'd probably be better just using a standard needle to carefully apply the liquid into the recess.

I might be being thick, but what do you mean by "needle"? Like, just a sewing needle?

Yeah or something fine like that for precise application. I could see a syringe being more hassle than it's worth.

It begins! First tests with the woodland scenics! Wish me luck, boyos!

Water is finally tough enough to pull off (most) of the tape!

...probably a little too eager
It's still kinda gummy to the touch, but I'm pretty pleased with these results, for a first try! Flock comes next (maybe... not much space for moss now, might've gone just a smidge overboard with the water), just as soon as these feel strong enough for me to handle them while modeling
Any pointers? I know there are a few bubbles I missed during bubble-popping patrol, and those edges are a bit wonky (also, can I stop that dipping in the middle, or is this something I'm just gonna have to live with?

Cheers so much for your help, fellas!

They probably won't harden that much more I don't think. We is not a resin so remains quite pliable.

Yeah, it'll remain gummy, doesn't change much once it's properly transparent I think. The dipping in the middle - hmm, this stuff will always shrink a lot but I haven't really understood the process yet 100%, myself. I think you'd just need to do another layer in the middle? I'm doing at least 2 layers on my far more shallow stuff (and even then it's always shrinking from a different direction than I intended, LOL)

The dipping is because it creeps up the surfaces it's applied to, so if you apply a smaller layer and don't allow it to reach the edges, this should level it off a bit.

Ah! Good tip. I had the impression that it always shrinks away from the base edges but miraculously creeps up the minis' feet - so this explains it.

Yeah it's weird. Like the slime from Ghostbusters or something. I have no idea how it works but it does ha.