Finishing a wooden base?

As an alternative to wood, you might try mdf, available at any diy store. This is a smooth, inexpensive base material that is easy to machine and paint. Because of its weight. it makes a very stable base for top heavy scenes. Prime it and paint it and you can achieve a finish that looks like wood, metal, stone or just about anything that can be faux finished. Be sure though to seal it as it is a fibre board and if it gets wet will swell and deform a bit.
Its cheaper than wood and comes in 1/4", 1/2", 5/8" 3/4", and 1" thicknesses.

I use pine as bases with celluclay. Because of this the base has to be stained and poly'd or the pine will warp from the moisture in the clay.

 

Before I finish the base I draw out the perimeter of the celluclay and score the wood with something like a screwdriver.. then stain and poly/varnish.....this gives the clay something to grab into.

After all is done I place the green round felt things under the base.

Yeah, using wood picture frames will save a lot of time finishing the base... Just inserting the base into the frame will eliminate having to finish it..

Any pics?

 

I think I've seen it, but I cannot remember...  But yeah, a picture frame is probably the easiest frame to get, or atleast from what I've seen/read.

 

Take care,
Austin

"Do you stain, finish and seal the wood first, then mask it off and apply the ground materials?"

If I use wood, Always...

I usually use plastic photo frames though..

Hi Hook-

Yes, I finish my bases first then start ground-work.  This is even more true if I'm working with WET materials (i.e.- Cel-u-clay, plaster) because I've had bases worp and twist due to the few days drying time needed.

Good Luck and remember- Keep your stick on the ice

-Ray

PS- Nice job so far on the fire engine, it's great your finally starting it.  Believe me when I say that many more of my projects STAY in the planning phase than get finished.