Exercising my flabby terrain muscle...

SteveM

Member since
June 2006
From: AusTx, Live Music Capitol of the World

Exercising my flabby terrain muscle...

Posted by SteveM on Friday, November 9, 2007 5:38 AM

Here's a side project to a side project. No figures, armor... just a setting. Maybe a road through the french bocage. A practice lesson, really. Waiting for other projects to dry and reinspire. Might bore some of you. Usual cast of supplies (which is why all my stuff looks the same): patio broom twigs, rubberized horsehair, catkin seeds for trees; Woodland Scenics various and sundry for grass; real sand and dirt for road; real weeds and plant roots for ivy (is that what I'm calling that dark green undergrowth?).

I am completely open to criticism, comments and suggestions. I want to improve upon my glue-drop-seal method, so constructive feedback is what I'm after. Base is 17" X 11". Tallest tree reaches 13".

Again, all feedback welcome.

Steve

Steve M.

On the workbench: ginormous Kharkov dio

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zokissima

Member since
July 2003
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Posted by zokissima on Friday, November 9, 2007 8:15 AM

I actually really like this. There is quite a bit of variance in colouration and the textures of the different vegetation. A very realistic result IMO.

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rjkplasticmod

Member since
February 2003
From: A Spartan in the Wolverine State

Posted by rjkplasticmod on Friday, November 9, 2007 9:17 AM

Steve, no critique from here. The groundwork & foliage looks very realistic. Add a vehilce &/or some figures to tell a little story & you would have a very nice little Diorama.

Regards, Rick

RICK

At My Age, I've Seen It All, Done It All, But I Don't Remember It All...

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 9, 2007 10:35 AM

...to my eye it looks like Normandy boccage country to me...I'd be proud to drop a Tiger on that road...good work! A lot of guys don't spend nearly enough time practicing on groundwork, especially of the biological variety...

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ps1scw

Member since
June 2006
From: Michigan

Posted by ps1scw on Friday, November 9, 2007 12:00 PM

I think that it is lovely. Well done.

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grizz30_06

Member since
March 2005
From: The Red Hills of South Carolina

Posted by grizz30_06 on Friday, November 9, 2007 12:42 PM

WOW I wish I could do somthing like that. If I was going to say anything I would say that the color between the "Ivy" and the "grass" is a little stark. However, I know I couldn't do anything better.

Grizz

Denial, it's not just a coping mechanism, it's a way of life.

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vespa boy

Member since
April 2004
From: Boston MA

Posted by vespa boy on Friday, November 9, 2007 3:45 PM

Nice work. The variety of foliage is really great. I also like your palette which works to tie it all together. I agree with grizz30 on the ivy. There are two things that I would suggest.

The first is to give the road some more grading so that it dips at the edges (or rises a little in the centre) and maybe also has ruts where the wheels pass.

The second is that I think it could work better without the wooden frame edge and that the ground work goes right up to the edge of the base. In this case, I think it interrupts the diagonal flow of the path.

Thanks for sharing.

http://public.fotki.com/nkhandekar

This ain't no Mudd Club, or C.B.G.B.,
I ain't got time for that now

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the doog

Member since
January 2007

Posted by the doog on Friday, November 9, 2007 6:43 PM

That's some incredible work--no "flabby terrain muscle" there!--I'd say you've been "juicing" your "terrain muscles"!!

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masonme2

Member since
October 2003
From: Crest Hill, Il. U.S.A.

Posted by masonme2 on Saturday, November 10, 2007 1:19 PM

It's screaming for some armor or maybe a squad of infantry passing through. Hmm...........

"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock" Will Rogers

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mmc

Member since
February 2007
From: Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Posted by mmc on Sunday, November 11, 2007 2:33 AM

Fantastic work

I am trying to do something along the same line, hope it turns out half as good. Once again fantastic work.

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madmike

Member since
July 2003
From: Perth, Western Australia

Posted by madmike on Sunday, November 11, 2007 3:55 AM

That's flabby?

I dream of being able to base like that.

Very nice work, indeed some of the close up shots look like they were taken out bush.

Nice work!

cheers

Mike

"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use." - Galileo Galilei

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subfixer

Member since
March 2004
From: Spartanburg, SC

Posted by subfixer on Sunday, November 11, 2007 5:20 AM

Wow-whee! This little piece of terrain is a country equivalent of vespa boy's city streets. Superb work!

I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

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SteveM

Member since
June 2006
From: AusTx, Live Music Capitol of the World

Posted by SteveM on Sunday, November 11, 2007 11:57 AM

Thanks, guys. I'm flattered by all of your compliments; It makes me feel good that some of the best dio creators on this site have seen this and liked it enough to say so.

Grizz, Vespa, really appreciate the observations and suggestions. The starkness of the foliage is something I hadn't considered, and I'm glad you voiced that. I will go back in and see what I can do to feather them in a bit more. It gives me an idea or two... And Vespa, thanks for your opinion regarding the road and the base. I really trust your eye for realism.

It would also make me feel good to hear from the guys who could suggest more improvements, even those who feel they couldn't do better. I want to learn how to make it look even more reaslistic. If you think it's mediocre, then tell me. Even if you have no suggestions. Hit me, I want the abuse

Steve

Steve M.

On the workbench: ginormous Kharkov dio

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Sic Semper Tyrannis!

Member since
May 2007
From: The Socialist Republik of California

Posted by Sic Semper Tyrannis! on Sunday, November 11, 2007 3:46 PM

Fantastic work!

What really pops here (at least to me!) is the density of the vegetation and how everything blends together seamlessly. It begs for a German anti-tank team or maybe some troops from the 82nd or 101st. Of course, Some armor would suffice.

Flabby terrain muscle my @$$.

SST

On the losing end of a wishbone, and I won't pretend not to mind. ----------------------------------------------------------- 1/35 Dragon SdKfz 251/1 sMG Various 1/35 Figures 1/35 Dragon Stug III Ausf B. (Balkans)

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vespa boy

Member since
April 2004
From: Boston MA

Posted by vespa boy on Sunday, November 11, 2007 8:21 PM

SteveM wrote:

Thanks, guys. I'm flattered by all of your compliments; It makes me feel good that some of the best dio creators on this site have seen this and liked it enough to say so.
Grizz, Vespa, really appreciate the observations and suggestions. The starkness of the foliage is something I hadn't considered, and I'm glad you voiced that. I will go back in and see what I can do to feather them in a bit more. It gives me an idea or two... And Vespa, thanks for your opinion regarding the road and the base. I really trust your eye for realism.
It would also make me feel good to hear from the guys who could suggest more improvements, even those who feel they couldn't do better. I want to learn how to make it look even more reaslistic. If you think it's mediocre, then tell me. Even if you have no suggestions. Hit me, I want the abuse
Steve

Steve it is great that you are so open to constructive criticism. Thanks for taking what I said the right way. I think that its this kind of dialogue that makes everyone better. Keep up the great work.

http://public.fotki.com/nkhandekar

This ain't no Mudd Club, or C.B.G.B.,
I ain't got time for that now

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Jester75

Member since
December 2006
From: N. Georgia

Posted by Jester75 on Sunday, November 11, 2007 8:26 PM

This is some of the best thicket work I have seen, very nice!

Eric

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Buddho

Member since
March 2003
From: Newport News VA

Posted by Buddho on Saturday, November 17, 2007 7:33 PM

Your groundwork is awesome, Steve....yowsa!

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Boomerang

Member since
February 2007

Posted by Boomerang on Saturday, November 17, 2007 11:44 PM

Hey Steve, that is some really fine work there. I don't have any criticism at all. That is the most realistic shrubbery i have seen on this forum. The closeups look like you have been outside and taken a photo.

As too putting something on it, a couple of figures would suffice. You don't want to detract from your masterpiece. Abit like Vespas roads, they are the masterpiece, not what is on them.

Oh........i think you should delete the word FLABBY from your thread title!!!!

Boomer...

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subfixer

Member since
March 2004
From: Spartanburg, SC

Posted by subfixer on Sunday, November 18, 2007 5:08 AM

A shrubbery! And another shrubbery, a little higher than the first for a two level effect and a path running through the middle. (A path, a path!) Brought to you by Roger the Shrubber

I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

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Jester75

Member since
December 2006
From: N. Georgia

Posted by Jester75 on Sunday, November 18, 2007 10:20 AM

Ahh subfixer, one of my all time favs!

Eric

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bondoman

Member since
March 2007
From: Carmel, CA

Posted by bondoman on Sunday, November 18, 2007 11:41 PM

Steve- I really like this. One thing that especially stands out is the "trash", the dead leaves and the like. Reminds me of my front yard. That is the extra layer that makes this dio special to me.