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Miniatures Adventure => Pulp => Topic started by: mikedemana on January 21, 2014, 11:00:41 PM

Title: Jungle/Forest paths...too dark? Okay?
Post by: mikedemana on January 21, 2014, 11:00:41 PM
Hi everyone,

The last terrain I needed to get done for my next Pulp Alley game are paths. The thought here is, rather than denote where the jungle is by placing down some sort of terrain piece, I note where it is not. So, I can say "all the board except the path" is jungle, or forest or whatever. I want to be able to use these for both Pulp jungle and French & Indian War tracks through the woods. These are not meant to be roads, but rather footpaths.

(http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww213/mikedemana/Pulp%20and%20Victorian%20Skirmish/Roads_Germans01_zpsa0cd06d9.jpg)

That said, what do you think of the look of these test pieces? They came out darker than I was thinking, thanks to the ink wash I put on there. I'd like some feedback before I get to much further on the next batch...

Thanks!
Mike Demana
Title: Re: Jungle/Forest paths...too dark? Okay?
Post by: Eric the Shed on January 21, 2014, 11:02:58 PM
They look good, perhaps have a few with different widths, and lots of twist and bends?
Title: Re: Jungle/Forest paths...too dark? Okay?
Post by: FramFramson on January 21, 2014, 11:28:57 PM
Making them twisty would encourage some risky cuts through the jungle.  :D
Title: Re: Jungle/Forest paths...too dark? Okay?
Post by: Amalric on January 21, 2014, 11:51:19 PM
Those look great!

My two suggestions are;
1-twists and turns to shorten line of sight
2-sand the edges at an angle to help the edges disappear into the ground better.

I look forward to seeing them in your games.
Title: Re: Jungle/Forest paths...too dark? Okay?
Post by: carlos marighela on January 21, 2014, 11:56:39 PM
Forest paths, as opposed to roads through forests tend to be distinguished by large aquantities of fallen leaves. Tree roots are another feature. Forest paths hereabouts (mata Atlantica and what many people might think of as jungle) tend to be fairly damp. Of course where there is space in the canopy, as often there is along a path, you get a dappled look of alternating light and shadow. That might be worth modelling.

Yours are very nice but I'd be inclined to give them a dusting of dried tea leaves or whatever else you use for fallen leaves.
Title: Re: Jungle/Forest paths...too dark? Okay?
Post by: General on January 22, 2014, 02:29:37 AM
Looks groovey.  Which jungle are you trying to replicate?  The ground in jungle just off the Amazon River in Peru, for example, is not so red, more of a gray brown.

I'd attach a photo if I could figure out how to do it. 
Title: Re: Jungle/Forest paths...too dark? Okay?
Post by: pacarat on January 22, 2014, 02:47:58 AM
My .02 Lupins...

Colors: look fine.

Size/shape: Make them more narrow, and have a more defined dirt path. If these are meant to be remote, primitive, etc, then i'd expect a worn/beaten down width of maybe a couple feet - say the width of those figure bases in your pic.

If you keep the actual terrain pieces at their current width, this would allow you to model your narrow foot paths with more curves and variations, as some of the other posters have already mentioned.
Title: Re: Jungle/Forest paths...too dark? Okay?
Post by: General on January 22, 2014, 03:17:35 AM
Most of the jungle paths that I have been on were grassy, just shorter grass.  There's not enough traffic to grind the turf down to the dirt. 
Title: Re: Jungle/Forest paths...too dark? Okay?
Post by: mikedemana on January 22, 2014, 04:14:25 AM
Keep the suggestions coming...! Any suggestions for fallen leaves? I like that idea but don't have a material I use for that, currently...

As to what jungle I'm trying to replicate, none in particular and all in general... lol. I'm hoping to produce something generic enough it works as a forest path in either French & Indian War North America and the jungles of Southeast Asia. I know...fat chance! Ha, ha. I went for the 2-figure wide patch for game purposes.

Here's a pic by the uber-artist for native Americans, Robert Griffing...
(https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQOr0Ou4iI4s3v9YRybXVmM1mkjY_7II8Al6dJUS5lFxMRg99H0nA)
Of course, I was lazy and did not do research and actually look at images like this before I started -- even though I own a book of his paintings!

Thanks, everyone!

Mike Demana
Title: Re: Jungle/Forest paths...too dark? Okay?
Post by: marianas_gamer on January 22, 2014, 09:52:56 AM
Mike,
I have been on jungle paths throughout the northern Pacific (Hawaii, the Marianas, the Carolines, and Palau) and they can be pretty variable.  Yours look fine but as Amalric has suggested I would bevel the edges so they do not stand out as much against your base cloth.
LB
Title: Re: Jungle/Forest paths...too dark? Okay?
Post by: pistolpete on January 22, 2014, 02:31:42 PM
i think that's a great idea and the ones you've made are good - how did you make them?  as far as suggestions i'd agree with the others for more bends, vary the width, and bevel the edges; color wise it's fine and fairly generic.
Title: Re: Jungle/Forest paths...too dark? Okay?
Post by: northtroll on January 22, 2014, 03:01:47 PM
Dried tea works well for leafs. Hot glue can be laid down for exposed tree roots and painted to match the earth.
Title: Re: Jungle/Forest paths...too dark? Okay?
Post by: scouts19508 on January 22, 2014, 07:53:30 PM
Antenocitis workshop has some pretty good leaves. I use them in my vietnam games as ground cover. I would also vary the width and give them more twists and turns. I think they look pretty good.

http://www.antenocitisworkshop.com/

Jim
Title: Re: Jungle/Forest paths...too dark? Okay?
Post by: Ramirez Noname on January 23, 2014, 05:02:09 PM
Mike,

I like where you're going with the terrain.

I have added a few WIP pics to my own thread - http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=62376.0 (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=62376.0) if you want to take a look.

RMZ
Title: Re: Jungle/Forest paths...too dark? Okay?
Post by: Westfalia Chris on January 23, 2014, 05:12:22 PM
I'm with the others - colour and texture are fine, but some more blending effects (bevelled edges, maybe some grass, leaves, weeds) to have it match the table more seamlessly would not go amiss.
Title: Re: Jungle/Forest paths...too dark? Okay?
Post by: d phipps on January 24, 2014, 07:26:48 AM
Stray from the path and you're in peril! -- Great idea for your scenario, Mike.  :D
Title: Re: Jungle/Forest paths...too dark? Okay?
Post by: Chuck1372 on January 25, 2014, 01:27:27 AM
For dried leaves Ive used dried herbs like basil and oregano, tea leaves, and cigar tobacco.

Your jungle paths look great.  I have some roads that I made out of felt that I use for my jungle games.  I need to add some twisty pieces to add some variety.  Thanks for the inspiration.
Title: Re: Jungle/Forest paths...too dark? Okay?
Post by: mikedemana on January 25, 2014, 04:32:54 PM
For dried leaves Ive used dried herbs like basil and oregano, tea leaves, and cigar tobacco.

 Thanks for the inspiration.

Right back at you! Great, affordable idea. I foresee a trip to either the tobacco store (I don't smoke) or grocery store's herb aisle soon...!

Mike Demana
Title: Re: Jungle/Forest paths...too dark? Okay?
Post by: Cubs on January 25, 2014, 05:11:18 PM
For dried leaves Ive used dried herbs like basil and oregano, tea leaves, and cigar tobacco.

Ditto! Used tea leaves and cheap mixed herbs are my blend of choice. You've got to thoroughly dry the tea leaves first though, or they go nasty.
Title: Re: Jungle/Forest paths...too dark? Okay?
Post by: carlos marighela on January 25, 2014, 05:13:48 PM
Quote from: mikedemana link=topic=62564.msg753175#msg753175 date

I don't smoke......

Mike Demana
[/quote

It's never to late to start you know and these days it's probably about on par with wargaming vis a vis social acceptability. :)
Title: Re: Jungle/Forest paths...too dark? Okay?
Post by: FramFramson on January 25, 2014, 05:58:12 PM
Oooh tobacco, there's a neat addition. I have herbs and teabag leftovers, but no tobacco.
Title: Re: Jungle/Forest paths...too dark? Okay?
Post by: Chuck1372 on January 25, 2014, 07:57:42 PM
Oooh tobacco, there's a neat addition. I have herbs and teabag leftovers, but no tobacco.

I got the idea when I found some old dried out cigars in my golf bag.  They were those Blackwoods cigars and have a nice coarse texture.  They also smell nice.

Chuck
Title: Re: Jungle/Forest paths...too dark? Okay?
Post by: Valerik on January 25, 2014, 08:35:08 PM
I've used dried tea leaves (after they've been read, of course) as well as grocery store herbs in the long distant past.  Thanks for the reminder!

While I no longer worship that Great Irish God, Nick O'Teen, I'm certain that musty, dried out ceegar husks and pipe tobacco pouches still lurk in my camping and reenacting gear, just waiting to tempt me...   In their absence cheap cheroots, are, well, inexpensive, break 'em out the package and let 'em sit on your car's dashboard, they'll dry out nice n'quick...

Some of the cut paper leaf products are truly amazing miniatures in their own right, however pricey.  I imagine that a few of them sown in amongst the 'baccy n'char debris would go a long towards "selling" the bulk of the less detailed detritus.  I certainly plan to try that approach.

Overall I remain amazed at all this jungley goodness.

BGR