Do Your Pirates Dare Go Into The Mangroves?

[Cacique Caribe]

My pirates will:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/9593487@N07/albums/72157709365896792/with/48191210106/

https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=118935.30

As you will see in the first link, the trunks were made using scrap bits of plastic branches, and two other methods: 1) trunks made of wire and greenstuff, and 2) using thin wire coated with liquid latex.





But the tops of the trees were done using this rubberized “horsehair” material:

https://www.onlinefabricstore.net/1-x-24-rubberized-hair-.htm

It takes paint exceptionally well.  Best if you tease it out throughly and leave more open spaces between branches.  I learned that a bit late, as I got to the flocking stage.









I’m also working on several clusters of mangrove trees without bases, so as to give the impression that they are growing directly out of the water, or that it’s high tide.

Anyway, what are YOU guys using for mangroves?

Dan

[FierceKitty]

Versatile; just needs a few mudskippers to be a mangrove swamp, but could be the Elvish Accursed Forest as easily.

[Cacique Caribe]

... just needs a few mudskippers to be a mangrove swamp ...

Good idea.  And loads of crabs too! 

Wasn’t there an old pirate movie in which prisoners were tied to a pole at the edge of the water, for crabs to carry out the execution?

Dan

[Roo]

Lovely work

[Cacique Caribe]

Thank you!

I even ordered this 36” x 72” vinyl mat for the mangrove islands and cays that I plan to make:

https://matsbymars.com/collections/36-x-72-mats/products/mats-by-mars-sunny-caribbean-tabletop-wargaming-play-mat

Dan

[carlos marighela]

Nicely done! I used to live near the most southerly expanse of mangroves in the world and you have the colouration and variation of the leaves just right.

[tomrommel1]

what a really nice terrain idea! Very well done

[Digits]

Those are beautiful fella.....going to borrow the idea myself.....very cool scenery.

How are you fixing to the base piece please?

[Grumpy Gnome]

Brilliant work! And thumbs up to the idea of adding lots of crabs.

[Mindenbrush]

Excellent job on constructing these 👍

[Hammers]

Very nice looking!

[Cacique Caribe]

Those are beautiful fella.....going to borrow the idea myself.....very cool scenery.

How are you fixing to the base piece please?

Thanks so much!

I use expanded PVC sheets for my bases (3mm thick), though MDF could work also if you keep moisture to a minimum.  When the armatures are ready to go on the base I use either greenstuff or superglue to affix to the base. 

Then I apply a light coat of straight PVA to the base and dust it with fine tile grout.  After the grout sets hard like cement, I use diluted PVA (50/50) to “seal” the grout in place for good.  It wouldn’t hurt to also give all the trunks, branches and roots a thin coating of PVA with a brush before the painting stage.  Let that dry.  Paint, flock and spray varnish.

Dan

[has.been]

Like this, a lot. Well done.

[Bravo Six]

Those turned out FANTASTIC!!

[El Frantico]

Fantastic! I’ve been tempted to try mangroves, but haven’t made the attempt yet. Here in South Florida we are surrounded by them and a tropical type table just never feels right without them