Luke warm in Libya! - a certain archaeologist!

[FifteensAway]

Digits, there are very nice Germans - from Khurasan - that I've already acquired.  Alas, they are not in the pith helmet.  I guess I could try some modifications but I'm not sure my skill set is up to that task - replacing heads - and not botching up both the head and the figure! 

However, shall be watching your progress here for further inspiration.

[Digits]

Hmmm…can’t help there.

However found a useful article on DAK headwear.

https://alexanderandsonsrestorations.com/afrika-tan-german-helmet-north-africa/

[Digits]

So thoughts are turning to scenery.

As I said earlier in the thread, there are many geological features in the northern Sahara.  It’s semi arid in most of the north, so there are spare grass lands and scratchy trees in some areas, rocky stone plateaus (hamada), gravel plains (reg) and sand seas with large dunes (ergs).  Scarce rainfall and driving winds have created wadis, gorges, rock features etc.   there are salt lakes and sunken flat dry lakes and other features.   The wadis tend to have scrub and trees in them as they are moisture traps.   

So, as I need a few geological features, I decided to break out the cork I bought.   This is under half of it but I’ve rough cut it into manageable heights and some will go on these two bases to form escarpment frontages / wadi / gorge sides.

I also need a kopje for my Daftest Africa thread so will make it useable for both settings.    Rather than one large kopje, I may make it in two halves, so it can be split and used at the board edge.

Just wondering what to use to build up the backs…..and I will make a start.




Edit:

First basic shaping…..now to figure out how to proceed next! Lol

[has.been]

David, have you thought of expanding foam?
Poundland has some at the moment (£2.50).
After you've sprayed it, let it set. It can then
be cut &/or sanded.

[Digits]

That’s a damned good idea me thinks!  Cheers

Edit:  these will be be a good background addition me thinks.  Will kill a few birds with one stone.   I wanted to use these with my Daftest Africa…..slavers to work with Zanzibaris.  They will also work when I finally get to do my long term ambition to tackle the French Foreign Legion ( but that’s a way off yet).  I will buy a set of Warlord camels to complete the train in time.

[Digits]

OMG!  It’s horrible stuff! Lol





I think I used a bit much……I bough5 a large tin and it ran ou5 after these two parts and one of the escarpments!

It sticks to bloody EVERYTHING !

Let’s hope it cures well and I can shape it to something useful……

[snitcythedog]

Let’s hope it cures well and I can shape it to something useful……

It will take time to cure.  It can be used but not very well.  When you cut the surface it will look like a bunch of bubbles so it will take a lot of filling or have to be capped.  Every one of my experiments with this stuff has not turned out particularly well. 

[Digits]

Cheers….yes I intended to cap it off with a filler / pva mix which to be fair.    Having never used the stuff I’m surprised how it keeps expanding, despite having sprayed it 45 minutes ago.   I feel it is probably the right call, but I’m not keen on using it too often!

Anyway, I’m going to need another can at least.

[has.been]

It does dry David. When it does you can cut & sand it, much as you
would 'Blue foam'. I figure that you want a (fairly) flat top & that
should be easy to do with a saw. It will create a lot of 'saw-dust'
so be careful (Don't upset the wife by leaving the 'dust' all over
the place.)

Edit:  these will be be a good background addition me thinks.  Will kill a few birds with one stone.   I wanted to use these with my Daftest Africa…..slavers to work with Zanzibaris.  They will also work when I finally get to do my long term ambition to tackle the French Foreign Legion ( but that’s a way off yet).  I will buy a set of Warlord camels to complete the train in time.

Hey everybody! David's got the...hump. 

[Freddy]

This stuff is made to fill gaps, id does expand, thats the goal But it also has a deactivator, you can spray it after drying and it deflates it nicely. Here it is sold the same size of spray can bottle as lacquer, so do not make the same mistake as I did when switched the two

[Digits]

Well….not quite what I was expecting…..I thought foam would be harder…..none the less I think with a suitable crust of mixed filler and pva, it should be ok.

The larger of these two halves was soft in the middle and wet.   Maybe I was too keen… however, filling it with off cuts has fleshed it out a bit.



The escarpment seems to have done better.



Before I rush out to buy another can, I think I will concentrate on finishing these ones.  If they work, that’s three / two  good sized pieces of board scenery……let’s see…..


Edit:

So, a little contouring with off cuts of foam board for spills and sand collections against the cliff bases, then a bit like cake icing, a good mix of filler and pva which will take an age to dry, but should give a good solid crust.  Anyway, will give me time to work on the AK…..

[has.been]

Looking better David.

[Digits]

Cheers….waiting game now.   I suspect it will take a couple of days to fully harden before I can add sand etc.

[snitcythedog]

I suspect it will take a couple of days to fully harden before I can add sand etc.

Just a suggestion for your escarpments.  http://snitchythedog.blogspot.com/2016/07/realistic-sand-runnels-or-erosion.html  Did this years ago and they are still going strong. 

[Digits]

Cheers, I use that method a lot myself too…..but I’ve started by creating the stacked base with foam card and plaster….will save on sand and superglue then.   But flip or small runnels it will work perfectly well…good call.