Help with Martian Red Weed

[Thunderchicken]

Hi all.

Any ideas on how I can get the effect of the Martian Red Weed similar to that shown in the pic below? In particular the bit where it has grown over the water pump.

I thought about melting plastic but apart from poisoning myself I'd probably melt what I was sticking it to! I'm intending to have it covering some ruined buildings, a bridge, some fences and trees.

Here's the pic:



Cheers.   

[Svennn]

teased out rubberised horse hair sprayed a suitable red colour? You could keep it seperate and drape it on the tabletop and scenery as it encroaches?

[Modhail]

That sounds like an absolutely ace project!

I think the closest you could get to that look is probably by dripping on red candle or seal wax. Don't know how "wargame proof" that will be though...
Or maybe caulking or thick plaster of paris dribbled onto the terrain before painting?
Either way, I'd try on some sacrificial pieces first.

[fastolfrus]

You can get coloured sticks for hot glue guns.
Hot glue comes out in gloopy lumps.
If they do a red you might be able to use that.

[alone_withmyaxe]

You can get coloured sticks for hot glue guns.
Hot glue comes out in gloopy lumps.
If they do a red you might be able to use that.

Like that, would have suggested hot glue for this too.

Maybe the lichen stuff and pva might also give you an interesting effect, or water effects stuff?

[Svennn]

Red coloured PVA?

or PVA on the horse hair to make it look more gloopy, I just think it needs to have a "weed" aspect to it which is admittedly not in the picture

[myincubliss]

Drip some superglue into some sand to make clumpy bits, then mix that and some red paint in with pva to make a mess that can be teased out as it dries (if you've the patience, that is).

Also, much love for the scan from the cd booklet!

[Cosmotiger]

Sculpt it out of Green Stuff and then paint it red?

[Donpimpom]

as far as i see the problem mixing red ink or paint on latex or any other plastic is the mix will turn it pink, and i would say you want to keep these dramatic red stains flowing around.
I will try to do the chubby surface using in the kind of modeling stuff you prefer (plaster, modeling putty, etc) then paint it white (or pale flesh), varnish or cover it with latex and then using a wet sponge do a wash with red ink or a non opaque red acrilic.

[Big Sexy]

If your trying to get the stringy bits that are hanging off the pump maybe try some liquid latex.  I'd test it first and experiment some.  When latex is dry its still tacky a bit.  I was thinking you could brush some on to some pieces and then once its dried, kind of tease and pluck bits here and there away without tearing it all the way off while giving it a little twist.  The latex will stick to itself and give you little tendrils....I think.  At least that is the way it is working in my head.  And then paint over that or even try some red ink?  Test it first.  I think it has ammonia in it so I don't know how that will react to painted terrain pieces.

[rob_the_robgoblin]

Just mix some plaster until it is quite thick.

I don't think liquid latex would work at all personally. It's very thin...

Unless you added thickener, quite a bit of it. Then it takes ages to dry.

[The Somnambulist]

 You could try using something like UHU glue, I used some to make cobwebs for a tomb entrance, I think it looks fairly convincing.



Apologies for the blurry picture.

[OSHIROmodels]

You could try two-part expanding foam, but I warn you, it's very messy and stinks to high heaven (masks recommended). The expanding bit of it is sometimes hard to control and would involve a lot of trial and error.

The other option is to sculpt it out of green stuff (only kidding   ).

or PVA on the horse hair to make it look more gloopy, I just think it needs to have a "weed" aspect to it which is admittedly not in the picture

This would give a look that's certainly closer to the description in the book and yet give you some impression of the image (the LP sleave images used to scare me shitless when I was a nipper   )

cheers

James

[Thunderchicken]

Blimey chaps, you've done me proud! Thanks for all the great ideas. I didnt think it was an easy job so there'll be a bit of trial and error. As Jimbibbly and Svennn have pointed out its the weed around the water pump in the pic I want to emulate as its more weedy rather than gloopy.

When I've finished the pub I'm building (not 1:1 scale I'm afraid) I'll get experimenting.

(the LP sleave images used to scare me shitless when I was a nipper   )

Some of the pics and parts of the album still give me the heebie jeebies. 

[chantyam]

Plastic plants for fish tanks? agian covered with PVA/water effects liquid with red ink or touch of paint -you get the effect of the CD pic but have the "weed" as a plant.