* Hammers throws his hat into the ring...

[Hammers]

I could not resist the experiment so I airbrushed some vivid special effects explosion colours to the blast. I can't quite decide if it looks better. More colourful, to be sure, and slightly better in RL as these things tend to do.  What do you folks think? Should I keep it as is, tone it done a notch with a black and grey dusting or simply paint it back to the way it was?

[Furt]

I think it looks very effective and adds some color.

Before, I think, it could have been mistaken for a dark, oddly shaped tree - but not like this.

BOOM! 

[YPU]

I think some slight highlight on the highest tips in grey n black would look good.

[Hammers]

I think some slight highlight on the highest tips in grey n black would look good.

...of the coloured section, you mean?

[YPU]

Yes, I think it will enhance the idea that the fire is contained within a much larger explosion of smoke, as disuses earlier in the topic.

[Centaur_Seducer]

Its great that you've coloured it. Sure, it isn't "realistic", but it enhances the gameplay

[Hammers]

I have to say it looks much better IRL. Threedimnsionality makes a huge difference with this piece. It is tha same if you look at the pics in WHH Great War.

[Hammers]

 A few bits I will cram into the base, two blast victims. To the right a OG Pathan casualty striking a just-so attitude. To the left a modded Perry ACV plastic horse. I took the photo from the wrong angle, but it has trailing entrails and other little cute details, like exposed GW skeletal horse ribs.

[Malamute]

Nice, in a gruesome kind of way

I think the extra detail will really bring it to life.

[Lt. Hazel]

Thank you for this tutorial! I´ve always wondered how this is done. The "special effect" airbrushed in makes it outstanding!
Cheers
Jan

[Silent Invader]

Very effective.    I'd also wondered how this was achieved and so thanks for the inspiration. 

[SBRPearce]

So this goes down on the turn that the fire mission lands. Does it get replaced with a proper crater on the turn afterwards, or does the frozen explosion dominate the field for the rest of the game?

(I can imagine accesorizing this marker with a few "drifting smoke" markers that are lined up downwind of the crater, then removed on succeeding turns. Perhaps nastly yellow-green ones for the Gas shells the vile foe are flinging... Hmmm.

[Hammers]

So this goes down on the turn that the fire mission lands. Does it get replaced with a proper crater on the turn afterwards, or does the frozen explosion dominate the field for the rest of the game?

(I can imagine accesorizing this marker with a few "drifting smoke" markers that are lined up downwind of the crater, then removed on succeeding turns. Perhaps nastly yellow-green ones for the Gas shells the vile foe are flinging... Hmmm.

It's just a template. I imagine it will stay on the board for the duration of a turn.  On a Great War board, I imagine you could keep a few permanently on the board for ambiance. Of course you could replace it with a crater which could be played as difficult ground/cover but I see no great merit in doing that for my own board.

[dijit]

That's starting to look really nice I especially like the gruesome 'additions'.
Duncan

[Hammers]

Nice, in a gruesome kind of way

Thanks, Nick. I try to make it a bit of a Hammers trademark.