ROUND 4 What now doc? vs Bamboo Raiders

[Captain Blood]

?

[Tomsche]

Those wolf (puppies) ridrs are really characterful

[Faber]

  those bamboo raiders are amazing!

[Dr Mathias]

I like the setup of "What Now Doc?", as if he could figure a way out of that situation through reexamining his translation 

[LeadAsbestos]

Banner is genius!

[alone_withmyaxe]

Those raiders are amazing!

[Pil]

Agreed! Great work on all accounts! Figures, banner, great bamboo scenery and atmosphere, it's all there! The other entry is very cool as well though!

[Sheerluck Holmes]

How was the bamboo made?

[Dr Mathias]

Thanks for the comments all!

How was the bamboo made?

I've tried making it several ways, this batch is the best looking in my opinion- and not coincidentally, takes the longest.

I used heat shrink tubing, the smallest diameter I could find. I ended up getting it online. I think it is used in electronics applications to insulate wire.

1. Cut tubing to 12 inch lengths roughly
2. I used lengths of wire to suspend the tubes so I could spray paint them light green and light brown. I used Krylon 'Fusion' which supposedly bonds to plastic.
3. I sliced the tubes into several uniform lengths- 5in, 4in, 3in. etc.
4. I cut down lengths of floral wire to the same lengths. I'm not sure about the gauge, maybe 2mm diameter. Sorry to give metric and Imperial measurements- but that's how my brain functions  . I inserted the wires into the tubes, and used a heat gun to shrink them around the wire, leaving about 1/4 inch of the wire exposed, and about 1/4 tubing 'empty' (no wire at that spot). That extra wire is used to anchor the bamboo into the base.
5. There should be about 1/4 inch of tube that is hollow- the tubing I used shrinks down to abut half diameter, so it will still be a 'tube' rather than a 'rod'.
6.I found a plastic plant wreath at Hobby Lobby that looked about right at that scale, if it is turned upside down and trimmed. Honestly I don't know what real-life plant it is meant to represent. I inserted the plant into the hollow tube and glued it in place. Dead bamboo doesn't get a topper plant.
7. I painted a dark line where the bamboo segment would be, then a lighter version of the base color on each side of that to imply the ridge noting each segment.
8. After they are all made, I glued them into the base (masonite/hardboard or foamboard would work) with two-part epoxy.

It was quite time consuming, and my description is probably on the vague side- but if there is interest enough I could do a tutorial at some point.

[Raz]

Those raiders look awesome! As Pil said it's all there, excellent entry! Thanks for the information on how to build that bamboo, a tutorial sometime in the near future would be much appreciated!

Although the other entry is nice as well, the raiderssntached my vote

[Faber]

I would really appreciate a painting tutorial too! your raiders' skin is impressive. Love when a light palette gives such an intense result. Wich technique did you use for paintin those eyecandies? Best 4th round entry (at least in painting) for me.

[Sheerluck Holmes]

Thanks for the info on the bamboo... I will have to look around for the 'ingredients' so I can make my own.

[Argonor]

@ alone:
Nothing wrong with your painting skills; may I suggest, though, that you thin your paint a bit more before applying it? I would give a smoother surface (unless the 'rough' look is a result of a bad primer). Also a little more vigilance when removing mold lines would improve the final result tremendously (sometimes I have found it necessary to apply a little filler to get a particularly nasty one to disappear).

@ Dr:
Really nice bamboo - I've been looking for somthing to substitute for that vegetation for ages, as no manufacturer seems to bother making some scale bamboo. I don't think I'm going to make some myself, though - far too little time as is, already...
And marvellous paintjob, of course. Makes me consider, never to show any of my work in here again  (not that I have been for quite a while, as I've been on hold, hobby-wise, but I'm just about getting ready to break out some brushes for the Eastern vacation).

[alone_withmyaxe]

@ alone:
Nothing wrong with your painting skills; may I suggest, though, that you thin your paint a bit more before applying it? I would give a smoother surface (unless the 'rough' look is a result of a bad primer). Also a little more vigilance when removing mold lines would improve the final result tremendously (sometimes I have found it necessary to apply a little filler to get a particularly nasty one to disappear).

Thanks for the tips, these are some of my older models and, I hope, my painting is better now. I am much more vigilant with my mold lines as well. I wanted to have a different set of models for the round and buy me a bit more time for round 5. But I would have been out classed by whatever I put up against the good Dr!
 

[Argonor]

But I would have been out classed by whatever I put up against the good Dr!

Most of us would. That one is nifty.