FIW terrain

[mikedemana]

Hi everyone,

It's been awhile since I posted what I've been doing for my native American wars project.  Here are some shots of my 28mm Acheson Creations terrain.  They use a polyeurethane material that has a serious mold release agent on it.  My buddy Keith figured out a simple way past it: pop the pieces in the dishwasher and run the cycle!  Works great.

I spray paint the pieces with Krylon Fusion primer and add another coat of black brush on primer to make sure all the nooks and crannies are covered.  Then, I dry brush them.  They turn out great.

My Huron longhouse:




My palisade sections:


Fallen timber sections:


Campfire:


I like this Acheson stuff so much I loaded up on some more at Origins.  He didn't bring his longhouses, so ordered them from him and should see them in the mail in 2-3 weeks. 

Mike

[Dr. The Viking]

Brilliant!

Who, who ever heard the stories of the FIW as a kid, can deny the urge to make something of this ilk? 

[fergal]

Fantastic, I really like the way the Huron Longhouse turned out!  I have a bunch of birch bark that I have collected.  I'm planning on making a paper mache base and cutting the bark into 2 inch by 1 inch sections and plastering that on the outside with sticks for the "beams" but results like you have obtained with a simple drybrush make that seem excessive.

Please post the other models when you get them!

[mikedemana]

Fergal, I had thoughts of making my own, too.  However, after seeing how this turned out -- and how inexpensive the Acheson stuff is -- I dumped those plans.  At $15.50 for that longhouse, I am not sure if scratch building could be much cheaper.  Then when you consider the hours I'd have to put in, this was the obvious way to go for me!

Mike

[Aaron]

That does look good (especially with that nice paint job!) and the price is right. If I didn't have a couple of the Conquest ones I'd grab these for sure.

[Galland]

This sure looks good, very nice indeed. I got to ask you, what do you use for ground grass cover? Its a very nice matt green colour. Is it a special brand, or is it your technique?

[Barry S]

Nice work Mike.

[mikedemana]

I got to ask you, what do you use for ground grass cover? Its a very nice matt green colour. Is it a special brand, or is it your technique?

If you are referring to the flocked grass that the longhouse and other terrain sits on, that is straight "out of the box."  I use Woodland Scenics Blended Turf: Green Blend (T1349).  Those are actually acrylic one foot square tiles that I flocked.  I painted the tiles a tan color and then put white glue down and flocked them.  I really like that blended turf -- you can see several colors in it, so it gives it nice "depth."

They are heavy, so I don't carry them around for the casual game.  I mainly use them when I'm going to put on a game at a convention and want it to look extra special.  Of course, it is easy when I'm taking photos of miniatures to pull the top one off the stack and place the figures on it.

Mike

[Galland]

Ah, thank you for the run down of the stuff you used, much appreciated, since I really like how it looks. I got to check it out and order some and try it for my self.

[Galloping Major]

Nice 




www.gallopingmajorwargames.com

[Argonor]

Is that kind of house the type sometimes referred to as 'wigwam'?

Pardon my ignorance on these matters, but my knowledge of this period mainly comes from James Fennimore Cooper's books (un-illustrated)...

[mikedemana]

It is all a matter of size.  So, the answer is yes and no!

Wigwams were generally small domed houses built by Algonquian Indians, while longhouses were large domed houses built by the Iroquois.  Both were covered in birch bark.  Both tribes also built the "other" type, from time to time.  In general, though, wigwams or Algonquian and longhouses are Iroquois.

Here's a great simple website that explains it with text and pictures:
http://www.native-languages.org/houses.htm

In the meantime, I just finished up 4 more pieces of Acheson terrain, which I will likely take pictures of sometime over the weekend...so stay tuned!

Mike

[jscottbowman]

Fascinating comment on the wigwam construction. Birch bark? Who'd have guessed?
I had always assumed they were covered in animal skins, as per the 'cowboys and Indians' various movies.
Or am I getting cofused with 'tee-pees', or perhaps that what I am referring to is later period action?

[jscottbowman]

Campfire:

Nice work on the longhouses and terrain.
The only comment I may offer, I usually paint fire the other way round; start red at the bottom, work to orange and then yellow.

you can get the idea from my Balrog on my blog: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wmFXAo3yd0s/ST4sAs30yKI/AAAAAAAAAVY/r_OMBv_E7EE/s1600-h/Balrog+flames.JPG.

Otherwise greatstuff.

Plus I guess painting fire is subjective anyway!

[Argonor]

The only comment I may offer, I usually paint fire the other way round; start red at the bottom, work to orange and then yellow.

That's not really how a real campfire looks like. It is hottest, almost white at the centre, and the flames turn darker, more orange towards the edges. I also used to do it the other way around, until I saw some comments about it on a thread somewhere.

http://www.123rf.com/stock-photo/flame.html