Jungle Scenery

[Overlord]

I was asked ( off forum) to describe how I make my jungle bases.  I figured it was worth posting it here incase anyone else was interested.


I use CDs/DVDs as bases as I can acquire duff ones from work. I PVA them to a sheet of thin (approx 10mm) polystyrene.
These are on a sheet from some packaging, but I have used ceiling tiles in the past aswell.


1. The bases are then cut out using a hotwire cutter (Mine is from GW and works fine). I then bevel the edges.
2. I then coat the top in PVA and sprinkle sand/grit/etc over it and let it dry completely.
3. Next I paint it in the base colour and once that dries, dry-brush in a lighter shade.
4. I paint irregular patches of PVA on and add Woodland Scenics flock, repeating with static grass.
5. I then add pieces of clump foliage and lichen.
6. Finally I add a variety of (mostly) aquarium plants.


A good mix of plants, varying in height, shape and colour helps to give a more realistic look.


1. To secure the plants I punch a small hole into the polystyrene.
2. I then select the plant required (2 peices on a single stalk, in this case).
3. A dab of PVA and push the plant into the hole.
4. This makes the plant pretty secure as it is "planted " into the base.

The finished item. If you wanted you could dry-brush the leaves to take some of the shine off, but I havent bothered so far.

[Arcticman]

Great looking stuff!

Thanks for a tutorial even I understand and can follow.
Djungle bases like that will come in very handy for my various procjects.

[twrchtrwyth]

Cheers for the run through.

[Sendak]

Marvelous work!

Very clear "how to".

I like your results.

Off to the 'floral' department.

[The Hooded Claw]

Very good. I have tried several CD techniques and will have to give this one a run, too. A very nice guide.

[Grimm]

Good Work it is exactly  how I do my Jungle only thing I would do is to Ink or brush the plastic plants.

cheers Grimm

[smirnoff]

Great tutorial. Sadly when went to the local DIY store and asked for 10mm thick poly ceiling tiles they looked at me funny like.
Seems they don't make them anymore as they cause toxic fumes when burning and drop horrid melty bits on the kids.
I did explain that I was making jungle with them and did not intend to set them alight but their expressions did not change.
Anyone know where I can get some?

[Overlord]

Hi Rodger

I haven't actually bought any for a long time, I have a tendancy to hoard potentially useful materials (rubbish?) as much as unpainted lead. 

A quick search around found these:

http://www.focusdiy.co.uk/Coving/300mm-x-300mm-Ceiling-Tiles-Stipple-Design/invt/264358

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/nav.jsp?isSearch=true&fh_search=ceiling+tile&selected=products

The stippled ones look the same as the ones I have used in the past, but as they get covered in sand it doesn't matter what pattern they have on them.  The descriptions give no thicknesses, but I would imagine this is a fairly standard thing.  Mine were 300mm square which you can fit 5 CDs onto.

Its quite possible that they are being phased out, for the reasons you gave, hence they might not be stocked in all stores.

[smirnoff]

Thanks very much. There is a Focus in my local town.

[opa wuttke]

I also used cd-rom as a base but covered it with a thin layer of dental plaster. But I only used these bases for trees. Your method seems more useful for smaller pieces and plants to fix...I´m going to try this out...

By the way your terrain looks beautiful !

[Gluteus Maximus]

Great tutorial. Sadly when went to the local DIY store and asked for 10mm thick poly ceiling tiles they looked at me funny like.
Seems they don't make them anymore as they cause toxic fumes when burning and drop horrid melty bits on the kids.
I did explain that I was making jungle with them and did not intend to set them alight but their expressions did not change.
Anyone know where I can get some?

Bizzarre! You just can't get any sense from some folk! 

[BigMecha]

very nice work!

very beautiful!