Fire and Ice – Experiments with the Golden Crackle Paste

[Peithetairos]

Dear all,

the last week I was experimenting a bit with thw Golden Crackle Paste. I used it specifically to depict a dry lake bed and to model ice floes on a frozen lake.

The first one is easy: Put on paste and let the cracks develope. For the floes the paste goes on as well, but then floes are removed where water is supposed to show.

All trees are made using copper wire for the finer ramifications. Not too bad, more resilient than sea moss, but maybe a tad too flexible.

Snow is made using bicarbonate of soda, water effect is either liquitex gloss varnish (dry lake0 or acrylic medium gloss (frozen lake).

Suggestions, comments and critique as always welcome. More pictures and more detailed information can be found on my Blog.

[snitcythedog]

Very nice effect.  I am liking both.  The only complaint that I might have would be that I think the water would be a darker blue or black. Not much of a complaint becasue your painted effect nailed it.  Great job.
Snitchy sends.

[Major_Gilbear]

Whilst I think the wash on the desert one looks a bit blotchy, the cracked effect is really excellent.

I think frozen one is easily the best of the pair for me though - the ice effect is superb! 

[OSHIROmodels]

I like them both although my preference is for the desert version 

cheers

James 

[FramFramson]

Agree with Jim. The desert patch looks great! Excellent water effect, ground, and trees.

[cacofold]

Really like the desert version. How's the durability? Will the sections flake off with wargame use? Also, did you mix paint with the paste, or put the paste down first and painted it?

[obsidian3d]

Those are top notch results. VERY impressive looking!

[Wirelizard]

I think I have to pick up a small pot of crackle paste when I get back to civilization!

The desert is especially good, but the ice works too, and winter scenery is a lot less common.

[Peithetairos]

Thank you for the comments so far:

@snitcythedog: I assume you refer to the frozen lake? I had a much darker blue first, but then added the whitish stripes to depict deeper layers of ice (or whatever produces these white stripes ). I could see that a darker centre would give an even more realistic impression, especially if the lake would be bigger.

@Major_Gilbear: Is the blotchy appearance to you all over the piece or only in some sections? The pigment I mixed in the wash had some bigger pieces in it which gave it a less subtle appearance. I did contemplate a drybrush with light sand colour, but also do not want to add too much contrast as this will make stuff look less realistic. Some of the colour differences are due to the different materials used. The sand takes paint and wash easily, while the paste comes out a tad lighter.

@cacofold: I appplied a top coat of acrylic medium. PVA works also like a spell. On foamboard, MDF and plolystyrene the crackle paste does not lift after the application. It will lift without. It can be played on without issues and the surface with the top coat seems resilient to normal gaming use. I did not mix paint with the paste, but gave it a spray of sand colour after it was fully dry, followed by a wash. I am not sure what will happen if you mix it with paint. It will affect the cracking, however, to soem extend.

@Wirelizard, @obsidian3d, @FramFramson, @jimbibbly: Thank you very much for your comments, much appreciated.

[warburton]

They look great. I have not heard of "crackle paste" before; I may have to try to find some.

[Mr Pommeroy]

Very well done, sir!

[Peithetairos]

Thank you! I came across the paste on the Terranscapes vlog and had a look in my local arts supply store. They should have some kind of paste, but it does seem results can vary quite a bit between products.

[Elk101]

Great effect ; I like both but the dry lake is my favorite. I imagine this would also work well for scifi landscapes etc.

[westwaller]

I think they both look great, it is hard to choose but I think that my favourite is the ice one but I have a bias towards snowscapes ever since I saw 'The Empire Strikes Back'!

I do really like the dry lake bed too. I think that you possibly have one clump too many around the puddle, Maybe a rock or two in the dry bed too might look good?

looking good though.