Ovidius Incertus Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 I know little about modelling clay. I have a fair number of large scenic bases to make for upcoming projects and I am seeking a way to create terrain features, mounds, craters, etc. on them. I've used GS in the past, but this can get really expensive when you're talking about Knight- or Titan-sized bases. Even if I use sprue as filler, still lots of expensive GS wasted. So are there any modelling clays that can fill the bill for cheaper? I know polymer clays can be hardened in an oven, but if they're attached to a base, won't that melt the base itself? I'm seeing temperatures of around 265 F/130 C. Will a plastic base survive those temperatures and/or give off toxic fumes? Wiki is telling me that polystyrene plastic melts around 460 F/240 C but "decomposes at a lower temperature". Suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother-Chaplain Kage Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Yeah, you don't want to put a plastic base in the oven. I'd check your local hobby stores for air drying clays, which you can usually get several pounds of for a low price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battle captain corpus Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Surely just use Milliput?.... BCC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother-Chaplain Kage Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Milliput isn't a whole lot cheaper than greenstuff and is nasty to work with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battle captain corpus Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 I guess the price is pretty equal yeah, though I've always found it easy to work with and great for sculpting 'rough work' that'll be textured etc. To use less moulding material I've found bulking out bases with bits of sprue and bases etc first then applying clay etc will help. There's quite a few air dry clays here in the UK, I agree with Brother Chaplain Kage definitely about going to your local hobby store for advice too. :) BCC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovidius Incertus Posted February 12, 2016 Author Share Posted February 12, 2016 I tried the used sprue...and still ended up using nearly a whole tube's worth of GS, unfortunately. I'll look into air drying clays. I figured there might be such a product and upon investigation, I should be able to get it at Michaels or even Walmart. Thanks for the advice, fratres. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedInventor Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 Check out Apoxie Sculpt, stuff works likea dream for what you are trying to do. It's relatively cheap too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamafore Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Hobby Lobby I know has air drying modeling clay in several different amount and all the colors of the rainbow, and then some. Seriously, I didn't even know they made clay in flourescent pink till I saw it. o.O Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovidius Incertus Posted February 14, 2016 Author Share Posted February 14, 2016 I picked up some Crayola brand air dry clay in white at Walmart. Huge tub for just over $5 (cheaper than the similar price I found on the same product at Michaels by an order of 4x). I'll give it a whirl on the two Knights' bases I'm dreaming up now. I suspect the cure time will be very long, though, since I'm sure it'll end up thick in some spots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teetengee Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 You could use the baking putty, you just need to not have any plastic pieces in it and bake before applying to the base.If you wanted, you could do most of it with that and just the surface with gs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW1 Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Build the features on baking parchment. Bang in the oven and once it's dried glue to the base? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cloud Runner Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 I use DAS which is an air drying clay - costs up to £8 for a half kilo slab and can be carved/drilled/filed once it's hardened as well as being pushed into shape before it goes off. I'm also using some scenic rock molds (about £9-£10 each) that I'm casting using plaster of Paris to add some scenic details. Once the clay has dried, add some textured paint, rocks, gravel etc to taste and then go to town with painting (once glues etc have dried) Haven't got any examples to show (at work and no pics taken anywhere) but it's what GW used to do back in RT & 2nd ed days so you should be able to find examples online somewhere. Hope that helps :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CommodusXIII Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 I recently used Liquitex modeling putty for my display board. I wouldn't go so far to call it sculptable, but it might be good enough for your purposes. It takes a while to cure if you use it in large amounts, so be prepared to wait a day or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obeliske Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 My wife used regular air drying modeling clay she picked up from our local dollerama to great effect making tyranid egg sacks and she's never done any sort of modeling before that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eldrick Shadowblade Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 this guy has some amazing tutorials. Also, sculpey with a pasta roller. use an exacto or paperclip to draw in designs bake in shapes etc. Feel free to check out my thread for the bases i made super cheap that look good imo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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