The guy asks about asteroids and planet modelling... that could be a thread...
My asteroids are bits of sponge that I dyed black, cut into chunky bits
(plucking with fingers made good 'pits') then drybrushed grey. They look
really good - although a good sneeze will clear an asteroid field from
the table!:)
How do you the rest of you folks do them?
> My asteroids are bits of sponge that I dyed black, cut into chunky
Lava rock used for landscaping around trees and shrubs.
Select a weird and interesting looking one from the thousands lying around
trees in my yard, drill hole, squirt in glue, instert stand...done.
Actually I do wash them first, glue in fender washers into the bottom cavity
of the base to make them more stable, and clear coat them so they don't leave
dust everywhere but you don't have to follow these steps if you don't want to.
The lava rocks used for gas grills are the same thing and the used ones
actually have some nice character too.
I use lava rocks (the kind you use for outdoor gas grills). They work great
and are quiet resistant to "sneeze" events during the game:)
Pete
> From: Colin Plummer <colin@imhotep.org.uk>
***
I use lava rocks (the kind you use for outdoor gas grills). They work great
and are quiet resistant to "sneeze" events during the game:)
***
I, too, was going to mention them, as they are porous, a sort 'foam' rock, so
much lighter than regular, though still heavy enough to stay in place.
***
and clear coat them so they don't leave dust everywhere but you don't have to
follow these steps if you don't want to.
***
I've seen paint jobs that do add to the effect; a little grey drybrush can
really make the pits stand out.
However, these ARE fairly abrasive; a nice clear coat seems to mitigate this,
and, I think, can actually save paint jobs and knuckle skin when in
close maneuvers. ;->=
Still, store/transport them separately from figs, if possible.
> At 08:00 AM 2001/06/15 +0100, you wrote:
Pumice works well. It's very light, but still heavy enough to stay put when
you sneeze.
For small asteroids, go to your local garden store and pick up a small bag of
decorative pumice stones. Drybrush them (or not) as you like. Glue them on
flat bases, or use flight bases. (I like to use steel bases and straightened
paperclips.) Paint the bases black. Spray on a good polyurethane gloss coat,
then a dull coat.
FWIW, placing small (up to 1/2 inch) ones on 10mm
or so steel bases (or washers) makes it easy to create an asteroid field. Or
just set out the bits of stone.
For large asteroids, you can use larger pieces of pumice. Or you can use
styrofoam; try this (but do it *outside*):
Take some styrofoam balls of the appropriate size. Alternately, tear off
irregular chunks of scrap styrofoam.
Spray the pieces with black primer; make sure it's *not* evenly applied. It
will randomly melt and pit the pieces. For more pitting, apply the primer more
heavily. (Don't use Krylon Living Colors primer; it won't melt them!) Turn the
pieces and spray to get all sides. (Putting them on skewers or sticks will
make this easier.)
Mount the pieces on wire posts on metal bases for
stability, and blu-tack the bases down on a piece
of cardboard.
Make up a 1:1 mix of white glue and black paint
(or, better yet, Payne's Gray, an almost-black
blue-gray), and thoroughly coat the balls.
After that dries (give it 24 hours), drybrush with other grays. Spray on a
good polyurethane gloss coat, then a dull coat.
I just gathered rocks out of the house landscaping.
-----
Brian Bell
On 18-Jun-01 at 07:05, Bell, Brian K (Contractor)