5 replies to this topic

[GunnyJ]

1.  The first step I want to cover are the materials used to complete the hedgerows.  I have included a list of the materials, and where I purchased them to make it easy for you to duplicate.

(3) 1/8” X 2”X 36” balsa wood strips                Michael’s
(2) bags of colored stones (2 shades)              Michael’s
(2) bags of green dry moss (2 shades)            Michael’s
Tribond white glue                                          Lowe’s
Black and Decker glue gun                              Lowe’s
Saw                                                              Lowe’s
Sandpaper (medium grade)                            Lowe’s
Spackling compound                                       Lowe’s
Woodland Scenics Green Foliage                      Game Empire
Woodland Scenics Dark Green Foliage              Game Empire
Vallejo Flat Earth paint                                    Game Empire
Vallejo US Tan Earth paint                               Game Empire
Cat litter                                                        Any grocer or pet store
Tooth picks                                                    Any grocer
Fake credit cards                                            Mail advertisements
Super glue                                                     Lowe’s


2.  The first step I took in crafting the hedgerows was to cut the balsa wood into 2”X6” or 1”X6” (my preference) strips.  I also did some 1”X2” strips to consider the rules on “gapping” hedgerows, which results in a 2” space that will be open for movement.

3.  Then, I took my sandpaper and sanded the edges to grade them down to the table edge.  I personally used an electric sander, but sandpaper will do the job.

4.  Next, I put a modest layer of wood glue down the length of the wood strips and then place the colored stones in the glue.  Leave room on the edges to lay spackling compound and cat liter for a dirt look later on.  Make sure you let the glue completely dry, and it takes awhile.  Otherwise, the rocks will slide around on you, if you try and do anything else to it.

5.  Next, I put another layer of glue on top of the colored stones, and I put down a second layer of colored stones.  Again, make sure you let the glue completely dry.

6.  Then, I used the spackling compound to fill in the gaps at the base of the stones and then dipped them in cat litter.  I also slightly pressed the cat litter into the spackling compound to make sure they stick.  It has a tendency to fall off, once the spackle dries out.  The litter will give the ground a rougher look, which will be easier to highlight when we dry brush it later on.

7.  Now, in between the drying phase, you can save some time by prepping the hedge pieces and placing them in piles for applying later.

8.  After the wood glue dries out and the stones are set, plug in the glue gun.  When the glue gun starts dripping glue, it is ready.  Place adequate amounts of glue down one hedge at a time.  The glue dries remarkably fast, so be quick in placing glue and applying the hedge pieces.  I recommend alternating hedge pieces by different shades of green.  It has a better appearance and doesn’t look like a big clump of fake foliage.

9.  After all the hedges are added to the stones, it is time to start painting the ground.  The reason why I waited until now is because the glue from the glue gun sometimes runs down to the base.  So, now you can just paint over it, if this has happened to you as well.  Paint the base ground with the Vallejo Flat Earth.  Then dry brush with Vallejo US Tan Earth. You could do an additional dry brush shade with a lighter dirt color, but I felt two shades were enough for me.

10.  Now, some additional steps you can take to add more appeal are to add some flowers, static grass, fences, gapped hedges, etc.  In the example below, I have added a gapped hedge, which I merely painted the ground and hedges with a black ink wash and some fences.  I made the fences with fake credit cards and toothpicks, and then I just painted them with Tamiya Red Brown.

[BigTom]

Thats awesome - you'll be set for the next few battlefront books cuz they all center around Normandy.

[DaveH]

Hey guys...where are the images for this thread??

Dave

[GunnyJ]

DaveH, on May 6 2009, 07:02 PM, said:

Hey guys...where are the images for this thread??

Dave

Because this wacky forum won't let me attach anything in it anymore.  I will put together the tutorial (with images) in MS Word and send it anyone interested.

Brian

[Curiouskender]

GunnyJ, on May 22 2009, 08:29 AM, said:

Because this wacky forum won't let me attach anything in it anymore.  I will put together the tutorial (with images) in MS Word and send it anyone interested.

Brian

  I would be interested

Alex

[GunnyJ]

Curiouskender, on May 22 2009, 01:49 PM, said:

I would be interested

Alex

Great!  I will try and get this too you this weekend.  By the way, I have a ton of extra stones that I used to make these hedgerows, if you are interested.  I have enough hedgrows and will probably never make them again.  I really like they way they turned out, though.  

Brian