Starting some Terrain (Spartan Scenics + TTCombat)

[Poseidal]

I ordered the Spartan starter, and it arrived yesterday. It was pretty heavy, and I'm thinking the crate I got to store the completed parts might not fit it all. I built a corridor and it actually was decently sized (could pass for a small building itself).



It tapers upwards so the roof of the corridor so it is larger on the bottom. Hopefully I'll get more done, then start painting them and blog them here! This is the first HDF terrain I've built, and I've heard you need to coat it first before painting as it absorbs paint a lot; is there anything specifically to keep in mind for that? It went together ok (at least this one); some were a tight fit, but I scraped it a bit with a craft knife if it looked like it wouldn't go in, and the PVA helped too.

One corridor down, another 3 straight corridors, a T junction, X junction, doors/gates and five rooms of various shapes to go. I think you get quite a lot for the price of the sets with these.

[VisOne]

I strongly suggest you think about painting before assembly or at least in sub assemblies will make your job allot easier my friend.

[chromedog]

That would appear to be the consensus of others who also got these (and also those who got the bughunt corridor kickstarter).

[Poseidal]

Noted. Sub-assemblies seem like a good idea for these anyway.

For airbrushing, should I be looking at some kind of car primer, or other sort of coating for HDF?

[chromedog]

I believe Tom Schadle recommends an ENAMEL spray (it DOES take longer to dry, but they protect the surface better and aren't as readily absorbed ) because of reduced swelling.

Water based paints tend to make the surface of mdf and HDF swell - which leads to issues down the track when you try to put bits together.

I used a white enamel matt primer for mine - and then airbrushed with my usual acrylic/iso mix (I thin with Isopropyl alcohol). Had no issues with the stuff I do have.

[dulydude]

paint before assembly...dang it, i've got a decent chunk of my stuff built!!!

[Poseidal]

paint before assembly...dang it, i've got a decent chunk of my stuff built!!!

Yeah, I generally prefer build then paint. With these, partial building is pretty straightforward, which I will do with the wall sections for the rooms. Access shouldn't be too difficult with a wall missing.

In terms of Primer, I'm looking for something like this? http://www.halfords.com/motoring/paints ... grey-500ml (this was car primer I was thinking of) I take it most 'hobby' primers are water based rather than enamel and thus won't cut it?

The airbrushing setup (Acrylic + Isopropyl thinner) is what I generally use as well anyway.

[Mob of Blondes]

The car primer you linked is acrylic. Water? Enamel? Ah! It just says acrylic.

You can also use shellac.

[ork56]

I've built the towers and corridor set, then painted it.

DEFINITELY paint it before assembly!

It did absorb a lot of paint from airbrushing or spray cans, regardless of treating with hair spray first. But using colour sprays rather than white (bolt gun metal, yellow, blue) did cover much better.

[Poseidal]

I think this was the one I was actually looking for: http://www.halfords.com/motoring/paints ... grey-300ml

How did the tower set turn out? What happened with painting it after construction (apart from the absorption)?

Also, the TT Combat kickstarter stuff arrived too, the generator, vending machines and some air conditioning. I'll try and get some photos once I get some made of those too.

[Poseidal]

Right, the TTCombat KS parts arrived so I made one small part and did a test paint of it:

[daktanis]

Picked up a few of these sets, look forward to seeing yours put together. Hope to get to mine soon.

[Poseidal]

Right, here's a work in progress picture (with an added minis for flavour):



I don't really have anything to photograph them in for display like the space box though, so I'll need to find a place or take photos when I take them to play.

[Arachas]

I tried painting before assembly with a bunch of Systema, but the MDF actually thickened a bit from the PVA glue and paint used. I had a harder time putting it together, than when I painted AFTER assembly.

And there's the fact that I need to see visual progress to stay motivated. If it costs me an extra spray can, so be it.

Awesome stuff, Poseidal! I hope to see more soon!

[Poseidal]

Here we go! Some more progress:


With some models and the Zhanshi Yisheng and the Celestial Guard taking pictures with their phone cameras. The Shaolin still didn't get his sodas.

I'm going to be finishing this initial coat (basic white + grey shading), then I will move to details on the panels and walls. The rust is a semi placeholder while it gets finished up before the detail. Possibly some glowing areas like on the generator on the left.

[Arachas]

Love it, love it, love it!

[daktanis]

I have this set in progress right now (I took a bunch of pictures and will share too). Overall very happy, Im dry fitting all of the building then painting in pieces. Im frustrated that Spartan said that the buildings could be put together all dry fit when the "T" sections, the "Cross" Sections and one of the weird shaped buildings has to be glued to stay together.

Overall though, very modular and looking forward to getting paint on them.

-dak

[Poseidal]

Closer up of the generator:



I gotta get some photos in action, and more scatter terrain.