Building a HUGE Desert Diorama for D&D, Warhammer

[@WylochsArmory]

Supremely entertaining.

[@wouldntyouliketoknow5064]

11:04 Absolutely savage

[@robbalke6535]

i love the way you say “good”

[@BardsCraft]

that is good :)

[@lmnopopsicle]

Why is this comment on all of his videos? Lol

[@robbalke6535]

@@lmnopopsicle because it’s good

[@inbredbanana8156]

Dude same

[@ScratchBashing]

Baking soda in paint is one of the best ways to get a scale-appropriate earth texture. Nice work!

[@Carpetcleanerman]

By far the most inspiring crafting channel in my list. And definetely the funniest. Thank you for creating such high level content. Always always entertaining. Have a good weekend!!!

[@QuJee]

6:55 I see you are a fan of Bob Ross "There are no mistakes, just happy accidents"

[@Bolshevik1973]

Not sure if you will see this comment, but wow. This is an amazing piece you made. Very inspiring. It looks so much more natural than cast or molded plastic/resin. I can picture an ancient culture hand chiseling the stone pillars, as they are not all exact and symmetrical. You did an amazing job on this! You should be proud of your work. And the “imperfections” you found, I believe they add a certain natural characteristic to the landscape. This is so inspiring! I am wanting to make a large map for my Warhammer40k Dark Angel army. I subscribed and will follow. Thank you for sharing this tutorial. You are an amazing artist, my friend!

[@AzraelThanatos]

For your texture on cardboard, you can make the texture far more easily and with a more consistent look by going to the dollar store and getting some of their cheap sand paper and putting a layer over the cardboard for the pillars. It cuts and glues quite well, and takes paint while giving a more consistent look in the end...as a side note, the larger sand paper option is actually something that works pretty well for a full desert wargaming board, my brother and I did one like that back when I was in Jr High for GorkaMorka with just a reinforced 4'x6' piece of plywood (using 2'x2' across the bottom to reinforce), then using sandpaper rolls from the business areas from the larger hardware stores to cover it, along with some wood glue and sand to help hide the seams. Then sprayed it black and started with a terra cotta red and worked up to a pale tan for it. Still have the table put away... Also, you may want to do a bit more to reinforce your layers because hot glue can get ripped if you end up using it in games like that. Something like toothpicks embedded between the layers is something you really want to consider because it adds other grip options.

[@joshmercer8980]

I LOVE this sand dunes! How they are high enough to be used as proper cover, nice job!

[@oliverizzard8751]

Absolutely agree on the minerals!

[@sirkaeru]

Sand texture looks nice next to the sandstone

[@BardsCraft]

Thanks!

[@D1gital-ZER0]

Holy Crow, Bard, this is amazing!! I love your grass tuft idea and can't wait for that video. But this piece is just so amazing, man. I'm going to use a lot of the techniques from the Elven Temple build to make a big church for Warhammer terrain. Keep up your epic crafts!

[@Wallach_a]

That you don’t think these builds through simply makes them more fantastic. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@jagelsdorf1385]

I love the pillars, they give a certain mysticism to the build!

[@edwardmckenna2328]

I like your videos and really love your "can do it" spirit! You are a one of a kind.

[@thecraftingbrothers9448]

Great video. You continue to motivate us to keep crafting

[@devynburley430]

Awesome job man, you've studied the blade well

[@JesterArkeHoMW]

Glad to hear someone mentioning expanding foam! It seems a lot of makers don't like to use it but I've always liked it.

[@mattwood7256]

If you use hot glue blobs to create the grass base on baking paper then add the tufts of grass onto them, I've found that they lift off very easily while the hot glue allows you some freedom of movement before it dries the grass in place. Liked your videos so far too.

[@randykowal3397]

I’m so happy your channel found its way into my list of people that inspire me. I’m so glad I have notifications on And was able to see this video. I’ll always watch your stuff and I can’t wait to see what you come up with next. Excellent video!

[@earthmanbrick]

Good Vid, man. Glad you took my advice & made some textured paint. The tufts ar excellent Never be afraid to pin your structures, rocks & Pillars - some cocktail sticks will do the trick or paperclips. It'll strengthen the bond. As for sand flocking, you know you can just use the sand directly? No need to paint it at all & you'll get some really fine textures - best way is to acquire an entire sack on the cheap, is to order, 'Play pit sand' It'll only cost you a few bucks but it'll be perfectly fine (as opposed to coarse sand). Leave it out to dry (or pop in the oven if you're impatient) & it's ready for flocking. Also, if you're looking to protect your tufts then hairspray will do the trick & you can protect the terrain/flock with a nice coat of PVA

[@idunparks9971]

Ok, I’ve seen almost all of your videos and I really like them. I’m officially a fan now and as a fan, I challenge you. I, Sir Joseph, challenge you to create a sinister, terrifying terrain model for your game. A challenge to make, (drum roll) Menzoberranzen!! After all, a game without drow, mindflayers and dryders is like having a forest with no trees! You’ll get 10,000 exp for this build.

[@BardsCraft]

City of Spiders eh? I would definitely find use to something like that, perhaps I'll come up with something. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@sgt-slag]

Get some urethane-stain from a DIY store, or a hardware store. If you can locate a dark brown, or black color of urethane-stain, paint it on, with a throw-away brush (if oil-based). It will accumulate in the recesses, hardening into a nice thin coat of urethane. My preferred product is Minwax Polyshades Royal Walnut (dirty, dark brown) or Tudor (black wash). It is fast, easy, and effective. The oil-based versions will dissolve exposed foam, so be sure to cover it with paint, or other water-based sealant, first. Cheers!

[@jesperpetersen6105]

This was amazing, I would recommend trying to use a silver paint when you highlight gold

[@Bolshevik1973]

Being that it is in the desert, and I have not done one of these yet, what about a “copper” color? Given that the reflection of the desert sand may have a “golden” reflection. Possibly copper near the bases and a silverish color as you move up? I use Citadel paints and there is a wide variety of silver, gold, and copper hues. Thoughts?

[@kosachilles2504]

This looks great and I love the home made grass

[@TheGustavoBorba]

man, I just LOVE this idea of yours that is the sand texture paste, it's incredibly cheap and it gives the diorama an incredible effect.

[@kimjensen4977]

The stones look amazing! Some of the best - if not the best - I've ever seen!

[@merlinsmonkey2001]

Wow wow wow! Brilliant!

[@hannesgranberg3482]

Woooow i Love this diorama 😍 here for some inspo as I'm gonna try and make my Bayek figurine from Assassin's creed s part of a dessert themed diorama. Thank you so much for this! ❤️

[@RM-vw3ov]

Looking forward to grass tufts 101 episode👍😜❤️

[@emilflognoid1532]

Maybe your best work yet! Really good video

[@eldanyto5537]

Smashed the like button, like always. Keep up! We all love your videos

[@LemonsArtNStuff]

The tufts are amazing !!! Ill have to do it for sure !

[@10urion]

Hope you found a good place to store this awesome piece

[@meatKog]

BTW, use a fan (high setting) on the floor to direct foan chips into a corner.

[@jacobhope6164]

Wow! That diorama looks great! I really like the sand texture. Thanks for sharing your process.

[@MKempICI]

First, my tuft process. Second, where to get some very cheap and effective fibers for tufts. The Process: 1) Get some parchment paper, some tweezers, your fibers, a hot glue gun and glue. 2) Cut your fibers to a variety of different lengths so the tuft will look more natural, Grab a tuft's worth of fibers with the tweezers, 3) Put a small dot of hot glue on the parchment paper, and stick the fibers into it. Hold for 2-3 secs until the fibers stay upright when released. Tap the top of the tuft gently, to spread the fibers out up top. Trim any stray hairs that look funny/stand out. 4) Spray paint or airbrush the tufts any shade you would like. 5) Attach the tufts to your boards/bases by placing a small, very hot dot of hot glue, and press your tuft down into this dot immediately. The heat from the glue will re-melt the tuft glue, and blend it in seamlessly. Cheap and Effective Fiber Sources: - The bristles of old paint brushes. They take paint just like they were designed to do so. - Unwound twine in its many forms. Plumbers twine gives you a different fiber size and texture than hemp twine or kitchen twine. - Shoe polishing/buffing brushes. Sold at most dollar stores. These brushes are designed to paint with polish, so they take paint very easily. The fibers are packed very densely, so they are easiest to remove with many small cuts rather than a few big ones. - Buy some fake fur from the craft store, and shave it off with an electric razor. Most fabric/craft stores will sell you fake fur in very small sizes. I use an airbrush or spray paint for this fur, rather than a brush. You might be able to paint it using a wash in a spray bottle, but I have never attempted this.

[@VarikasPL]

Epic and quite simple, awesome!

[@MarsKng]

You continue to put out some of the best craft projects out there. Keep up the fantastic work and thanks for all the ideas.

[@Intro2Love]

nice diorama👍

[@thorgoan]

Man you are improving a lot every video, keep it up!

[@lodunost]

This is so cool, I would really love to play this place in my campaign.

[@madiskruusmann302]

It is a very easy diorama, but i think it s the best of yours

[@alonsoibarra8154]

I love the result

[@colinroberts3409]

Big fan of your approach, great work!

[@kylehwilliams]

Good job dude. Looks great.

[@MirrooCamilo]

awsome, simple and beautyfull as always - so inspiring!

[@3DPlasticFantasy]

The desert terrain is really fantastic. I can already imagine some nice campaigns you could play there. 14:22 That looks like my cat's hairballs 14:20 😂

[@conanthebarbarian4996]

Well done my friend. I will use these grass tufts!

[@raroo296]

Love your craft bard!

[@modelsfromscratch]

I'm thirsty just looking at that build - desert, my favourite. Maybe just the inspiration I need once I stop this endless phase mini painting!,

[@CrankyPantss]

That desert terrain and temple area looks awesome, Mr. Bard. I still think you're being too hard on yourself regarding the temple. I think the temple looks very cool, too. When you zoom the camera in or look at a building up close, you might be able to find "imperfections" if you're looking for them, but I don't think that perfection is as important as fun, though. Your stuff ALWAYS has a fun look to it. I hope you find more projects that you enjoy making. I suspect that you wouldn't be as critical of your stuff if you started having fun making them again. Great job and thanks for sharing it with us.

[@donblack1571]

Looks awesome I know I really know you did a whole lotta work and you are appreciated. A

[@Gamarishi]

I like how you are experimental in your crafts, keep with the good work, man!

[@fantasticthriftyfox]

Another solid video! Keep them coming! Thanks again for sharing your work and techniques.

[@coalitionofrob436]

Messy???? That temple was magnificent!

[@philRminiatures]

Another inspired and gorgeous work...Relaisitc and splendid terrain!👍👍

[@BardsCraft]

I hope the use of black wash doesn't get me censured

[@jagelsdorf1385]

Well, a white wash is the REALLY problematic one

[@aidenmcmullen4351]

please make a video on nine hells terrian!

[@jakeeck]

@@jagelsdorf1385 I disagree. They are both just as problematic.

[@FUCKUTUBEFUCKGPLUS]

I laughed out loud at that joke. It's fun because it's unexpected! I appreciated it.

[@BBasiliscus]

How could you say something so controversial yet so brave?

[@Regit88]

We need some terrain for fireground :) for elementals and fenix :)

[@stevesmith5963]

Wow! Another great job! Keep it up, Please!

[@camronsavell]

For getting in between higher terrain areas, would a modified potato peeler help? Something that can be bent into a D shape or made into sharper angles to scrape out foam. I think it would make for some great cutting sounds as well. Keep up the amazing videos!

[@andrewlaverghetta715]

I'm curious what you do about movement. For example, much of the terrain that is "mass" produced and can be bought has bits of detail on it to mark a 1-inch grid. I see other builds that have floor tiles, but ones like this one don't seem to have a grid outside of the temple. Do you ever mark an obvious, or not-so-obvious grid on some of these kinds of builds? Do you feel it takes away from the scene too much? To me, a diorama feels like it's just meant to look nice and not play with though, so that might be the point?

[@BardsCraft]

I have always used a ruler for measuring movement and attack ranges.

[@APFC95]

I think the roof shape doesn't really fit with the desert theme, unless it wasn't a desert when the cathedral was built and just became a desert later. Everything else amazing job dude!!!! Wow

[@fehnryrnovak7544]

is there a recipe for the dessert texture paste? how much of each thing?

[@brainliberius9530]

Your awesome. Love your style.

[@BBasiliscus]

I'm loving this video, excellent little showcase of desert terrain. Thanks so much for the tip on mixing paint and baking soda to create a sort of rough texturable plaster! That's going to come in VERY handy when I start converting molded fiber packaging inserts into adobe buildings for my own Dark Sun and Star Wars themed craft projects! I thought I was going to have to go through SO many cans of Spackle. (P.S. there's a project idea for you. No charge.)

[@damjan4435]

Tip: Dip the pillars in baking soda and softly tap them on the edge, this is to keep your table clean and not waste materials

[@DestinationsChronicles]

ROFL! I can so relate to cleaning all the foam bits off the floor!!

[@edwardcote2440]

You could put sawdust or dust from gravel in the sand paste if you have it.

[@joeycoolproductions3173]

great video as always !

[@HumorlessMilk]

Love this video! Those tufts are an awesome idea. Have you thought of using spray can or dipping into a home made wash/pva glue mix for colouring them?

[@BardsCraft]

I have just painted with home made washes

[@Peaveygrinderr]

More! I need more! New video NOW!

[@BardsCraft]

Wait 5 hours :)

[@terrain-hardy]

Really really awesome work .... great build Maybe it's time for a new "Crafting a Miniature Pyramid for D&D" video, but this time made out of cardboard and with bakingpowder texture ... Please !! .... please !! ...I beg you ... please make more Desert terrain vids ;-)))) Many thanks for showing and please keep up the good work.

[@kenlipson8686]

That is awesome, man!!!

[@rafiqkatana]

I love your videos, they're always good and interesting. And your editing is great. Thanks for sharing.

[@ruep3lover]

Amazing! Honestly I was going to do a dune terrain for my next campaign and didn’t know how to do it, boom 💥 you made this video!!! Like you read my mind! Thank you 🙏 love it can’t wait to make mine!!! Keep it up love your stuff!!!!!

[@galosanchez-bermejoenrique3513]

Awesome build, and amazing content

[@joshmercer8980]

This video is awesome

[@professorludico]

Fantastic!

[@crystalclearchaos5387]

if you want better tufts try inks and dyes or airbrush them

[@rogerbetancourt257]

there where black guard of nagorth there and some tome kings too

[@amaurymeteyer1190]

nice like always! you should have put just a few floaking around the pillars and rocks would have been perfet!

[@srensolevad7370]

It's interesting (and a little frustrating) how much difference there seems to be with xps foam. I have just recently (after long time searching) discovered a place to purchase xps locally, but it seems to be a lot denser than what I see you and Jeremy from Black Magic Craft using. There is no way I can cut through large chunks of it the way you do in the beginning of the video - and yes, my knives are very sharp :D My XPS is blue from a company called Ravago. Anyway, super nice build man!

[@tiny-grimes]

You need to ask your local store where you purchased your XPS for what purposes it is used. Your XPS could've been designed to resist heavy objects (either for flooring or roofs). I think Lukas used XPS foam that is meant for the walls

[@MacAttack001]

Ravago did buy up Dow's European XPS business, so you are probably getting the same sort of Dow Blueboard insulation we get in the US and Canada. If you use 1-inch (aka 25mm) thick sheets of Dow XPS foam you should be able to cut through that easier (although I would still suggest a hotwire cutter). Hot Wire Foam Factory sells a Spray-on Foam Glue and Foam Fusion that are able to be cut with a hotwire cutter after they have set, something that PVA and to a lesser extent hot glue prove problematic with.

[@srensolevad7370]

@@tiny-grimes that would make sense, that the xps I use is meant for heavier loads. It surely does seem more sturdy than what is shown in Lukas' vids :-)

[@srensolevad7370]

@@MacAttack001 The foam I've purchased for now is quite thick - almost 2 inches. I'll definately buy some thinner pieces soon. And as for the hot-wire table, I ordered one yesterday. Hobbyknives simply didn't work well enough. Thanks for the shared tips, especially with the glue - that will come in handy! :-)

[@RachidElatyaoui-d3s]

You are vert exceptionnel

[@DRK-hz5ck]

Is nobody gonna talk about how he was painting on his couch

[@xN1X0Nx]

11:06 based

[@belas.1231]

Greetings from Germany! Nice content! The diorama looks awesome! PS: take care and stay safe from Corona!

[@nowthisnamestaken]

"Press like to agree" Like has been pressed.

[@patrickbateman3626]

Those tufts were not peasant lvl, I thought they looked pretty good maybe needed some darker wash at the base. love the videos!

[@Bolshevik1973]

Also, would one of those “hot knives” work on this foam as well?

[@oddlouli]

11:05 wild

[@Wattouloo]

looking good fam RAWR XD

[@jionvieira6251]

CuSO4 ("sulfato de cobre" in portuguese) is blue like the paint on the rocks, so you can say is it.

[@jionvieira6251]

May also have some history about who lives there use the copper to make something or to sell to other nations

[@sedeslav]

make cardboard pillars with toillet paper covered with PVA glue and wrapped it loosely around pillars. you will be surprised with results! :)

[@winterdhamers1887]

awesome

[@ritinkornas5336]

Looks great ! You should just make some sort of altar or runes on the ground for the temple-less version ! :) PS: Anyway in Switzerland who know where to find some XPS foam ? Done most of the regular DIY shops around with no success :(

[@fjalarhenriksson]

i make black/dark desert so this is kinda interesting

[@brysonlyons9466]

can you use sand flocking instead of the paste?

[@peterstec3118]

Those pillars, maybe them better look when their connection with ground hasn't visible gaps. Could you partially sink them into "sand"?

[@BardsCraft]

Yes, this was my plan but I could not make the pillars in time. It would be best to sink them into the sand paste. I tried to cover the worst gaps with the tufts so it's quite good :)

[@Leb3s]

the user HeavilyBearded on reddit found a nice technique to make sand dunes on his tallarn bases, he used a comb and combed the texture on the base. Created a very good sand dune look! Would be interesing to use it on a larger piece of terrain like this one :)