How to Make Scenic Tree Bases for Tabletop Gaming

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Thanks to all my amazing supporters on Patreon for helping to make these videos possible! If you'd like to join in you can do so here: bit.ly/JoinTheBMC_Fellowship

[@Winther83]

You could try and mix in some Ethanol (alcohol) to speed up the drying time of the home made stuff it shouldn't effect the rest to much. :)

[@ganjiuana]

No thanks

[@caidentimothy9691]

You prolly dont give a shit but if you guys are bored like me during the covid times then you can watch pretty much all the latest movies on InstaFlixxer. I've been binge watching with my girlfriend recently =)

[@byronellis7503]

@Caiden Timothy definitely, been using InstaFlixxer for since december myself =)

[@Papahoodoo]

If your going to use alot of Cheap Craft paint in your airbrush (Applebarrel,Folkart) etc. Use a mix of 50/50 Distilled water and 90%+ Isopropyl alcohol then add in a few drops of Glycerin. This thins the paint and helps it flow smoother. Then just add a few drops of it to your paint. You will see a huge improvement in paint flow and performance. Been using this thinner for years in my Iwatas. Never had any issues. And if you want to make a great airbrush cleaner with it. Skip the Glycerin and mix in equal parts of the 50/50 (water,iso) and Windshield washer fluid. You'll never touch those over priced thinners/flow improvers or cleaners again. Plus with being new and experimenting with paints and your brush it'll save you a ton of money.

[@TheDungeonMattster]

I absolutely love how you leave your mistakes in your videos! Always be learning brotha!

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

That’s the best part!

[@MrBlack0950]

They aren't mistakes, they are suprise features. A cut in the wrong place can add character and story to a simple build. A less than ideal decision can lead to an interesting texture

[@UnvarnishedTarnished]

tip for anyone using tea, he mention he used un-used tea which is perfect for 9/10 things but if you ever want variation, use the tea bag(like make tea) and then open the bag and let the contents dry out on some parchment and you'll have different textures and sizes since most tea expands when added to water.

[@ericellis6623]

Watching the transition in realism and look from base coat through the wash is just stunning. It's amazing just how much a simple dark wash adds to the depth of a piece. Very nice.

[@thomassparkles9674]

I have never build anything, painted a mini, played d&d or other tabletop games but your videos are very entertaining to watch!

[@agamerspov]

I love that you're not afraid to say you messed up. I saw you dump the pencil shavings in and thought that looks off a bit that and sure enough you said it was a bad call. Great looking bases!

[@legitimatefarms7678]

I just ordered 40 trees from Amazon. Perfect!

[@LbabeT]

I don’t play table top games and quite honestly I probably never will, but I love watching your tutorials. It’s so awesome to watch how you create things out of next to nothing. Thank you for making these videos.

[@redmist1122]

Very nice! A simple and effective way to get your bases looking good. Thanks for sharing the series on these trees.

[@ShadowDrakken]

This is one of your best looking builds yet. Keep em coming! :D

[@dkbibi]

That piece at 9:05 looks like imperial star destroyer 😂

[@fuegomylego6279]

You take my passion for DnD and the entertainment of craft videos and combine them into one of my favorite channels. Keep on rocking man

[@HeleentheArcane]

Oooh God i do *not* like that profile pic.

[@VikingFyre]

You didn’t like that curly effect? I’m surprised, it ended up looking like small roots and parasitic plant life that greatly accentuated the bases. Really amazing

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

I think because they are flat and wide it looks a bit strange. At least in this project.

[@zerakielvmark]

Black Magic Craft it actualy looks alot like the ground in the rainforest where I'm from. If I'm gonna try this I'm probably gonna try to make it finer and add it as a last layer.

[@krylissnorwind7528]

@@BlackMagicCraftOfficial I would consider that a good thing. I've got lots of trees around my house and when I have to mow, I always have to pick up large strips of bark that fall off of the trees. These builds look amazing.

[@AwkwardlySatisfying]

I actually really like the pencil shavings. The uniqueness of the wilderness really pulls me in. Every forest seems to have its own quirks and character, and this is excitingly fantastical!

[@vienslatelier]

Man-o-man did I learn a ton doing this second portion. Making the bases for the trees was way more than I had anticipated. There were a couple of times I was wondering if this was worth doing. The end product.... HELL YES IT IS. I learned how to use a scroll saw and belt sander while working on this. I am not fond of the scroll saw and managed to snap a blade. Thankfully my husband was very encouraging and stepped in to help teach me about the tool. The belt sander and I are good friends. Love that tool. Mind you I don't ever use power tools, so this was a huge jump for me. Prepping the base material was an interesting experience as well, and I got rid of a bunch of old tea from the cabinet. I would suggest if you are taking on this project, just know it is a longer one. And, that's OK. It's totally worth the experience. I learned A LOT!!!!! And got some cool terrain for my effort. Beyond this I will use the techniques to convert a kids castle into ruined castle terrain. Thank you for the experience, as now I feel much more confident taking that project on after completing this one!

[@AlexBabcock-hw9iz]

These came out looking really nice. 2 things that might make builds like this easier next time. Use a fan and a small heater to blow on the project to dry material. Can also put the oven on low and dry out that way. With the airbrush if you take off the cap and spray that way it'll clog up a lot less. Just be careful not to run the exposed needle tip into anything and bend it. Also a small sponge damp with Windex and hit the tip every little bit is great for avoiding clogs.

[@forgefather]

Looks awesome, well done, i use foam core board from the dollar store, after putting on mod podge or joint compound on the base it is strong enough to place trees on the base as well, likewise i use herbs for ground texturing those i get cheap from discount food stores just look what might look good for ground terrain and i mix a few together to get various looks. Thank you for all the great work you do, i truly enjoy watching the videos :)

[@frankling.robertsiii6811]

Awesome follow up to last week’s tutorial. I’ll be returning to this tutorial for your ground cover paste recipe

[@1of2shoes]

Great project. I love the result!

[@kurtkyre]

I just started re-basing my trees using this method, and I used sawdust and some fine talus. Looks pretty good so far

[@beeezlebub]

These turned out super cool!!! Fantastic conversion.

[@dkbibi]

That fright when you realise this camera went trough billions of wood dust particle. The show must go on!

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Yea, that really sucked actually. Especially because it was my new camera I just got a few weeks ago 😬

[@darcyvandelaar6200]

​@@BlackMagicCraftOfficial is it possible to buy a clear acrylic box or something to house the camera in while doing messier jobs?

[@jonaslongmusic9539]

Awesome work! Actually super thrilled to try this stuff when my day off rolls around 😁

[@WylochsArmory]

Rockin

[@HerooftheTable]

Good tip on spreading water on the MDF. I'll try that in the future. Good stuff.

[@kevinhendriksjeuh]

Man these look absolutely great! Wow!

[@marshallsonsteby3862]

This is inspiring my quarantine craft time. Love all the BLM videos.

[@damieneifer]

Holy Christmas, I definitely steal this rock creating method, AWESOME! also your final result (stunning!) reminds me of podzol

[@krylissnorwind7528]

For an added immersion bonus, spritz the trees with a little pine scent before playing.

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

I know that’s probably a joke, but it’s actually kind of a cool idea. Might be fun.

[@krylissnorwind7528]

@@BlackMagicCraftOfficial Nope, I was serious. After watching this video, I went out back for a smoke. I've got two pine trees right outside and I thought of the scent.

[@alrethianscraftsbattles]

It is amazing that when i am working on something and not even a few days later a video pops up with the exact thing i'm brainstorming about :D, thx for the video!

[@jeremydailey]

LEGIT BRO! We are kindred spirits I swear, I am literally doing exactly this. The only thing different is the base, I used some masonite I had lying around, but totally cut it up and beveled the edges with a power sander haha. Great work!

[@whilehobbying]

Look fantastic, well done!

[@aaroncwiklinski8736]

Damn man, these are sick. I've been wondering how to make an entire forest.

[@Nedla]

I picked a bag of these up from Sears for half off. They look awesome flocked! Thank you for the videos.

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Sears? Aren’t they all dead? They have been for a while up here.

[@Nedla]

Almost, there's still one alive in the Mall of Louisiana, but Malls seem to be dying out too.

[@brianhester1996]

Great video, explaining what works and especially what didn't meet your expectations.

[@joelflowers4702]

Nice one mate they look cool, Have a Merry Christmas

[@xSHAD0WENx]

i'm lovin the vlog style of your vids now.

[@xSHAD0WENx]

OMG senpai noticed me!

[@alisonwheelersst6362]

dremels work great for beveling MDF!

[@mmmuted]

I loved that you tried the pastes. Even if it didnt get used for the finals, it was neat to see them tested a bit more. Im still curious how they'd've looked painted up and washed/dry-brushed, but maybe i'll have to give in and buy some myself to experiment. Either way, these look really nice! Keep up the good work.

[@Jason-qu1un]

I use them quite a bit. They work really well and look amazing but you have to really glob it on to build up the depth of the terrain. A thin coat like this won't really do it justice.

[@andrewlaverghetta715]

I've really taken to using Durham's Water Putty: Rock Hard Water Putty. It's a powder similar to a plaster. Adding water gets it going and it was pretty easy to work with. It dies pretty quickly so you only want to mix a lot if you're going to use it very quickly. It's also pretty inexpensive and comes in a decent size can. I used think cardboard and not your base, so I did end up warping the base a little bit. You could probably add something to that, but I usually ended up just adding texture to the top of the putty as it was drying, and then coating it with a paint and glue (and a little water) mixture to seal it all down, since the putty didn't do a great job working as glue to keep the texture material stuck on top as it dried.

[@juliehamel8330]

To speed drying time up, try using a dehumidifier instead of a heater if you have one. Ideally in a closed room (keeping the door closed as much as possible) A month ago I tried working with cold porcelain, from a DM craft video and that stuff takes days and days to dry. But with the dehumidifier it only took over night. I put it do the dryest setting I could and wow!

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Living in Canada, our homes in winter are already FAR dryer than you’d want them to be since we are constantly running forced air heat. A dehumidifier would not be a great idea to run in your home in the winter here.

[@juliehamel8330]

I also live in Canada but my appartement is in a basement so humidity is not something I lack of. Plus I just need to cook some spaghetti and all my windows fog up and it feels like a rain forest since it's pretty small in my hobbit hole. I gess the point is to use what ever works 😊

[@billfranklin254]

Really nice work. Just a suggestion, if you use the pencil shavings again, you should try to pulse them in a food processor or something to break them up some more.

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Too much work, too much needing a food processor. At that point just use something else.

[@devileanblack]

@@BlackMagicCraftOfficial i think just tea is enough. btw do you use used ground coffee for mud effect? would you recommend?

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Used coffee grounds require drying/baking. Not something I’m very interested in doing either.

[@ignaciogallarati7287]

Video quality keeps improving! I personally don't like the bases ( A little to high, and they seem kinda difficult to move minis around) but i can see why a lot of people like them, the quality of the texture is awesome).

[@vienslatelier]

Shop Vac. My favorite tool!

[@ghoul3d]

On the craft paint if you use a flow aid, windex, dish washer fluid. It flows through air brush nozzle better I would like to see your thoughts on that.

[@dfw_sleepypillz1007]

Nice! SO happy to see another episode tonight, needed the inspiration before I drop my final wash on the dungeon tiles I have been working on after work! Wishing for more foam content tho, new hobbyist on a budget with no wood tools or space. Keep up the good content man! Rock on!

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Lol, I’ve got like 100 videos on foam builds. This video also involved foam 😂

[@jakeeck]

@@BlackMagicCraftOfficial involved foam but he said he doesn't have wood or tools so he cant really do the project... in fact I'm guessing most people wont be able to. I'm in the same boat.

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Can’t do the project? Not with that attitude. Mdf bases are the standard in terrain building. In over 100 episodes I’ve never done it, I’ve shown many cheaper less durable alternatives like chipboard or just foam. You can do that. In this one single episode I used a better material. The real important thing here is the texture paste. Put it on whatever you want, mdf is just the best quality choice. Asking for “more foam” projects to a channel that is almost entirely foam based on a moment when foam isn’t used is quite silly as I’ve offered more than enough foam ideas over the years and will continue to do so in the future. Take the idea, take the inspiration, make it your own with what you have available. My videos aren’t intended to be followed step by step exactly, they just show the path I took on a given project.

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

I mean I literally ALREADY HAVE a whole video with home made pine trees on FOAM bases. I have this exact project done with different materials as it’s own video. Should I just reupload that over and over instead of doing different things?

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/paSaYqGEfJ52hLs

[@ericstout8249]

Have you ever tried sanded or non sanded grout on your bases or terrain?

[@opheliahamlet3508]

Very nice

[@larryleehensel1016]

Just wondering if using a Drexel with a sanding bit to bevel the edges might have worked easier.

[@Unclebillyr]

7:02 and then unknowingly the mixture summoned the Demogorgon !!!

[@Tetman-xx6tp]

Thanks for the info, and the heads up on the Amazon sale. I just bought 3 books

[@DismemberTheAlamo]

Instead of using a sander to do bevels for yer bases, might I reccomend a cheap router next time?

[@shadowcat6lives639]

I was wondering if this worked, I am assuming you've made these before?

[@johnandrews3518]

Intro music = dope

[@jgguitarcompany4174]

Very Nice!

[@icelandic1717]

you absolutely killed it on this one! gor. ge. ous.

[@whatskraken3886]

those look so good they don't need trees

[@beep6202]

Is there a particular type of tea bags you use for the tea grounds?

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

The kind that sat in the back of the cabinet for three years without being used.

[@trevormiller8990]

Power Vac Sanding Table (aka a Table with built in vacuum system) :)

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

Good job!

[@zealman18]

Did that last saw cut out look like the famous Scream painting face to anyone else?

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Had to go back and look. Totally!

[@SleepyDestroyer13]

Hey ! Can you make a video on how to use an airbrush and how to clean it ?

[@jhansen4661]

I’d say also add some lichen in with the tree stands to make some bushes and shrubs to go with them

[@piotikus]

have you ever tried use some tubes to hold trees without glue? I use trees as wargaming terrain and sometimes I need them to be removed from bases (without moving bases), and I'm looking for good way to keep trees steady, but removable.

[@matthewreid4434]

You should definitely try "fast mache" for your ground texture. You can get it at Michael's

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

I just got some sculptamold I ordered delivered today, guessing what you mention is similar.

[@devan12321]

Looks amazing as usual :D

[@jamesExiledLegends]

a spoke shave would have been the perfect tool to bevel those edges

[@bryansmith844]

Came out great! I wonder what material you could add to the paste to act as a bed of shed needles. Toothpick splinters?

[@forrestwoodward9460]

Yeah, pencil shavings space near the tree roots looks great.

[@timothyreese]

Where'd you get those mounted elven archers? So rad looking.

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

I got them in a big lot of random minis. Pretty sure they are GW minis.

[@GaryWilmot1]

Awesome video, watched it with my two year old, he loved it to, though he demanded to know where the dog poop on the base was 😂 I explained this kind of detail was going a little to far 😂

[@Scubasgamecorner]

Hello, great video here. Question I know this is an older video, But would you/ could you ....use sculpt a mold instead of this caulk mixture you used here?

[@alzathoth]

during game, do you find that the height and volume of the trees block the players view from the miniatures during game?

[@monster-rangers]

Do you seal the mdf before painting it, so it doesn't warp? Or is it simply warp-proof?

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

It’s pretty tough to warp 1/4” mdf that has no square corners.

[@h2t26]

You mentioned you didn't like using your sander for this. I'm wondering if a rotary sandet would have been better just for the edges?

[@bretts2356]

Great video! While the silicone caulk works great- you could also try drywall spackle as a base for the mix- easy to use, maybe not quite as durable but the drying time is a LOT lower. Keep up the great content!

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

For the record, not silicone. Do not use silicon caulk, you want acrylic latex so it plays well with paint.

[@bretts2356]

@@BlackMagicCraftOfficial you are absolutely right- my mistake. Still, point remains- spackle is something you should try out in a basing mix if you haven't already done so.

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

I’ve used it tons. It’s brittle and non flexible which is why I prefer the latex. 😁

[@sebastianpadrino5289]

What model Shop Vac is that?

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

It's a little handheld RIDGID one. While working in as a renovation carpenter it was always our favourite model for jobsites nearing completion, it's easy to move around and doesn't take up much space. amzn.to/2R9X6eK

[@SgtSloth-ml6mk]

Im pretty new to this hobby and still have so much questions on my mind. But the thing that put me off the most was the tea. Ive read that it goes moldy pretty quick. Can this still happen combined with the caulking?

[@jr44dc]

so what else can i use to cut MDF boards?? cause i dont really have any of cutting tools, im an accountant so ill need to buy that stuff first cause i dont got chit like that at home currently LOL

[@08168609]

Airbrush clogs. I paint with an exposed needle. easier to clear clogs. I use two toothbrushes taped together with the bristles facing each other. much like reloading a paint brush, I run the needle between the brushes, moistened with the thinner you are using, to keep the clogs cleared. hope that helps

[@justinrisen1929]

Would doing basis with foam be a feasable idea? I do not have the ability to cut mdf atm. Worried that the added weight of the flocking on the trees would make the foam not ideal for the trees as they might tip? Amazing ideas here man great vid tooo

[@sologamer8518]

so howmuch gravel did you get in your pumice

[@Kyurnmakes]

Awesome work! Thanks for sharing!! Can I ask if you wear a dust mask? Please do when sanding/sawing MDF... it's pretty hard on the lungs and I want you to be making these videos for the next 100 years. :)

[@Kyurnmakes]

Nevermind! I see you do! :)

[@prometheuszero9]

Not sure if anyone has ever asked this but what is your floor made of? Wood? Laminate? Vinyl? I know you're a contractor too so I'd love to know what you have and if you like it, and/or what you would recommend. I'm trying to decide on a new floor surface for my new office/studio/crafting area.

[@DarkAcolon]

Great Build. Where did you buy the riders from the begining of the video?

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

They were gifted to me in a big box of random minis. Pretty sure they are GW.

[@leddyxwarcraft3411]

hello what is the grey thing you use please, if you have link on amazon ty ( for EU)

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Gray thing? Not sure, it's an old video so I don't know which item you mean. Timestamp?

[@leddyxwarcraft3411]

@@BlackMagicCraftOfficial 5:30 :)

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Ah. Vallejo Texture Paste. This video shows it in detail: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oobCg5pphLacn8U Here is a German Amazon (affiliate) link for what they carry in the range, there are a few colours: amzn.to/2Tlm9fi

[@roberthaddon5069]

What thickness of MDF did you use?

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

1/4”

[@RodSalm]

Watch the ads, click the ads. That supports the creators too.

[@GRRAB]

Isn't there a pretty bad static electricity risk from using a vacuum for foam? Or nah

[@juanmacc4124]

Great video Jeremy as always, where are the miniatures of the archer with cape and hood, the statue of the monk and the elves on horseback?

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

I think they are all Games Workshop minis. The statue and horse riders for sure are.

[@ReflexologyFTW]

@ Juanma Cc I'm thinking that mini of the archer with the cape and hood is this one from Reaper Miniatures... www.reapermini.com/Miniatures/Dark%20Heaven%20Legends/price/03166 :)

[@nicholasbreecher9315]

Caulk needs a long time to dry. To anyone working with it, know that simply heating it may dry the outside but the reason it probably took him so long is because caulk takes time for the water to draw out of the inside to properly set. The reason this matters is the outside can feel hard but when pressure is applied the inside can shift because that will still be wet, which can ruin shapes and textures. TL;DR: Always give caulk mixtures 24 hours to dry

[@andreazaltron6850]

All that little piece of foam are recyclable? I have a bag of scraps and im not sure where to throw them. Nice build as always jeremy

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Not in most city recycling. You may find a crafting use for them though.

[@jamieevins8402]

Looks awesome. Love your work! Quick question, anyone know how to easily get perfect square cuts with the proxxon? I'm struggling to get everything to come out exactly as I want it, always seem to end up uneven in some way or another. It's driving me crazy. If someone knows a link to a good video covering this topic, that would be great.

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

KZbin has a search bar 😉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2WzfmuKmb-Wd5o

[@BrickBakery]

This is pretty cool I think! I think it would be interesting to make something like these bases in LEGO as well - it would add some cool detailing to a forrest or park area! Very cool! Thanks for sharing this and keep up the good work - the result was very cool I think! :-D

[@WilliamKuby]

looks good to me a might do and good holday see as go

[@aaronstogner3580]

You’re in the states right? Where can you get that mdf board? I’ve only found pegboard at Home Depot/Lowe’s. Works ok but would really like to try using the same materials you used.

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

I'm in Canada......don't ever assume a Canadian is American :P Anyway.....our Home Depots are the same. You can buy 1/4" and 3/16" MDF at Home Depot in 2'x4' sheets. If you can't find it, just ask someone there. They should have it.

[@earlteagrey]

Love the shirt! Where’d you get it if I may ask?

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

The answer to that question, no matter which video it’s asked on, is redbubble.com :)

[@earlteagrey]

@@BlackMagicCraftOfficial That's the same dragon on a d20 as the Gary Gygax commemorative paver at the Lake Geneva Riviera fountain!

[@zenitram514]

I dont know why, but I found the cleaning sections funny

[@clarkafox]

The statue in the beginning of the video..... does anyone know where it's from? Is there an stl file for it?

[@abogdonov]

Hey! It's Sir Forscale!

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Yea, he's pretty busy during Bones Kickstarters, but between them he tends to be a little slow so I figured I'd help him out and give him some contract work.