Simple Zombie Apocalypse MDF Building Painting Techniques

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In this video, I take you through the whole process of converting and painting the urban zombie apocalypse buildings I did for the Turf War Z project using a series of simple techniques to easily created awesome looking terrain. I go through converting the buildings, priming and painting, general and special weathering and rust techniques, graffiti techniques, overgrowth and varnishing the buildings.
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[@wookiejesusofnazarethkashy1940]

My grandfather was a wood carver. I have a wildcat carving (about 1/5 scale) that has rocks carved from wood on the base. He never finished it. He had the rocks primed, but that was as far as he got. A few nights ago I decided to paint them and give them some washes and finish it up. I've done a couple black washes and a brown wash so far. The brown wash gave them the appearance they have some mud on them. I may do a tan wash on spots to give the illusion it's mud that is drying. I did some dry brushing before doing the washes. Once I'm happy with the washes I'll do a bit more dry brushing on spots to give the appearance the wet rocks are drying out around the edges like the mud. I'll probably do a green wash in spots around the edges of the bottom rocks and may do some patches of moss with fine turf. It's been sitting unfinished on a shelf in my bathroom for years. After learning different techniques from you and some other crafters I decided I could do a proper job on the base. So far it's looking great. Thanks for the videos! Now this really cool cat will soon have a proper base.

[@IcarusGames]

Excellent as always, Mel! My only contribution is it doesn't hurt to seal the MDF before painting. On some laser cut pieces, adding the smallest amount of water creates an ugly fuzzy texture. So if you plan on doing a lot of laser cut stuff, get yourself a sealer. I use Chesnut brand shellac sanding sealer and it protects the wood and gives it a lovely smooth finish. Incidentally, it's the same stuff Sarissa use to seal their pieces. If you're spray priming you can get away with some kits, but not all laser cut stuff is the same so it's always worth sealing just to be safe.

[@bensobie5195]

yes! my main man The Terrain Tutor is finally doing a model of Detroit.

[@JupiKitten]

Something cool that can be added, murals. You always see them in just about every city, would be an excellent way to break up large walls. If you're not confident about your actual painting skills, you could use the same technique as the decals, just go grab big ones you like from a scrapbooking place. You could also use traditional decoupage methods with cool images/ads printed off the internet. Oooo and posters and wall bill boards are other dress up options.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

I'd have to grab the decals for that one lol

[@AnneAndersonFoxiepaws]

I don't know why but miniatures just fascinate me...any kind, train sets, war terrain, this, whatever I just love looking at them!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Why wouldn't you love making your own world? ;-D

[@twoaf3261]

That is a great tip regarding putting water on before washing it

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Always wet wash mate

[@Shano6084]

TheTerrainTutor and now I know, thank you, keep up the great work

[@dimligloing]

Lovely work there Mel. Thanks for the ideas. The shutters are a great touch.

[@adddad9779]

I love MDF terrain because it's levels can be left unglued. When playing games its nice to have access to the inside. Great video Mel!!

[@DrVesuvius70]

You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this video, Mel. Nice one, matey!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

I got your back bud ;-)

[@JupiKitten]

DrVesuvius70 Same here! Super excited for the urban/modern/zombie apocalypse stuff!

[@CaptainBipto]

Loving the video, got me motivated to assemble my TTCombat MDF terrain.

[@makinachange]

great video! one of my favorite projects to date. keep up the great work!

[@crepselect6192]

Amazing video your detail painting and weathering is top tier

[@timjacobs9543]

7:19 You can also dry brush it with different grey tones and in a circular motion. also add browns and sand colors, it will work well and come out it a pretty realistic and dirty way.

[@jaraxel888]

Quite fascinating and great looking builds!

[@comingvengeance2725]

Awesome work as usual, Mel!

[@dave_s_vids]

Those look brilliant, Mel!

[@inigogw]

such awesome building designs !!

[@TheSuburbanScumbag]

Cracking Job Mel. 10/10 mate

[@stevedowning3892]

nice one Mel, the wash-on-wet tip made it worthwhile alone

[@keithmassey3035]

Excellent video Mel. Not into Zombie Apocalypse, but the techniques you have shown will apply to MDF buildings for historical games. Thanks for sharing.

[@AnythingButOnes]

Really amazing tips in here!

[@PokupecVilim]

You really are a master of your art, man! Thumbs up high!!!

[@LostandFoundTravel]

BIG fan of that colored primer from Army Builder! Great vid.

[@laconicwolf8851]

Amazing.

[@Mechaninjalo]

just stumbled on your channel , loved it , Thanks for putting it up :)

[@jjab99]

Nice one Mel, this video was just fantastic. Well done mate, those buildings look great and didn't seem to need too much hard work to get great results. It's great to see the channel growing and the number of Subscribers increasing all the time. Cheers buddy and have fun mate. Joe

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Cheers buddy

[@IDICBeer]

Another great video Mel

[@Hobbyrepubliken]

Would love a separate video going through more graffiti stuff.

[@MurderHoboRPG]

Republiken i use posca markers. fat ones and sharp ones. and i look at normal graffiti on youtube and google and that helps me make fun pieces burners and tags.

[@Hobbyrepubliken]

Good idea! Thanks :)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

When I've got something worth showing, I will mate

[@anderssorenson9998]

Didn't know anything like these existed, have the Sarissa Precision site open now looking at their catalog.

[@pullipittiti]

great job dud. i love it. thx for your video. greetings from germany.

[@dougsundseth6904]

For acrylic paint markers, Montana (which is apparently a German company) makes refillable acrylic marker pens with replaceable nibs. They also sell paint for those markers, so I don't know how well other brands would work.

[@timjacobs9543]

12:33 I seem to not get any good results with washes on terrain at all. I always come up with dry brushing 3 colors and it does well for me. Find a color you want, but do the first brush/base color in a nuance darker (adding a raw umber or other dark brown, for example) and the third brush a bit lighter (adding a light tan). it makes everything look really rough and withered

[@robertcoble1445]

Thanks heaps Mel great tips!

[@chrishales8299]

iv used a halfords red primer b4 thats that same shade of red for anyone interested :-) great video as always

[@LoveBagpipes]

Painting these MDF buildings...my biggest challenge!!!

[@dealthagar]

Cheers mate! This is brilliant! I'd love to see you do a more detailed vid on the burnout technique and graffiti techniques.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Check the channel in an hour

[@dealthagar]

Thanks Mel! It's stuff like this that made me Patreon you!

[@lloydlewis8846]

Great stuff as always Mel. BTW have you seen the buildings from TTCombat? They produce derelict ones and the price is very good.

[@therustbeltblacksmith]

you are clearly a master and there isn't much i can tell you that you don't already know, but just in case you are unaware of it, scale 75 makes a wood effect paint, it is magic in a bottle. not that there's anything wrong with you wood (the boarded window and the like), i only mention it for the sake of speeding up projects where wood is involved and not necessarily for you but for others who may struggle with it.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

I'll check it out mate, always looking for new tools and techniques :-D

[@MurderHoboRPG]

amazing video! !!!!! loved it

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Cheers bud

[@drakeracing573]

Currently doing an abandon apartment same as in the video. It's my first attempt, so this video is so useful. I'm hoping to eventually have a apocalyptic city for Gaslands as well as other games Also to note, you come across as a really nice, top bloke. I'd happily sit in a pub and have a pint with you.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Always up for a pint! :-D

[@Tracks777]

Good! Keep it up!

[@terrain4print]

Great video as always. It is of course a question of time but I would have added signs and posters to the buildings. Small pieces of paper glued up and weathered maybe?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

So would I if I had the time mate

[@evoFTMFW]

Just a suggestion. Seems to me the boards should have been attached from the inside. I know if I was barricading myself in somewhere I can guarantee the boards would be nailed on from the inside, meaning they'd be behind the window frames. t would add another layer of detail as you would get the effect of the boards and maintain the detail of having the window frames.

[@timloman6205]

This is cool as shit man I wanna get into doin minitures, lookin forward to ur videos

[@speedrob]

GROOOVY!

[@manweller1]

Mel when I get rich you can build Mega City 1 for me.

[@idodaisuke4285]

you'd be amazed to see how cheap ttcombat buildings are...

[@michaelmanning5379]

I was hoping to see how you did the smoke staining on the brick. I suppose that a thick wash and feathering would be the way to go.

[@richardokeeffe8375]

Waiting for this bit too!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Check the channel in an hour

[@RogerS1978]

the humbrol Chromium Oxide weathering powder would give a good algae/moss effects to help break up the grey.

[@RogerS1978]

especially on the grey strips, a bit of gloss varnish would make it look wet and slimy

[@OvantheWise]

Hay mell great work as always, I was wondering if you had done a tutorial on how to weather a burnt out building, and if not are you planning to make one? thanks for all the help you've really helped e to improve my painting.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Check the channel in an hour

[@dementedone2503]

kewl stuff, when painting or constructing, using a time lapse would be better than just pictures. j/s

[@johnnycooper7019]

Hiya Mel, Great tutorial! Very inspiring. Any chance of showing how you got the smoke damage? Many thanks in advance.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Check the channel in an hour

[@sigpi222]

Something else to add other than just clump foliage would be small crumples of paper.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

yep

[@Elderos5]

Looks pretty good Mel. The only thing I can say that it would need is debris. There isn't any. The final street layout looks like it's been vacant for a decade or more, but even then, there is always a bit of debris in the corners.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

That's next weeks vid mate ;-)

[@Elderos5]

Aahhhh. Very well then. I'll look out for it. : )

[@theprimordialtruth1798]

Are you going to put scatter terrain on the board or will that be done by the demo board owners? It will look fantastic with cars, bins, traffic cones and that sort of thing to break up the streets a little.

[@UttleyCarl]

Great video! and by the sounds of your accent a fellow Stokie too :-)

[@scotteverroad4545]

Mel Sir,...Do you have any way ro make 28mm Buildings ??? I mean Dimensions I could use with foam-core or insulation foam? Just asking!

[@Multiscan0001]

Great video! But what brand are those acrylic markers? Never heard of that kind of markers.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Daler Rowney mate

[@91PublicSafety]

Great video, thank you. Anyone know any good sources for mdf terrain in the US? I know some places will ship internationally but it's kind of a pain. I'm looking for fantasy and modern terrain pieces.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Burnt in Designs

[@garfusa2]

Could you also add posters and such? Like official notices and such like from CDC etc?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Sure mate

[@adamfox1669]

I’d have to sell a kidney to afford sarissa buildings

[@Dan-om4no]

take a shot every time he says yeah... its a good video though ur channels pretty awesome

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Watch you're liver!

[@IshanDeston]

Why did you primer the cardboard to glue behind the Windows, when you gonna primer the whole thing and the black cardboard again? Did you tape them for the 2nd primer?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

I have no idea

[@jakeelwood4344]

hey i got a question those buildings there do you got any ideas on something that solid but in 1/72 scale also any place for 1/72 scale molds

[@TheTerrainTutor]

try sarissa precision

[@christownley5262]

Great tutorial Mel. Did you seal the MDF at all (before painting), or is the Army Painter spray sufficient?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Just the AP primer mate, it's all you need

[@brainspider]

Hey Mel, awesome stuff as always mate! What colours did you use for the non-terracotta buildings? Also, great tip with the acrylic pens, I had some years ago when I was more into terrain making and working in the design industry and had forgotten all about them so thanks for the reminder. I really must paint my TWD terrain one of these days, lol!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Dragon yellow and skeleton bone mate ;-)

[@brainspider]

Thanks mate :) they look like nice colours and they yellow isn't the powerful and bright.

[@barrybradfordlocksport]

Great videos enjoy counting how many times you say yeah 🤣

[@armyrobotjedi7982]

I Like your doing great

[@armyrobotjedi7982]

Great

[@murphycat5089]

I've been thinking of airbrushing these. Any thoughts?

[@kimmer7187]

Yeah

[@jd0694ify]

would there be an effective way to make the smoke effect over the windows with out a airbrush?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Check the channel in an hour

[@MrDjpaulh1982]

Love the videos Mel. Have you made any Necromunda terrain.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Doing that now mate

[@rafaelortiz327]

Where did you get the buildings,or did you make them ?

[@CapnHowdy6666]

What did you use for the boards in the windows? They look like patterned wood...

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Coffee stirrers mate

[@timjacobs9543]

If you don't throw your MDF terrain out of a window or off a plane, there is never a need to varnish terrain. water/wood glue in a 50:50 mix is enough in any case, but IMHO there is no need at all. acrylic colors get very hard and durable.

[@MAMCCO]

Is there a yank version of the Sarissa building products?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Plenty of US suppliers mate, checkout BurntinDesigns mate

[@theguy4812]

This vidio was uploadet a few minutes ago. But i alerady like it

[@smaggegi]

Did you have to treat the MDF before priming it? like with a sealant or pva or something? I hear it eats up paint, and can start to warp from the moisture. I have no idea what to do with my own MDF terrain, so its just sitting on my table unpainted.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

I just prime it with spray primer, it's not water based, so no soaking up issues

[@smaggegi]

Wonderful! I really thought I'd have to go through all sorts of nonsense to seal the MDF, thanks so much for your help!

[@ivanyukio9654]

Great work, I have a question, what did you use for the windows? How did you make the boards fit?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

What exactly do you mean matey?

[@ivanyukio9654]

I wanted to ask if you boarded the windows before putting the black cardboard or did you out the boards on the windows after the black cardboard

[@FrancoisBoucheros]

awesome video! What the graffiti artist ref you mention?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Dread Lunn from Solvent Abuse UK mate

[@mustardcat8918]

Can you buy these in America? I'm having difficulty finding them here.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

No idea, soz

[@danabbott1234]

What colour did you use for the grey? Brand and colour etc, I'm in the process of painting mdf ruins :)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

It was just a dark grey from wickes mate

[@danabbott1234]

TheTerrainTutor that's exactly what I bought yesterday, £1 tester pots for the win! Thanks

[@anderssvemark8302]

Is this buildings for 1/35 scale?

[@AlbertoRodriguez-uq6hm]

where I can buy those buildings....I would like to get it!!!

[@darrenhardy9005]

www.sarissa-precision.com/

[@1525kat]

when will you be doing another live in the studio? (not the sunday night at home)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Last night!

[@1525kat]

The problem is for folks outside of the UK timezones. Because it is not during early evening hours when many would be on their computers, we don't catch it live. In the Western US, it is 1pm. If you could send out a notice the night before, it would allow folks to plan a bit. It gets a bit frustrating to plan on being here at 1 on a tuesday and then not have it (and I realize that life happens and things don't always go as we plan, but a bit more consistency would be appreciated). Watching it later is ok, but we miss all the interaction of the live chat. And, now that I have been critical (!!!), let me say how great a job you are doing, so informative and full of detail. Thanks.

[@giovannizotti8549]

Thank you very much for this illuminating video. I have seen that your buildings are all barricated. But my survivors are more impetuous, and - in perfect State of Decay style - they want to burst into my buildings to plunder all the good stuff they can find. My question is where to look for door hinges for Sarissa Precision buildings. I have bought "Retro Americana Gas Station" (www.sarissa-precision.com/Gas_Station/p1603368_16237224.aspx) from the Mantic Games site. Inside that building there are 3 doors, one of which is visible in photo. I really need that those 3 doors could be opened. Any suggestion for hinges? Thank you so much!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

dolls house fixtures mate ;-)

[@michaelzajac5284]

I can't stop crying myself, I really so joy. :)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Cheers mate

[@Medic6666]

I was going to say you need some grass/weeds on the roof area but then noticed you have some added in the end items pics. so ignore me :)

[@hman2912]

Awesome job. Is this for a movie?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

For a rulebook mate

[@GALAXIE67]

Did you make all of those or are they kits?? Great video! 👍☯️👍

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Sarissa Precision kits mate

[@Max-ou4zg]

What's the exact ratio of water and color in your wash?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Depends on how opac I want my wash to be, I pretty much wing it mate

[@Max-ou4zg]

But what I am wondering is if you put something on the terrain before priming it so that the paint doesn't soak into the wood?

[@jacksonholmes9955]

did u make these buildings or did u buy them?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Sarissa Precision cityblock range

[@Morbious666]

Nice mods.

[@charlesunknow2581]

I became a patreon

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Awesome dude!

[@robertherbst9487]

"yeah"

[@PaladinDragoon]

having been to LA recently, it needs more graffiti and rust

[@brainspider]

Maybe with less people around the city got cleaner? lol!

[@davidcervantes520]

Fred Richards I

[@tabletophobbies.terraintec2697]

where do you get houses kits like those

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Sarissa Precision Cityblock Range

[@tabletophobbies.terraintec2697]

TheTerrainTutor thank you

[@tabletophobbies.terraintec2697]

TheTerrainTutor I really have to move to Europe much more model building stores and tools that side

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Nottingham mate, home of the lead belt!

[@tabletophobbies.terraintec2697]

TheTerrainTutor sounds good

[@timsmith5335]

Are those buildings 20mm or 28mm?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

28mm mate

[@timsmith5335]

Thanks for the quick reply. Your vids are top notch, keep up the excellent work

[@EthanfromEngland-]

Sound like neil buchanan xD

[@TheTerrainTutor]

You're not the first to say that lol

[@denisg8818]

have u ever tried to make pigeon poop on the buildings

[@TheTerrainTutor]

no but I should

[@pingASS_]

Whats the game called?

[@pingASS_]

Oh. Sorry Turf War Z