How to make stylised wargaming swamp terrain

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In this tutorial, we use the same techniques from our first swamp tutorial to create more stylised swamp scenery for your wargaming terrain table.
First swamp tutorial - • How to do basic swamps...
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[@thomaskleinbauer6518]

When you did the original "basic swamp" video, I was thinking to myself: "this is all well and good, but a real swamp wouldn't have four individual little puddles. To make this look realistic, the puddles should connect somehow and the environment would have to look more wet and muddy, too"... and - bang! - here's exactly that look! Excellent follow-up, Mel!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

I may have thought the same thing! ;-)

[@StrongholdCrafterKev]

Looks great, Mel. Nice variety with the swamp terrain.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Stronghold Crafter Kev Cheers matey

[@JewelKnightJess]

This one looks really nice, I like it a lot. It looks really organic, especially next to the one with the four small ponds. This would look great on any wargaming table!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Bewareofthephil Cheers mate, i'm looking forward to seeing them all set up :-)

[@unkhter]

great howto, beautiful looking piece of terrain :)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

unkhter Thanks very muchski matey :-)

[@MrSepoy1857]

Brilliant idea to sprinkle some flock into the Enviro-tex...really looks the business.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Scott Dallimore Cheers matey :-)

[@vikkiwilson5069]

Great tutorial Mel, and nice result that clarifies the bogs a bit for me! I'm beginning to suspect you've been a teacher in another life.Just a couple of general design points looking at your work: things look better in odd numbers- they just do. And green things tend to grow in clusters and corridors, not scattered about like cherries on a pie. It is true that there are more stylised conventions in game terrain.Finally, a general problem I've noticed even with the most naturalistic of terrain artists (the model railroad guys) is the too-neat bundles of reed materials plugged into the ground like doll hair transplants Obviously we have the limitations of the materials but it would be great to see someone tackle this, Mike at terranscapes showed some awareness of the reed issue in the latest update 15-2 (!) of his Ocean Boards.I hope you don't mind my critique :). In any event I have a great appreciation for your workenough to have become a patron.,

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Vikki Wilson Thanks for the tips, I saw Mikes work with the soldiering iron but I expected nothing less from a master like him. Thanks for your support, I really do appreciate it :-)

[@johnkelley9877]

It looks really good!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

John Kelley Thanks matey

[@SpaghettiGringo]

Thanks for the tutorial. Playing Saga with my little vikings. After I have built a farm and painted some pigs, I will build a swampy swamp.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

SpaghettiGringo Love saga, do it mate, it's prefect for those pesky Welsh!

[@IDICBeer]

Awesome, that looks great

[@TheTerrainTutor]

***** Cheers bud

[@tobynmanthorpe]

Looks great.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

***** Thanks mate

[@SmittyM14]

Definitely adding this to my growing to do list. This will work for my Bolt Action stuff and Vietnam collection both.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

SmittyM14 That todo list must be getting pretty long by now mate :-)

[@SmittyM14]

It sure is. I need to work faster. LOL

[@TheTerrainTutor]

SmittyM14 you and me both bro lol

[@WGRevival]

That looks great. I'll even be having a go at this one.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

WGRevival I'll hold you to that bud! ;-)

[@WGRevival]

MDF's arrived. Just waiting on router Dremmell bits and resin :o)

[@tokem1987]

One word - awesome

[@TheTerrainTutor]

tokem1987 One word - thanks :-)

[@DerMartexus]

That's much swampier than the one before. ;) Very nice. :) Some lichen would fit in it very well.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

***** Cheers bud, wasn't much room for lichen :-)

[@DerMartexus]

Next time! ;) Or cut them a bit.

[@keithmassey3035]

Great vid Mel. Very inspirational. Can I ask what type of sand you use? I have been using budgie sand, but I find it's a bit too yellow in colour . Cheers Keith

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Keith Massey kiln dried sharp sand from the builders yard mate

[@davidusprich4017]

Hey Mel -- great piece again! Can I ask why you spent time dry brushing when you then cover it with flock? Does enough show through? Just about at that stage on the piece I'm doing and was wondering how much time I should spend on the painting.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

David Usprich OK, I do it so I'm not restricted to where I put my flock when it comes to the flocking stage. Also, pieces can lose flock ovewr the years if it's heavily used. If it does, I know that there's natural looking ground underneath rather than just a basecoat mate. Hope that helps.

[@sionmarcsimpson7487]

Mate did you ever make the gaming boards videos you mentioned earlier? Im trying to make some terrain for Saga and Northern European stuff think like green lush Ireland or Wales that kinda thing?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Siônmarc Simpson There's bits and bobs about, check the back to basics playlist mate

[@VictorQues]

Great piece of terrain and nice tutorial.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Victor Ques Thanks buddy :-)

[@Roarkethemerciless]

TheTerrainTutor Did you play pc games series Myth ? Lot of terain to inspire you.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Roarkethemerciless Haven't played but I have seen some footage of it mate

[@Roarkethemerciless]

TheTerrainTutor So maybe you are already inspired by it :)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Roarkethemerciless I'm inspired by a lot of things, hell, the wife can't watch a film without pausing it and shout me over to look at something inspirational. PC game wise, I'm only into world of tanks but that's for of good reference stuff as well.

[@martinthewarrior5016]

3:10 '''the little floaty bits in the water" HeHe dat made me chuckle

[@TheTerrainTutor]

;-D

[@Amurayiwestgate]

Hello TheTerrainTutor, I want to fill a crater (with a rough surface bottom I'm afraid) with dirty murky water effect. What's the best approach? I considered Vallejo Still Water effect hoping to be able to mix it with light brown water. Not sure if this product is suitable for this. Or should I use resin instead mixed with pigments (no idea which brand to chose then though) Endresult should be a nice flat shiny surface without transparency. Like this: frontiernet.net/~mrbact/pics/mud.jpg or this www.nuruinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/moheto-kenya-mud-hole.jpg Any suggestion? Thanks a bunch and thanks for making these videos!

[@olivercroker684]

is there a way to do water by watering down paint until it's e quarter's water then mix with pva

[@TheTerrainTutor]

It's doable but look at mod podge mate

[@xr8dmoose135]

This will suit my warmahordes minion army, aquatic bonuses for my crocs 🤤

[@Adaminski41]

looks brilliant matey, do you seal the flock before adding the resin for the water effects or seal the whole thing after the resin has dried?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Adaminski41 Cheers matey, I sealed it before the resin but you could seal it afterward, pva's pretty easy to clean of resin as long as it's cured before you apply it :-)

[@Adaminski41]

cool thanks mate :)

[@gethyn13]

Absolutely great video, i know you work very hard on the videos but i find the changing of the light during of the video makes it hard to see the real colour of the piece. Hope to see some more great videos :)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

gethyn13 I know mate, I'm working on it .... slowly ;-)

[@straggler64]

What is that material that you're using for flotsam?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

The Opposition It's just standard flock mate

[@chumbo2189]

question: im all new to this modelling terrain thing but what ecxactly is a wargaming terrain? is it a table top game of somekind? or just onothing cool thing too display..................im doing a maniature or diorama (future style) so thats why idont realy know this answer please ////////////good video tho

[@TheTerrainTutor]

renato boongaling ilao jr Wow, where to start, go have a look at Beasts of War, that'll give you the best explanation mate

[@chumbo2189]

thanks

[@lordwolkenstein9339]

How does he make the water effect?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Homerhorst Envirotex mate, there's a vid on it in the water effects playlist

[@olivercroker684]

and how do you get bubbles

[@TheTerrainTutor]

little glass beads

[@sigururjonsson4616]

Quick question Mel, I've noticed the smoothness of the edges of the bases you use. And I don't think I've seen you cover that in a tutorial. Is it just sanded down or do you use a Dremel to smooth out the edge

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Sigurður Jónsson I've done a vid on it, should be live on my channel later, that should explain everything for you mate