How to make realistic wargaming cliffs & outcrops (Pt1 - casting the rockfaces)

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We're stepping it up in realism with our latest hill tutorial by using rock face molds. In this first part, we'll look at casting the rockfaces using Woodland Scenics molds.
Part 2 - Fixing the rockfaces - • How to make realistic ...
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[@brucewoods9377]

Love your work, waiting to see you back up on the tube again

[@elrickinslayer5821]

Good stuff,once again,Mel.Those cliffs are going to look epic.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Elric Kinslayer I hope so buddy!

[@toecutter169]

Great stuff Mel, this reminds me of my weeks making tons of cast rocks for my 'massive terrain build' I put in the Terrainiacs Facebook group late last year!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Frank McKinney I remember that, it was a beast!

[@chuckweb66]

Fantastic video! The rocks are amazing. Can't wait to see more :)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+chuckweb66 Plenty more to come, just gotta get those cliffs clad

[@davidmartin1793]

looking forward to seeing the d-day board finished Mel :)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+David Martin Me too :-D

[@bizzbumsheethead]

When mixing your powder and water, stir it gently to prevent forming bubbles in the mix... thus less bubbles in your cast..

[@stevefletcher1161]

great video. It is the little tips that make the biggest difference sometimes.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Steve Fletcher I'm sure the wife has said that at some point ..... ;-D

[@BoulderCreekRailroad]

Nice job Mel, great demonstration. Just wanted to give you the heads up, I too am filming a tutorial on making your own rock molds using the woodland scenics latex rubber. It might be worth mentioning when you do your 'making your own molds' video, nearly all Woodland Scenics rock molds where made by Miles Hale many many years ago (When he worked for WS) and they used small pieces of coal to make the main mold. I actually used the WS latex rubber to make the mold for the small incinerator which is my next video. I didn't want you to think I was just copying you with the rock molds video when I do eventually publish it :) Great stuff as always, really enjoying the focus on the tutorials. Cheers Luke

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Luke Towan don't stress bud, with the common stuff, there's bound to be times when we're both doing similiar stuff. As far as I'm concerned, the more tutorials on a subject, the better, it's always good to lean from the experiences of multiple people. I'll look forward to see your vid ;-)

[@dannyfuller1]

An easy way NOT to copy him is not to say 'YEH' after every sentence, there, sorted YEH?

[@babymorrison]

dannyfuller1 just drink all the plaster mate

[@SPS_survivor]

Great video - you sound like David Brent - “yeah” 😉

[@eliberdinner4808]

Was actually eyeing those molds at a local hobby shop today. Don't think I'm deep enough into gaming and terraining yet to make use of them, but great video none the less.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Eli Berdinner It won't be long bud ;-)

[@TheWiseMonkey8888]

it really is beautifully done... if one can assemble a credible, dare I say scenically beautiful games board the resulting game-play can take on a cinematic action.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+TheWiseMonkey8888 On day, we'll get to the stage mate :-)

[@IDICBeer]

Great stuff Mel

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+IDICBeer Thanks buddy :-)

[@Njin8492]

You used herculite no. 2, can i use the regular plaster of paris? Can i also use skim coats, the ones they use in construction for interior plastering?

[@CelticNotts]

if you are looking for ways to support your moulds. use a tray with some sand in it. the sand will mould itself to support your moulds

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+CelticNotts Watch the video, not the thumbnail bud ;-)

[@patrickmurphy6775]

I am using Woodland scenics plaster and rock molds. All of my rocks broke in one way or another. Even the ones I left in the molds overnight, broke. What have I done wrong?

[@louiechidwick6034]

Hi mate, thanks for another top tutorial! To make your own vibration table, lay some stereo speakers face up on the work bench, cover the speaker cones with card and place your wet molds on top. Play something loud on your stereo (bubbles hate Motorhead) !! The vibrations from the speakers are strong enough to chase the bubbles out of the mixture but don't annoy the neighbours doing so! ATB, Louie :)

[@redgreen09]

well lots of rocks the one step i do is add the color in the plater or drumels right to it say gray add the gray to it then cast brown well so forth still lot of rock freed

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+redgreen09 I've never been much for tinting bud

[@amidark6518]

So I walked by this place, half frilly, smelly crafts and half hobby store and what do I see laying hidden away? Rock molds. About ten. I figure...well the guy must've made them or something. Thanks to this video, I know every single one is woodland scenics molds I bought for a dollar each lol

[@ta24u]

Good one bud

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+ta24u glad you liked it buddy

[@carlmayne3519]

Mel ... You're a star :D - Gonna go grab some of that herculite now and give it a shot, Cheers ... Love's the videos!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Carl Mayne Make sure you buy Herculite 2 bud!

[@carlmayne3519]

I bought that, and yeah it's awesome and starts to set in minutes - Cheers, I'm learning so much from you and your videos - BTW, I tried to sign up for patreon a few times but it won't go through, any Ideas?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Carl Mayne No idea, you still having problems signing up?

[@oliverizzard8751]

Hahaha give'em a wiggle ! I'm pissing myself

[@johnnycooper7019]

Great tutorial Mel! Silly question about Herculite? Can I obtain this from my local builders yard or would my hobby shop? Roughly how much does a bag cost? Many thanks Johnny

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Johnny Cooper I get it from ebay, £27 for 25kg but you can get it for the builders merchants as it's for casting decorative coving

[@MikeDropPod]

could you possibly give the precise moulds you used. Like the one you used for the edging stone??.. that would be great if you could.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

email me mate

[@johntailby74]

Are you going to be using some Cork bark as well as the plaster moulds to make the rocks?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+john tailby maybe as a little loose scatter but not for the cliff faces bud

[@jamesjudice5347]

Yeah.

[@04Stefan07]

Great video mate! I purchased a bunch of the moulds and used Plaster of Paris with water. Looks like they came out OK. Is it alright to use that and are you able to paint them or is the lightweight hydrocal stuff better to use? Cheers! Stefan.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

POP chips really easy, personally I'd get some crystacal mate (cheaper and tougher than hydrocal)

[@04Stefan07]

Yep, I did find it chipped a little bit. I will have a look for that product down here in Australia. By the way your videos are fantastic. I have learned heaps from them and think your techniques and work is excellent. Cheers, Stefan.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Thanks, mix a little black paint in, turns the mix grey so when it chips, you don't get the white bits mate ;-)

[@OvantheWise]

Is there any good uses for the "flash" or is it just trash? Also could you use some of the thin molds and break them to use for warhammer minis basing or do you think the breaks would be noticeable.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Graham Johnson I just trash it mate, it's too smooth for rubble

[@OvantheWise]

+TheTerrainTutor what about breaking small molds for basing or dose plaster tend to break really clean.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Graham Johnson it does but you can feather it, watch my next vid mate

[@atomstrom]

+TheTerrainTutor But if you're a cheapskate, you can break the flash or even almost powder it to use amongst rubble if small enough, as structure paste or for expanding your pigment mud mixtures. I don't like throwing things away. Break it up by hand if you want to quit smoking, put it in a bag and smash it or rub it on a grater, doesn't matter. There's use for everything, though I understand you need time and storage space.

[@swamudripa]

sir, is it possible to do the same with white cement.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Should be, give it a test mate

[@scottsummers7145]

I am planning to make a rock face maybe about 1 1/2 feet (American, sorry) long. I have a few Woodland Scenics rock molds and I just wanted to know your strategy for not making your rock faces look too...samey? Make them all look different and not working with molds? Thanks mate!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Check my d-day board mate

[@hordelands]

When i used my Linka molds(designed for 1:72 HO buildings)to cast buildings for 15mm Flames of War, i always had the problem of the parts breaking when either too wet or too dry when removing from the mold, prolly due to the very thin nature of the linka molds. Too dry and they would adhere to the mold too tightly, too wet and they would be too fragile. Another issue is that you just cannot smoothe over air bubbles with your thumb when you're casting man-made structures, since it would eliminate the brickwork detail. I got around that by holding a cheap electric toothbrush underneath it, giving the mold a good, uhm, vibration. Scuse my language.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+hordelands When you demold them. Lay them flat upside down and roll the mold back from the edges whilst applying pressure to the cast keeping it firm on the table. Also, add black tipped clay shapers from Royal Sovereign to your toolbox for when the toothbrush fails bud ;-)

[@xXB3NGANXx]

Where can buy those "rock cake tins"? :)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+xXB3NGANXx Woodlands Scenics mate

[@Benedict_Aditya_Trianda]

hey mel, do you have any alternatives for the rock molds?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+benedict aditya trianda working on a make your own rock mold vid now bud ;-)

[@Benedict_Aditya_Trianda]

+TheTerrainTutor nice. loving the quick reply btw

[@billd.iniowa2263]

I was struck by how little mixing you did before pouring. I have to take an electric mixer and spend 3 or more minutes to get the Hydrocal I've got to work. I've found that using plaster definitely takes a "feel" for it. You did that so easily... How many hours of your time did it take before you figured it all out?

[@Molentik]

+Bill D. in Iowa With mixing powders in water, I usually mix the powder with just a little bit of water so all the powder is 'wet' and in a paste and then add the rest of the water. This makes it easier to avoid clumps etc :)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Bill D. in Iowa Herculite 2 is very forgiving mate. Hours, I have no idea, but I'm on my fourth 25kg bag :-)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Molentik you wouldn't have time for that with this stuff, it was already setting in the jug by the end I finished the pur mate

[@themokracja5802]

Where you buy it ???

[@TheTerrainTutor]

mold from Woodland scenics, crystical from the builders merchants

[@socratestsor9192]

Where did you get the plastic thingies??

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Socrates Coolguy woodlands scenics mate

[@socratestsor9192]

+TheTerrainTutor wow! You're like the coolest dude out there. I love your constant positive way of talking, the detail in your videos and the fact that you answer to your fans! Please keep it up! Love your work!!

[@josh1674]

Herculite costs $107 to ship to us yanks, is there an equivalent product mate?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

checkout merlins magic casting powder

[@josh1674]

TheTerrainTutor Thanks! it’s also a bit expensive for shipping. I’m sure there are plasters sold in my area that are equivalent. What are we looking for, in the ingredients?

[@josh1674]

TheTerrainTutor actually Hirst Arts has all the info I was looking for. Thanks Mel!

[@TheOriginalBadger]

Are you aware of how may times you said "yeah"? I counted 77 in that 1 short video.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

must try harder for the century!

[@lifelonghalo]

not to call a man out but maybe its tourettes. i have it so it makes sense

[@joseywilds3133]

You can hide em with flock, sand, gravel, ect, I make my own molds the store bought molds look too fake

[@sdqsdq6274]

damn i thought you rockscape it yourself

[@smolwavingsnail9028]

Got annoyed of hearing the word yeh every 3 seconds. Couldn't last longer than 5 minutes.