Paddy fields - how not to do them...

[Colonel Kilgore]

So, here's a cautionary tale...

I planned to spend a chunk of the school holidays getting organised and making some scenery.

I got some nice pre-cut 6" x 12" MDF, and - as recommended by the supplier - coated both sides in PVA to seal the base.

I then had the misguided idea of using DAS modelling clay to model the nice pattern of dikes that I'd worked out.

This was a bad idea: the water in the clay appeared to reactivate the PVA and soften it, while the clay itself shrunk on drying and curled the boards.

I tried bending them back, filling the resulting cracks in the clay and so on, but was clearly onto a loser there.

So, now I am going to take the advice that Lesley B-T has kindly offered and:

a) seal the MDF board properly with an oil-based paint
b) use something that is not water-based / shrinks on drying to make the dikes.

I plan to model the fields in their "just flooded" stage [largely to provide some contrast with the rest of the gaming table], so mud brown with some scenic "water" on top, and grass on the top of the dikes only.

If I succeed, I'll post the results here!

[Leman (Andy)]

Best of luck with that. I did some marshy areas - relatively small as they were for 2mm figures. I used MDF and modelled the surface with a very thin layer of brushed on modelling paste, with no added grit. I left the wet areas bare. When dry I painted these the traditional blue/green (to fit in with my existing river and stream sections). When dry I finished the wet areas off with a layer of Vallejo water effect.

[Colonel Kilgore]

Very nice, Leman [as is the rest of your layout!] - thanks for sharing.

[yourpaceormine]

Decorator's caulking works well on thin mdf. Doesn't  warp it, can be smoothed/shaped with a wet spatula. Good for doing earth banks (15mm size).

[Colonel Kilgore]

Maany thanks - I'll see whether I can make the time over the weekend to have another go...

[Stewart 46A]

S&A scenic spots make nice paddy fields, fairly cheaply.

[Colonel Kilgore]

Yes - they're very nice, and amazing value.

I'm just bloody-minded and like to try doing my own thing...

[Leslie BT]

get some of martins peasants and buffalo to sink into the water.

[Sean Clark]

Nice idea Les.

[Colonel Kilgore]

That's a great idea, Les: unfortunately I've painted and based all my peasants. I suppose there is always the option of buying some more, particularly with Colours coming up...

Or perhaps some Ophelia-like casualties floating on the surface might work too...?