Spikey Bits just turned nine years old and to that, we say happy birthday! Check out our very first hobby tutorial post from all those years ago featuring Orks!
9 Years Ago
It was nine years ago that Spikey Bits posted its’ first article on Ork basing techniques using Apoxie-Sculpt and pumice. It’s because of you that we have been able to continue to put out these daily hobby updates for the gaming community.
Not sure what we’re talking about or haven’t seen the post? Flashback to 2009, and check out the article below:
The other day I saw some painted Ork Nob bikers on e-Bay with some pretty sweet converted bases. Seeing how my ladz were conveniently without bases, and therefore less cooler than the models I saw for up auction felt I had to act.
The main problem I ran into was that I wanted to have hills or berms build up or around various battlefield detritus, which was hard to make “look natural” using my normal conversion implements of Green Stuff and pink foam. So after much lamenting and gnashing of teeth, a friend of mine gave me a can of Apoxie-Sculpt to try out. IT CHANGED MY MODELING LIFE FOREVER.This stuff is pretty much amazing. It’s easy to use, has a long pot life, can be sculpted with fingers and tools, and responds very well to water when you are sculpting it. It also holds forms and sharp edges well. The best part is you can build it up over several layers to create some great landscapes.
So with my newfound “wonder material” I went to work making some truly scenic bases. First I used the Apoxie Sculpt to build up the landscape, and then added in other components such as resin bits, cork (for simulated rock), and brass etching, to create the foundation of the base. You can see what I’m talking about below on these 40mm bases.
When the bases dried overnight I added some “boulders” and some fine pumice for “pebbles”. I tried to put the fine pumice around the lower areas of the bases, in cracks and other locations where wind/ water would make it accumulate in nature.
I then applied Vallejo Course Pumice Paste using a old dry brush to the areas that were sans texture. It gave me the look I wanted, with minimal work(no nasty glue fumes or pumice going everywhere). You can see the one base I attempted to make using pink foam; it’s not ideal but it works in a pinch.
Now all that’s left is to mount the bikers to them, and add paint!
Nine years later Rob is even still using the same products to hobby on his models. Check out this video to see them in real-time, and if you’d like part two of our Ork bases article from 2009 you can find it here.
Everyone here on the Spikey Bits team sincerely thanks you for making us part of your daily reading.
About the Author: Wesley Floyd
