How To Make Frozen Lake Bases

Hey all, i got some really cool feedback on my gnoblog regarding my frozen lake bases and was asked to make a guide so here we go


The Bases in action


Gregatrons 12 Step Plan to Frozen Bases

You will need:

White Paint, Dark Blue Paint, Light Blue Paint, Crackle Effect (i use Vallejo), Gloss Varnish, Super Glue, PVA Glue, Snow Flock and Thick Clear Plasticard (i use 1.mm thick).

Step 1


Basecoat your base with the dark blue leaving time for it to dry (shouldnt take long)

Step 2


Super water down the dark blue and light blue paints, drip them onto the base and swirl them haphazzardly together. (i use approx 1 part paint to 4 parts water, or even more for larger bases)

Step 3


Once the paint swirl has dried (It'll take a while, time to paint something else while you wait ) Give the base a coat of gloss varnish and leave to dry.

Step 4


Place drops of super glue on the base then carefully place the cut to size plasticard on top. Be careful in this stage to ensure you do not place the glue too close to the edge of the base or it will either stick to your hands or stick to your painting table and will make getting a clean edge really difficult (see my first ones on my gnoblog). Do not worry about the glue looking patchy as it doesn't go to the edges, this is what the snow is for as you will see later. Leave this a good while to dry.

It is important to press the plastic down firmly at this point to ensure all air is squeezed out or the eventual effect will be all.... well, airy and odd looking

Step 5

Apply a coat of gloss varnish on top of the plasticard and leave to dry. (sorry i managed to forget to photograph this stage, ill take a photo when i do my mournfang bases lol.). It is best to swirl the varnish onto the plastic to give an uneven yet still smooth and shiny effect.

Step 6


Disguising the marks where the glue didn't reach the edge apply a first layer of pva glue and apply flock. You can also patch it unevenly if there are areas with imperfections (Hurrah hiding mistakes!)

Step 7


Holding the model above the base apply blobs of crackle effect where the model would exert pressure such as around the feet. This will give a lovely cracked ice effect. Use an old brush to spread the crackle effect around a little making it a mm or so thick. And bubbles can be dragged to the snow and popped on it or to the edge of the base. This is a good stage to do at night as it is best to give the crackle a good long time to dry.

Step 8


When the crackle effect has dried give it a light drybrush with white paint, you will see this has a very pleasing effect


Step 9


Apply a second coating of snow flock maybe adding a couple of dots if the drybrushing went a little heavy to awry in the previous stage. Yay more mistake covering!

Step 10


Using liberal blotches affix your model to the base with super glue. You don't want so much it flows all over the base but you need more than usual to ensure it sinks through the flock or crackle as opposed to just adhering to that meaning your model breaks from its beautiful new base.

Step 11


Paint the edges of the base white.

Step 12


Enjoy


Thanks for checking out my guide, any thoughts on how it can be made easier feel free to let me know and any comments would be appreciated

Greg

Wow, that's amazing! Thanks SO much for posting this! 1+ gnobler incoming!

Chris

Nice Tutorial.
I am also doing frozen lake bases. I am using 2mm perspex for the top. I also score and snap it to give a rough broken ice look to the edge of each base.

The crackle effect looks really good. I was wondering if the crackle stuff needs the gloss under coat (ie crackling the undercoat) or does it just work on it's own above the gloss layer.....hope that made sense.

Amazing tutorial, might have to try this sometime.

Hey chaps! Thanks for the kind words and Chris, thanks for my first Gnoblar, i shall name him Chris.

Sorry slow to respond, it's been a mad busy week, 3 games of fantasy in 3 days, 1 1k, 1 3k storm of magic and a 3k badlands campaign game, im shattered lol.

Steve, yep perfect sense fella The crackle is intended to be painted over a basecoat then have a different color overlaid so the undeneath shows in the cracks but i never got this to work properly. Basically the stuff dries as is (if put on the pallet you'll end p with crispy crackles there) It doesn't NEED the gloss undercoat but i find it adheres a little better and the ice looks a little better glossed first (a little uneven and shiny )

Any other questions gimmie a holla Thanks again

Greg

Thanks for the kind words and Chris, thanks for my first Gnoblar, i shall name him Chris.

Lol! Thank you sir!

Chris

Very nice work!  Well done.