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Over the years I have used many different types of battlefields (solid green
felt, flocked boards, and geo-hex 'mat', etc). The only real problem with
these was that they tended to look too GREEEEN!!! (a geo mat is simply a
single shade of green). Without getting into a __major project__ of making separate terrain boards to be fitted together (each with sculpted terrain, various shades of flock, grass, etc...etc) we came up with a simple and QUICK method called "Earthing" (my term). Its also very cheap to do!!! Note that this method is not NEW...although a newbie to the hobby may find this very useful indeed Earthing is simply a method of turning your battlefield from a drab green (or whatever color it may be) in to a more realistic (perhaps slightly exaggerated) multi-earthed colored surface. Just have a look at some colored pics in say Wargames Ill. for what I mean. ****************************** ***Take for example a geo-hex green felt mat***... 1). The surface is already textured with green flock. Get yourself a number of paints in various shades of green and yellow, and some browns as well. Start off with the darker tones (browns). Water down the paint on a plate or something like this. Now...using med. sized sponge dip into the paint (you should squish out some of the paint on the sponge on a newspaper or something to avoid smothering the felt with too much paint), and begin dabbing on some shapes on the geohex mat. You want to form uneven 'blobs' scattered about the geo-mat, so don't cover too much of the mat with paint. You need to be careful here; you do not want to get solid areas of paint (thats why we use a sponge) - caused when you apply too much pressure to the sponge while painting the mat. Although read below if you do. After you have some areas done, move on to a lighter shades of brown and keep working you way up. I norm start with a dark brown and perhaps a med. brown; finishing off with a bone colored paint. What you are doing here is basically 'highlighting' the brown by adding lighter shades to it. Remember also that you only want to create a few areas on your mat that are brown - you don't want to overpower the green!!! Vary the size and extent of the patches of brown you are creating (a few areas about 8-12" is good, as well as some additional smaller patches scattered about). 2). Once the browns are done you want to move on to a light green (one that is a bit lighter than the normal color of your felt/flock). Using the sponge (clean it up after using it with the browns) dab on the green over __some__ of the non-brown surface (don't paint the green over top the brown areas ya just painted). The goal here is to brighten up some of the green areas of the mat. 3). Last...you want to get out your yellow paint (and clean up your sponge again). This time you want to use the yellow to highlight some of the green areas ya just painted AS WELL AS some of the brown areas. The yellow REALLY brings out the green and brown over the whole of the mat and keeps your mat colorful/bright (which is good if your a miniature gamer), instead of drab looking. In addition, it keeps the brown areas from making your mat look like a desert, or arid type area (assuming you don't want that type of battlefield in the first place). 4). Once the table surface is done you should use the same method on your terrain pieces (be careful when doing this with Warzone or geo-hex terrain - you don't want to rub off the flock). ******************************* I should note...don't be afraid to rub the sponge lightly, besides 'dabbing'. Use this method to drag out some of the paint creating uneven areas of brown/green/yellow, or whatever paint you are using. And don't worry if ya get some solid areas of paint on your mat (it actually looks a bit more realistic that way...a patch of dry earth for example). You just don't want to over do it. You may want to have a look through some issues of Wargames Ill., for example, to see what exactly you are aiming for in appearance while Earthing. If you have no idea what you are trying to achieve...DON'T EARTH YOUR MAT?TABLE?WHATEVER!!! Geohex mats are expensive. Test out this method first on some cloth or felt before attempting it. Using this method also is much cleaner than using say loose sawdust or flock on your table-top. Anyway...I hope I have been helpful to somebody. Earthing REALLY makes your table-top come alive!!! If anyone has any questions about Earthing, please feel free to e-mail me. I'll be more than happy to help. |
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To mail Kurt Click Here. Or visit his website at:- http://members.toast.net/jab/ "A Games Page" |
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