Preparing for Armies on Parade 2023 - Part IV

Go and check out the previous entries, Part I, Part II and Part III, to keep up with the progress towards Armies on Parade!

With all of the sculpting out the way, it was now time to start applying the modeling compound over the structure. My initial plan was to literally cover the entire structure in the compound, but soon started to change that plan for a number of reasons; firstly, I am not a rich man. Secondly, I didn't want to add a huge amount of unnecessary weight to the board. And thirdly, I wanted the texture to be interesting throughout the structure, and covering it all in one material had the potential to make it not that way.

There are about a million different products that would all effectively work, but I decided to buy the modelling compound from Geek Gaming Scenics, as I was in need of a few other bits from then. Their product was pretty much the same as normal plaster, with the exception of recycled paper to help make the texture feel a little more natural.

Being the utter amateur that I am, I found this part very difficult. I wasn't happy with the consistency of the compound, and found it hard to place over the structure in a neat and efficient manner. Plus my decision to not use gloves resulted in plaster embedded in the root of my fingernails.

However, once I got the hang of it, and mixing the right parts of water to compound, things started going a little smoother (pun excused). I started applying the compound in a few different areas, for a few different reasons. Firstly it was used to strengthen the surface of any part of the structure that felt weak. Then it was used across large flat areas to create some texture. And finally, it was used to keep the doorway, balconies and cleansing aqualith in place.

If you look closely, you might notice that there seems to be a few different variations of the compound. That's because there is indeed. I swiftly an out of the first compound I was using, and so moved onto a homemade mix of PVA and sand. This allowed me to support some of the areas that really needed it, but was not ideal due to the texture of it, and the very long drying time. After running out of this, I still had a little more work to do, and so went to the shops to buy some regular ol' plaster. I then used this to cover the previous compound's texture, as well as finish any last remaining parts of the structure that required it.

By the end of this, I had used three different kinds of modelling compound, each with their own pro's and con's. But I felt satisfied in knowing that each of them had completed the job I needed it for. I then had to let all of the plaster work dry, as I had worked on all of this over the course of one day, instead of in stages like I probably should have.

Being unable to do anything at this stage, I figured I could add a few little details and features, to once again, ensure the theme of Tzeentch was felt throughout. I used some more of the metal symbols on the doorway and balconies, and felt that the board was starting to come together nicely. Whilst I still had a little plaster left over, I decided I would start some work on decorating the room I had carved out in the central structure. I made sure the plaster was a little more wet than usual, and then spread a layer out across the floor, walls and ceiling of the room. Then, whilst still wet, placed a few objects and ornaments, to give the effect of a slightly cluttered bookworm's room. The books would play a vital role in joining the dots, being in the theme of Tzeentch and all that.

Once a wall had been put back into the gaping hole, the structure would be ready to receive it's first priming layer of paint...