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Help Need to paint a fortress

Killer Angel
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Killer Angel

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in the last days, I've worked on a massive construction for 40k, which i intend to use in Apocalypse games, or even in standard games but with particular rules.

It's basically the walls of a fortress (if you have ever seen Boylan's Helsreach, you know what I'm talking about), built with various polystirene material (TV packaging, polystirene foams cut, polystirene food trays…).
2 section, each wall is 46" long.


The question is: how do i paint them?
I've had in mind heavy use of spray concrete grey, then brush darker grey for details and some dark green for the upper parts (parapets and similar).

However i've never painted polystirene, so i don't know how to proceed.

I've heard advices that direct use of spray is problematic at best and the result would be unsatisfying for a number of reasons.
So the suggestion to bypass the problem(s) is: create a soft paste with vinyl glue mixed with water and chalk / plaster, then place it all over the surfaces, to give:
more weight to the terrain
more resistance to polystirene
a paintable / sprayable surface


but i'm here to hear also YOUR advices… ;)


here is the actual VIP:
 
Killer Angel said:
Interesting..i wonder how much surface can be covered by one of those.

Alas the description says:
International Shipping : This item is not eligible for international shipping.
Click to expand...
ah are you in Europe? that would make things a bit hard
as for coverage a jare could cover about 1-1 1/2 sqare meters
 
Killer Angel said:
Well, i've got both pva and sand.
How should i apply the mixture on the surface ?
Click to expand...
sand paper it and stick it with a fork give it a rough serfice to hold on to not big holes but break the serfice. then lay it out flat and put it on like paint with a old brush cover in sand flatten it out and let it dry it should hold up fine after that provided it's not to heavy
 
The way I usually apply sand to surfaces is like this:
- Make a mixture of PVA and water, 2:1 approximately.
- Use an old, big brush to put it onto the terrain.
- Just throw the sand on there. It should stick
- wait until it is completely dry.
- Paint with wall color from the DIY store. grey.
- shade with thin mixture of black wall paint and water.
- carefully drybrush with a brighter grey (mix grey and white).

EDIT:
Try this on a small part first, obviously. I use a finer styrofoam material so it might work differently on yours.
 
Killer Angel said:
Yep, Italy. ;)
Click to expand...
Vallejo is a Spanish company, so it's just as easy to get their products in Europe through other websites.

Though, for your intended purpose, I think using a pre-made solution for a larger area would quickly become expensive.

As others have recommended, make a mixture of PVA (or if you want to make really large areas and looking for a cheaper solution, carpet/floor glue as it comes in 20L containers ;) and water.

I would strongly recommend painting this mixture onto the polystyrene for several layers to ensure it is all sealed up, before gluing sand to the surface.
 
Test on an offcut piece. [ !! ]

That ^ applies to whatever method is chosen.

99% of rattlecan products applied directly to white packing foam will melt the foam.

But there is one, just one, that I know of that will not: Rustoleum faux stone.

95accc6bc73743436b239fb1c23c5457.jpg

Accept no substitutes !!!
 
Be careful with spray paint... depending on what kind you use, the spray paint will literally "melt" the Styrofoam. Test a small area first if you don't basecoat it with something first; but I would recommend giving it a regular-old coat of black/PVA layer first to seal in the little foam gubbins. Although some battle damage wouldn't be a bad idea either...

It also makes me pleased to see the knight can literally look over the wall; almost like he is a titan...

 
Warden said:
It also makes me pleased to see the knight can literally look over the wall; almost like he is a titan...
Click to expand...

Yes, it was my intention since the beginning: a solid backup for the defenders. :D

The knight needs a small platform to be raised to the needed level, but the result is threatening
 
IMG-20200102-WA0012.jpeg

VIP .
In the end i have decided to do a test on the first one with PVA, water and paper.
The next step could be the placing of some thick paint..
 
I was going to suggest covering it in a paper-maché mix - good job! gotta love TV packaging for terrain!
 
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