MODELING MATERIALS

It's difficult to say exactly which materials you'll need for modeling, as a lot depends on what you're making and your own personal preferences. The following list is not definitive by any means, but it does describe some of the materials our modellers find most useful.

Most projects on this web site tell you what tools and materials you'll need, so you can check you've got everything before you start. You might also want to have a look at the Materials page of the Scenery Making section.

Most of these items can be purchased from Games Workshop and other dedicated hobby stores.

FLOCK

Also known as scatter, flock is fine coloured sawdust used to cover terrain and bases with a natural texture representing grass or earth. It is sold in various colours, usually shades of green, brown, or yellow, of which green is the most useful. You can buy flock from Games Workshop stores and most model shops, especially model railway shops.

More about flock

GREEN STUFF

This fine-textured modeling putty is used by the Citadel design team to sculpt miniatures. It is available from Games Workshop stores and is useful for a variety of jobs from filling in small gaps on multi-part models to scratch-building and converting. The putty comes as a flat ribbon, one half yellow, the other blue. To use, simply cut an equal length of both colours and mould together until to get a uniform green colour.

Tip: Where the two halves of the ribbon meet the putty may have begun to set, so it is a good idea to remove this part before mixing to avoid any lumps.

STATIC GRASS

Static (short for electrostatic) grass is used for adding "grassy" detail to scenery and bases. Stick it on the same way you would flock (see Using Flock). Static grass comes in a mix of green colours and is available from the same sort of shops that sell flock.

SAND

Sand is readily available from pet shops and garden centres, or you may prefer to buy special modeling sand which is all clean and ready to use (and doesn't require two strong men to lift the pack!). Sand is used in combination with PVA glue to texture bases and flat surfaces.

Using sand

WIRE

Wire is useful for adding details to models. It can be bought in hardware stores and gardening shops. A pack of fuse wire is a good start, as these packs are wrapped with several thicknesses of wire. Wire must be cut with a pair of wire cutters or pliers that can cut wire. Do not use scissors or you will ruin them.

LICHEN

This substance is a natural material similar to moss that is useful for adding simple foliage or clumps of bushes to terrain and troop bases. Lichen is widely available from model and railway shops and can be found in a variety of colours from the common green to such diverse colours as yellow and red, which are ideal for alien landscapes.

GRAVEL

Fine gravel can be used for decorating bases. You can get nice clean modeling gravel by purchasing bags from pet shops or just collecting it from the garden or the side of the road.

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