Bandai Speederbike build - COMPLETED

[Attirex]

Hey, guys:

I'm almost done with this kit, just need to do something with that awful base. I want to dress it up with some in-scale landscaping, but have no experience with model RR type foliage. I'd like to add some grass and dirt, a few ferns and maybe another plant. Any recommendations? Note that finding something in 1/12 scale is probably a challenge, and unfortunately I don't have time to create any plants from scratch (I think some RR modelers do this?). Is there a shapeways for scale foliage lol? Probably a stretch...

Thanks so much!

 

[Analyzer]

Look for dollhouse stuff since that tends to be around 1/12 or so

for example

Amazon.com

Dollhouse Supplies, Furniture, Accessories | Just Miniature Scale

Largest Online Dollhouse Miniature Shop for everything to build and decorate a dollhouse: accessories, furniture, building supplies, lighting, miniature dolls.

www.justminiaturescale.com

Michaels or AC Moore probably has a section with stuff like that in it

also found these...

4Dmodelshop

Offering model making supplies and bespoke services including laser cutting, photo etching, 3D printing as well as Industry jobs, events, guides and more.

modelshop.co.uk

combine that with some sticks you find outside to represent logs

I also find stuff like Orchid planting material to give some nice bits for miniature bases

 

[thegnome]

I would go buy a mini landscape that you can get like at Joanns or Michaels.

 

[Attirex]

Thanks for suggestions! Appreciate it. I hadn't thought about dollhouse stuff. And there's a Michael's within walking distance. Hm.

 

[Hemble]

Plastic fish tank plants work great and if they are plastic looking I give them washes. I also use 1:1 scale fake ferns from the local craft store and cut the tops off for scale and real tree branches work great as well.

 

[Attirex]

Bingo! That's def one of those "why didn't I think of that" suggestions. All sorts of good plastic aquarium plants online. Thanks! Those are some awesome builds, too.

Now just need to figure how out how to do ground cover. I'm guessing that RR grass/dirt that you pour onto glue would work? Doesn't have to be anything to complex.

 

[division 6]

A lot of the garage kit figure modelers us the RR ground cover (ballast) and grass.
And yes, lay down some glue with a spray bottle and sprinkle on, usually a couple layers in a mix of colors.

 

[scotthothpatrol]

Plastic fish tank plants work great and if they are plastic looking I give them washes. I also use 1:1 scale fake ferns from the local craft store and cut the tops off for scale and real tree branches work great as well.

Wow great dioramas, I really like the Endor Assault

 

[RatPack12]

Here's my speeder dio. I just used dirt from the yard, really fine dirt. Brought it inside put it on a cookie sheet in the oven at 200 degrees to make sure it was good and dry then sprinkled it down and sprayed it with a mixture of white glue and water. Once that was done I used dried leaves and put them in the coffee grinder and repeated the same application process. I used real rocks, some had moss already on them, and real branches. The elevated section of rock, with the branch on it, was done with a Woodland Scenics Rock Faces learning kit. The plants are the tips from a plastic fern I bought at Michael's craft store. After I was finished I made sure to clean any evidence from the cookie sheet and coffee grinder lest my girlfriend find out what I'm doing with all of the kitchen utensils. I also 3d printed an Ewok and other forest creatures to add interest. I loved working on this dio, it was my first of hopefully many!

 

[Attirex]

Your dio looks awesome, RP.

So I guess another option is to use actual grass, dirt, rocks, etc. Much cheaper, too.

 

[Hemble]

Wow great dioramas, I really like the Endor Assault

Thanks heaps mate.

 

[Hemble]

Bingo! That's def one of those "why didn't I think of that" suggestions. All sorts of good plastic aquarium plants online. Thanks! Those are some awesome builds, too.

Now just need to figure how out how to do ground cover. I'm guessing that RR grass/dirt that you pour onto glue would work? Doesn't have to be anything to complex.

Hope the dio is going well and if you haven't already started on the ground cover as of yet I use a mix of bark, very thin sticks, lichen moss, dried leaves and throw them al into a old blender and give it a few rotation until I'm happy with the result. Once I'm happy I pour the mix into a container then apply sand, dirt and static grass and then mix al then together.

When applying the ground cover I just use PVA glue and once dry remove the excess back into the container for other projects and then use Vallejo's Chocolate Brown and apply it over the mix with a medium wash. A medium wash is when you have the paint watered down but not totally thinned out by the water. Here are pics of the process of one of my Endor dios for the ground cover.

Pic 1, 2 & 3 - is when the ground cover has been applied and dried with the excess removed.

Pic 4, 5 & 6 - is the was of Vallejo's Chocolate Brown was it has dried.

Pic 7 & 8 - Is the moss attached to the tree's which was done by mixing two tablespoons of fine sand and one and half tablespoons of spakfilla and a teaspoon of PVA mixed together and with a small amount of mixed in to give you a thick pancake type consistency then applied on with a brush. Once dry I used medium watered down Vallejo's light green to get the colour I wanted.

Pic 9, 10 & 11 - the plastic plants are attached along with static grass clumps from Army Painter.

Pic 12, 13 & 14 - are just a few pics of the completed dio.

Ron

 

[Attirex]

Thanks for the awesome info, Ron! Unfortunately, I already finished the build. As you can see, nowhere near as involved (or as good) as what you do lol; I just wanted to dress up Bandai's provided base, which is bland and ugly. But I will keep your tips on file for next time.

I decided to punt on re-doing the bed roll, and scratched some small comms/sensor boxes for the back. I'm not sure why you never see different types of equipment back there--so many possibilities.

Broke off the right handlebar braces while taking photos. Oops. I scratched a new one, but too lazy to retake photos.

Also, found a good deal on the Sideshow R5 in Japan via eBay. Thought the red panels were too orange/pink, so repainted them and added a heavier grime wash.

Thanks for looking and as usual, sorry for the crappy smartphone photography. One day I'll get proper lighting.......

 

[Analyzer]

Excellent work

Very convincing weathering!

 

[Attirex]

Thanks!