Here
is another tip that you may find useful for your next diorama or
display base. It is a simple method to simulate tarmac seams in roads
and airstrips. I have been using scribed lines to simulate joints between concrete blocks of runways
for a long time. If the lines are scribed in a not so neat way,
after a wash with black paint the method look fairly realistic.
However, I've been looking for a method to reproduce those tar filled
joints and cracks so common in photos of runways and roads:
These
joints are not a cosmetic measure, mind you. The joints are necessary
to allow expansion of the blocks without cracking and a smooth rolling
of the aircraft. If not filled, they are prone to cracking of the
edges, water infiltration and dirt accumulation, all serious violations
of aviation rules. That is why they must be filled with a flexible
material. Tar is the most common and cheap option, but some types of
rubber and other specific products are also used.
Under
constant use, heavy loads and temperature variation, these seams
deform heavily, what explains their ragged aspect tha we see not only
at airports, but also along paved roads. If you look closely, these
seams are actually a small bump, with the filler more spread in some
places than in others. My goal was to
simulate tar seams in a vignette which would represent the dispersion
area of a small airport. I thought about a concrete pavement covered
with asphalt that I used to see at my local airport when I was younger:
The
method itself is so simple that you probably will get a good result
already on your first try. It has been in my mind for quite a while,
but only now I find a good excuse to test it.
Let me explain
the basics first, and then I'll show you my results. You will need very
simple tools: a syringe, some artists paint and a cylindrical object.
It starts by filling the syringe with artists oils or acrylic paint -
the type that comes in tubes. I used both in my project, and found out
that the oils work a bit better. More on that later.
With
the runway lines drawn or scribed on your base (I use a piece of
plastic or cardboard), follow the lines with the syringe needle while
you press the plunger, dispensing a string of paint as you go. Before we continue,
pay attention on a few things:
(a) Cut off the beveled end of the needle
with an abrasive disk. Not only it is safer, but in this way the needle
will run more easily along the surface and you will have more control
over the paint flow.
(b)
The needle diameter will depend on the width of the seam, and so the
scale you are working with. I found out that needles 23G to 26G
work fine for 1/72 or 1/48 scales (see a needle reference table here).
(c)
Avoid paints too thin or too dry. It is important that the paint don't
level out, but yet flows easily from the needle. Think about the
consistency of a toothpast. Good oils can be used straight from the
tube.
(d) The
seam lines don't need to be perfectly straight. It depends on what you
want, an edge or a repaired crack. If you don't have a scribed line, it is a good idea to use a stepped ruller.
(e) Don't bother with the small
blobs of paint. It is virtually impossible to avoid them, and they will
add realism to the seam later.
After
taking care of all the seams and cracks, put your base aside and let it
dry at room temperature for 24 hours. Do not use a hair dryer.
The
next step is to flatten the paint strings down. I use a heavy duty
steel tube rolled longitudinally over each line. The amount of pressure
necessary will depend on how hard the paint is. In my experience,
24 hours is enough to continue if oils are used, but keep in mind that
acrylics may require less time. As always, make some tests before
trying in your definitive base.
The objective here is to transform the strings of paint in the
flattened seams that we see in the real thing. That is why the lines
don't need to be perfectly straight, and also why the blobs of paint
are useful: when flattened by the cylinder, the unavoidable blobs of
paint becomes wider tar patches, producing the jagged aspect and adding randomness to the seam:
Now
that you got the idea, let me show you a real application of the
technique. As I said, my display base would depict a paved small
aircraft parking area. The scale is 1/72, and I opted for using a piece
of 80 grade sandpaper to simulate the asphalt, which was glued to a MDF
board. After drawing the seam lines on the sandpaper, I followed the
steps described above. I also included a few cracks on the corners of
selected blocks:
At this point
the result was checked. I had to press more the seams on a few spots.
Once satisfied with the overall aspect, I left the base drying for
further 24 hours:
In the
next day I primed the base with a spray can followed by an overall coat
of dark grey color. Then I added highlights with a lighter shade of
gray, mainly on the center of the blocks, followed by a liberal
wash of dark brown oils applied over the whole base. It naturally
concentrated along the seams. Once everything was dry, a flat clear was
airbrushed to remove shiny spots. Lastly, a large flat brush was used
to drybrush medium grey in order to highlight the texture of the
pavement:
Unfortunately, the drybrush also highlighted the edges of the seams, but it would be impossible to avoid it:
The
solution was to brush on a thin glossy black acrylic along the seams.
Not only it corrected the side effect, but also increased the contrast
of the seams to the pavement, exactly as I wanted:
Here is the result (the holes were drilled to install my rendition of galvanized fence poles later):
So, there you have it. Not perfect, but the technique is so simple that deserves a try during your next diorama.
I hope you
find this
article useful in your next project.
Rato
Marczak
© 2016