As promised - Explosion Markers

Here are a few pictures that show the finished work.

Remembering that this is my first attempt at them, I can see a few "areas for improvement":

1) Don't spread the hot glue everywhere.  You can see in a few pictures that they glue is visible as globs and strands.  Painting won't hide it, so cleanup is necessary prior to painting - like putting more foliage over the exposed area.

2) Use another coat of grey.  I went black twice, then grey twice.  I am thinking another grey and maybe even a lighter grey on that third coat.

But I really do like the effect and look of the marker.  In one of my games, there was a conversation about concealment through a destroyed tank.  I had to remind my opponent about the 2" rule (sorry, don't know the cm measurement).  The marker helped illustrate that.

So without further ado, here are the pictures:

You can see the glob of glue and a strand.  The strands should be easy enough to cut out.  From an artistic view, I think a heavier airbrush at the top and lighter on the bottom would be a better look to the explosion.  In other words, show more color of the foliage at the bottom and not the top.

While the focus is a little off, I like this marker very much.  The trick is to make the marker look a little asymetical.  Of course, the marker completely overtakes my little Stewie.  But again, it does help to illustrate the 2" rule on the detroyed tank.

Final thoughts:

Ok, so they don't look like Shawn's (The Terrain Guy), but then what mere mortal's work does?!?  I have to admit I really like the look and effect.  I did see another player that had an LED flashing under his marker.  That made me think...  nahhh.  Or did it?!?!  :-)

Simple to make, but remember the hot glue!  White glue, terrain glue and even super glue will work, but I found the hot glue to be much, much easier to handle.

Good luck!

Explosion Markers Updated (no pictures yet)

I have finished my first two markers as a test.  I liked the way they turned out, so I am now starting 6 more.

The idea is simple enough and the details have been posted in the forums at ww.flamesofwar.com.

I took a washer and glued about 6 inches of pipe cleaner to the washer, with the pipe cleaner extending straight up as the washer is resting on the desk.  The best way to describe the way the way teh pip cleaner looks is that it should resemble the wire egg holder you get in the PAS egg dying kits for Easter in the States.  I then saturated the pipe cleaner with a water / white glue mixture, then dunked it in a mixture of red and yellow (fall) coarse turf.  I did not have any clump foliage, but the coarse turf works ok.  It won't be as "full" as you would get with clump foliage.  I then remove the pipe cleaner and let it rest for a little bit - about 30 minutes.  I should state that I do not do the entire length of the cleaner because I need something to hold it with.  Then I spray the "marker" with something called wet water.  That is just water and dish detergent mixed together.  The detergent allows the water to flow easier.  Once the marker is damp, I then add more of the water glue mixture and another dunk.  Let it stand, then repeat the wet water and the glue step.  Let it dry for 24 hours, then airbrush the marker with black.  And you now have an explosion marker.

I think I will try several with clump foliage if I ever see clump foliage.  But I am in a tournament this weekend and I hope to have 8 markers ready for the table by Saturday.