Terrain pieces for pictures

 I've been working on some terrain pieces to take pictures on, and it's an opportunity to get some of the rust out before starting larger areas. I've gotten down into the basement and retrieved some ground foams and equip to make some rubble.  

 

This is a marsh scene. Foam Keep, coffee stir stick bridge and grasses made from twine.

The water was a clear resin product made by Art N Glow. Very happy with it as it is advertised as low odor, and it really was. I poured it in my upstairs hobby nook, and was prepared to take it down to the basement if needed but the odor, although present was minimal so it cured upstairs. 

It behaved as standard clear resin but it is a 24 hour cure. It tints well with ink, and you still get a miniscus.

I think it needs more ground cover to finish it off, but I can add that a bit at a time in the future. 

The desert scene is made on the same 10"x7"x 1/2" drywall base as the marsh. I used drywall because its cheap, has good adherence, and is not overly heavy. 

I made the ridges with cut pieces of pink board covered in home made sculpt a mold. The major rock formations are plaster. I used to have a Woodland Scenics rock mold, but couldn't find it (not sure the mold pattern would have worked), so I used some Equinox mold material and some pieces of charcoal to make rock facing molds.

I painted the base with a mix of 1/3 each, tan latex paint, mod-podge, and baking soda. Makes a very nice sand texture and you can get some small waves and ridges if needed. I couldn't find my silicone rubble mat so I tried the using pink board to cast on and it actually worked well. Not sure you can cast on it twice but you can make a lot of rubble on a single piece then still use it for other things.

I have a few bags of Woodland Scenics talus rubble, but much of the time is seems too round for my needs so I began making my own flatter rubble a long time ago. I can color it by the batch which is also helpful.

Some ground foam and lichen for the grass and bushes and good enough for the time being. 

Art N Glow clear casting and coating epoxy resin was purchased on Amazon. They have a few varieties so look for one that mentions low odor.