Manda’s (Amachan) Black Seas

Here is my tutorial on how I will do the bases, they are really simple and look really good.

This test was just done with a random bit of plasticard and is in no way the dimension that I will be using for the basing.

To start you need a surface to base, some toilet paper, PVA glue, water and some old brushes to sculpt the toilet paper.

I start by coating the plasticard with watered down PVA and put a sheet of toilet paper on there. Then with a brush I stipple on more watered down PVA to remove the texture of the toilet paper. I then put on the next sheet and remove the texture again, once more and we’re set. I do have to mention that I did have problems with the toilet paper sticking to the plasticard, so in the future I might scuff up the surface or add a bit of superglue on the plasticard.

Once it is all covered, I use the brush to make a bit of wavey like texture by stippling over the toilet paper until I get it. I then press in the ship where I want it and start shaping the toilet paper in the waves around the ship. Once done remove the ship by wiggling it a bit so that you create a bit more area where the ship will fit back in.

I let this dry overnight and the next day I cut off the excess toilet paper around the edges.

I then primed it all in grey and covered it with a base coat of Vallejo Model Color Medium Blue (70.963).

When dry I covered it with a coat of Citadel Shade Athonian Camoshade (99189953024) to deepen areas and add a bit more green shades to the water.

When this was dry added a drybrush of Vallejo Model Air Insignia White (71.279) which is a slightly bue-ish white.

A gloss varnish to finish it off and I have my sea bases.

This video has been my inspiration on how to do these bases, I recommend checking it out.

What will I be doing?

I will be making 2 fleets for Black Seas, 1 English and 1 Dutch.

The English fleet will be completely official Warlord Games fleet and I will start that as soon as I can get the Master & Commander starter set.

The Dutch fleet will be 3D printed models from Henry Turner, link below. These ships are 17th century ships rather than the 18th century the game is set in. As for rules I will just be using basic rules for ships and such, so no national special rules, characters or ships. Because, Warlord Games does not have any rules for the Dutch in Black Seas.

All ships should be at 1/700th scale as the the Warlord Games’ ships come like that. Henry Turner’s ships come in either 1/700 or 1/600. After doing a little bit of maths I’ll print the 1/600 at 85% to get them to 1/700th scale.

Why not Oak & Iron?

While Oak & Iron is set in the period I am more interested in and does have rules for the Dutch, in order to play it I need their special bases, cards and everything to play. This means I will have to buy every set for every ship I am going to 3D print. I don’t like the look of their ship models and this is going to be quite expensive. While Black Seas also uses cards, they aren’t mandatory because as far as I understand all the rules for the ships are in the rulebook.

Will I do the rigging?

I intend to, yes. It will be a bit more of a challenge on the 3D printed ones I think, but I’ll definitely give it a go.

Sails?

One thing I haven’t really made up my mind on how I will do them. Currently I’m thinking of printing them on paper or just use paper and weather it up. I haven’t decided yet, if anyone has any ideas for sails 1/700th scale, let me know.

Bases?

For my ships I will be using bases, I have not yet decided on the dimensions, but length wise they will be adjusted to match the ship and 3D printed. The bases will most likely just be a rectangle printed without texture. I will then add texture and paint them after.

I am using bases simply because it makes the models more stable on the tabletop, especially the resin/metal Warlord ones.