Crackle paint and rough surfaces

[Quixus]

I just watched the

on using Agrellan Earth. It seems like an incredibly easy way to get great looking bases. Now I wonder if this method also works on pretty rough surfaces like the old Plains bases from Anvil Industries I still have lying around.

 

BTW What other companies make similar paints?

[Somerandomidiot]

After trying several crackle paints (including the GW one), I ended up using Viva Decor Crackle Paint (link).  You can see some of the results here:

 

You'll want to prime with a gloss primer before you lay the paint down, otherwise it just flakes off, and I prime lightly afterwards as well.  If you're interested, I can give you a more detailed description of exactly what I do.

[Quixus]

The models and bases look great. A more detailed description would be much appreciated.

I was going more for a parched earth look like this with less gravel and rocks, so I guess i can just skip those steps of your description.

[Somerandomidiot]

Yeah, you can skip the rocks and gravel.  I start with a flat base (with any big rocks already glued where I want them), then spray it with a gloss white primer.  I lay down a thick coat of the crackle paint, because the thicker you put it on, the bigger the chips will be.  Then I leave it to dry overnight.  At this point I'll lay down some Elmer's glue and sprinkle the gravel on the base.  My color scheme for the bases is pretty simple, I then prime it with a matte white primer, basecoat the entire thing Balor Brown, wash it with Agrax Earthshade, then a drybrush of Zamesi Desert followed by a drybrush of Ushabti Bone.  Then I add plants, grass, minor basing details, etc.  I found a better picture of the basing, here it is:

[Quixus]

What's the white glossy primer for? Wouldn't a black primer give you automatic dark recesses once the crackle paint is on?

 

Am I right that the crackle paint is colourless? Could you directly mix it with a color to get a product similar to Agrellan Earth?

[Somerandomidiot]

The crackle paint I use is white, but I think they sell it in other colors. I use the glossy primer because it doesn't stick well to normal surfaces, and there have been times that I forgot and primed the base with matte, and when the crackle paint dried it literally just fell right off.  I haven't tried mixing it with another color, but it's a VERY thick paint, and I imagine it'd be difficult to mix.

[Quixus]

Too bad, thanks anyways.

[Peredyne]

What's the white glossy primer for? Wouldn't a black primer give you automatic dark recesses once the crackle paint is on?

 

Am I right that the crackle paint is colourless? Could you directly mix it with a color to get a product similar to Agrellan Earth?

As long as the coat is glossy, the crackle paint will work on any color. And my experience with the crackle paint is that trying to mix any color into the crackle medium changes the chemistry and the end result of the crackle effect. In my experience, it does not crackle once you do that.