Difference between Vallejo Rough Pumice and Coarse Pumice

[Muerto]

Hi all,

These products have recently come to my attention, and promising to stop me from wasting green stuff sausages around integral bases while giving a new period a new base style, I’m interested.

I am curious though – is there any discernible difference in grit size between the Rough Pumice (26.212 and 26.213) and the Coarse Pumice (28.599)? Are there any differences in durability, or ease of use, or in any other meaningful way?

Thanks!

[Mike]

Not sure, but to confuse matters further.
I used to use Vallejo White Pumice until I found this:

LINK

I found this to be easier to apply and it leaves a more mud like texture than grit.
Though both shrink a lot and will most likely need at least 2 applications.

I much prefer it to the vallejo which to me does not look like bare earth.

[Mike]

It is what I use on my 15mm with integral bases to blend that into the plastic bases I use.

https://cromsanvil.co.uk/characters.html

[Muerto]

Thanks Mike.

Does the Winsor & Newton mask integral bases as well?

I’m looking at 28mm, so possibly more coarse is more acceptable.

[Mike]

Hard to say, I think I should try to distinguish that coarser and grittier is the finish, not the thickness.
They both are as thick as you apply it.
So in terms of layers needed, they will both be the same.

I will try and get a sample of each up tomorrow if you are not in a rush?

[Muerto]

Very kind of you, and no rush whatever.

It’d be great to have such a picture here for posterity.

[Steve Burt]

I also use the Windsor & Newton gels but I find the pumice works better for larger scale figures than the sand texture. I mix it with a bit of acrylic paint from the tube so it is pre-coloured.

 

[Mike]

[Muerto]

Thanks Mike – those are really helpful!

[Mike]

Not sure if this is in time and or even helps?

pumice on the right

[Andrew Beasley]

Do you get any cracking in them?

I’ve a few Moongrunt figures that I did years ago with a clear basing compound (no idea what now) and need to finish another unit or two off and the right hand one looks a good match.

[Mike]

Nope. Some slight shrinkage as the juice evaporates but no cracking.

[Muerto]

That is both helpful and still timely. Thanks.

I gather from those photos that the Vallejo is easier to push around with a brush when wet but will shrink a great deal, where the Winsor & Newton looks more like you trowel it on and then sculpt, but when it dries it’ll look much like it did when you put it on?

[Mike]

Actually they are both applied with a small wooden coffee stirrer in the same fashion in these images.
For getting into close quarters I use an old brush as it is much easier to control that way.
I find the Winsor gel the easiest to use as it is less clumpy.
Neither change much in appearance to be fair, just a bit of shrinkage, which is only really noticeable if you fill up to the required height and then once dry you notice it has shrunken a little.

I much prefer the W&N, as it is easier to use and less craggy when dry.
If I wanted to rough it up I guess I could add some sand in the mix, but obvs with the Vallejo, you can’t un-roughen it!

😀

[Andrew Beasley]

Most kind.

I’m not overly worried about the shrinkage as I’ll apply as two layers or areas for the bigger (vehicle) bases if needed.

[Steve Johnson]

Looking at Mike’s images, could you not simply use fine surface polyfilla and add some pva glue and the appropriate grit to make you own mix?

[Andrew Beasley]

The grit is a lot finer than I normally use and I’ve had real problems previously with PVA both going yellow and coming off so I tend to use it on scenery and not figures.

[Author]

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