1st custom background

[Skwish]

Hi all, thought id share my attempt at a custom 'rock' build ...went down the polystyrene and grout route, painted with acrylic paint, sealed with modpodge and made it all separate so it can all be easily removed and cleaned. Ive just ordered 2 brand new vivs (same size 4ft x 2 x 2) so this set up will be transferred to one and i'll do something similar for the other...Theres probably a few things i will change on the next build, like spend a bit more time on shaping to get a more natural look and incorporate a few real rocks aswell

 

[Skwish]

 

[Elders]

Awesome build!

I wish I had the space to do that; next year I am looking at getting a house; and with that all my animals will get upgraded; perhaps I'll try my hand at a project like this.

I really like the theme you did here!

Thanks for the great step by step photos.

 

[Skwish]

It was actually alot easier than i thought, i watched quite a few vids of lizard landscapes on youtube which are really helpful, the hardest thing is having patients in between grout layers drying, paint drying and the sealer haha

 

[PatsyB]

That is so freakin' amazing! Good job

 

[Candybugs]

That's so awesome. You did good.

 

[Hdrydr31]

Wow!!! that looks amazing!!! I am very jealous!!

 

[Dennis Knowles]

This looks awesome! Great work on the rocks looks very realistic

 

[Angela]

Yay! It looks fantastic! I have high endeavors of creating a Star Wars Tatooine themed viv sometime soon. I want to carve out the Lars' homestead and maybe get some little Jawa & Sandcrawler figures and hide them around. /nerd

 

[Candybugs]

That would be so cool.

 

[Bobbi]

Wow, sorry for the late post ....That is absolutely amazing. I wish I could do something similar but I have no idea how hah

 

[Pammy]

Hi this is great I'm on with doing the same, all grouted but struggling on the colour. What acrylic colour did u use?

 

[Skwish]

Hi this is great I'm on with doing the same, all grouted but struggling on the colour. What acrylic colour did u use?

i just used a standard emulsion waterbased paint in a 'sandstone' colour for the basecoat....then i had some small brown, black and white acrylic tubes that i mixed various shades of brown , watered it down 50/50 with water and used a spray bottle to add thin layers of 'washes' and just built up the color un till i was happy with it