--- /dev/null
+Title: Kitbash Secret Santa, 2025
+Category: Craft
+Date: 2025-12-21
+Tags: kitbashing
+
+This is my second year participating in the In Rust We Trust Kitbash Secret
+Santa. I had a really great time last year, so I was looking forward to this
+year's entry, as I'm sure many of us were. And while it is excellent to receive,
+for me I'm most excited to receive my prompts and to see where the inspiration
+takes me, and to send my little creation off to its new owner. I was even lucky
+enough last year to hang out with the recipient of my project a couple of times.
+
+If you're not familiar, the Hive Scum crew hosts a Discord server called
+[In Rust We Trust](https://discord.gg/RyhBkUNM){. .anchor}. I'm going to guess
+that if you're here, you're probably there, but for those who don't, here's the
+breakdown.
+
+Participants are invited to fill out a form with their names and addresses, and
+three or so keywords to act as prompts for your Secret Santa - something that
+gives them an idea what you'd enjoy receiving in the mail. Prompts are kept
+secret, and we each kitbash a model and send it to its intended recipient.
+Painting is not necessary, though it does seem that folks like to prime their
+creations before parting with them. Priming really makes a build come together,
+so I most definitely prime before calling it done.
+
+I'm not much of a kitbasher myself, probably because most of my models are
+either cast in resin or 3D printed - I just don't have kits and bits to choose
+from. I do like to sculpt and scratch-build, however, so that's what I do. Last
+year, my recipient got from me a model and a bit of a diorama, all on a 60mm
+base. This year, I really leaned into the diorama. You'll see what I mean.
+
+{. .image-med data-caption=true}
+
+My recipient's prompts were <span class="spoiler">Gothic, Skull, Forest.</span>
+This resonated with me right away. I started with a cast of a tree stump I
+sculpted earlier this year. I cut a fairly large base from a piece of masonite,
+I think about 6" long and 3" wide. I traced the footprint of the tree onto a
+scrap of XPS foam and cut it to shape. This I used to lift the tree a bit, so I
+could build around and perhaps under it. This gave me space to extend the roots
+of the tree out and down, and right away I decided to brick around the sides.
+
+{. .image}
+{. .image}
+
+The roots I shaped with aliminum foil, then covered in Milliput. I built out the
+roots before finishing the brick work, so that it looked like the roots had
+grown between and displaced them. I also wasn't quite sure what I would do in
+the open space between the two largest branches. This gave me time to think
+about it. At this point, I still didn't know what kind of model would live on
+this base, if any.
+
+
+{. .image}
+{. .image}
+{. .image}
+
+At this point things were coming together in my mind. I decided the space I'd
+created could be the entrance to a dungeon or mine. I cut some craft sticks and
+glued them in place. Then I covered the open horizontal space with more foil
+before coating it in CA glue and baking soda. If I was going to call this a
+"bash", I was going to need to add some bits, so I scrounged some loose skulls
+and lanterns to add to the tableau, as well as a little rat peeking out of the
+door. Also, to add character and to fulfill another of the prompts, I sculpted a
+crude skull into the trunk of the tree. On all the raised surfaces, I spread PVA
+glue and sand.
+
+{. .image-med data-caption=true}
+
+Satisfied with the build, I covered the ground of the base with PVA and sand as
+well, and committed to priming, plus zenithal. Ultimately I decided, the diorama
+_is_ the model! I sincerely hope whomever receives my gift will enjoy it and I
+hope to see it painted one day.
+
+{. .image}
+{. .image}
+{. .image}
+{. .image}
projects / vexingworkshop.git / commitdiff
