One can never have too many skulls...

Yes, I know, we have all seen skulls galore on everything Fantasy or 40k.  They are everywhere!  

However, it was time for me to make another 80 mm base insert to match a set I did years ago.  This one is very Inquisition inspired!  I have used it on my own Grey Knights and Sisters of Battle.

The process begins with a layer of cork.

Then we add a layer of baked sculpey, which is then carved and shaved to fit.

My next step is to draw out the design which will be etched into it.

More circle guides to get my pattern symmetrical.

Design drawn!  Time to etch!

Here is my primary tool.  This 'V' shaped carving tool is great.  You do have to be very careful when pressing this tool into your sculpey, since you do not want the cuts to be too deep.  It is better to make a few passes with the carving tool than to make one bad cut, from which there is no return!

For the finer elements, and for the small weathered cracks, I use a scribing tool that Cathy pioneered.  Thank goodness she discovered this technique, as it has been as much of an aggravation/time saver as the rocks were for the previous two base sets!  Yea Cathy!

This view lets you see all that work a bit better.  Ideally, you have deeper cracks and shallower cracks.  This creates more interesting details.

Sand and gravel added, along with a broken bit of marble.

More to come!