First go with Blue Styrofoam - Osgiliath Building

[MediumAl]

Hi,
Still haven't really mastered this camera, but here are some pics of my first go with Styrofoam. I wish I'd had a go with it years ago. It's the first bit of a large ruin which will be in 3 pieces, but I'll probably do a few smaller pieces next to try and keep a bit of momentum.

OG B1 External view.jpg (45.88 KiB) Viewed 448 times

OG B1 Internal Overall view.jpg (50.04 KiB) Viewed 448 times

OG B1 Ivy close-up.jpg (45.52 KiB) Viewed 448 times

It's on an MDF base 18" by 9", and is about 10" tall.

Pleased with the ivy - collected the seed coverings from a birch sapling just outside my lounge window.
I'll pop a couple of closer shots in another email.
Al

[carvel2]

That sir is great!!!
Stone work scored?

[MediumAl]

A couple of closer shots;

OG B1 Outside door.jpg (53.86 KiB) Viewed 446 times

OG B1 Internal view.jpg (53.18 KiB) Viewed 446 times

OG B1 Internal view 2.jpg (54.13 KiB) Viewed 446 times

Hope you like it. Sorry the pics aren't better focussed.

Al

[MediumAl]

Thanks - yes, it's scored using a cheap propelling pencil. Each course of stone is 1cm high.

To make the openings, I've made pairs of templates out of plasticard on a slider so that I can line up the openings on both sides of the foam and mark the lines out without having to measure every one. Making them is a pain, but the doors and windows are then fairly quick.

AL

[carvel2]

Have you a picture of your ingeneous window contraption

[grant]

Have you a picture of your ingeneous window contraption

I too would like to see the window thing.

Great building!

[Parus Ater]

I'm in awe. Terrain skills appear to be highly contagious on this forum and I'm immune!

[MediumAl]

Here they are;

They are mounted in pairs - one is glued to the connecting strip, and the strip goes through a slot in the other so that they can slide along it to be used to sandwich different thicknesses of foam. The notches indicate where thee blocks are - you simply join them with a small ruller once the template is out of the way.
The third pic shows one on a 25mm thick piece of foam. When I'm using it to mark up, I pop a couple of pins through holes I've added to keep bot sides in place while marking up.

Template 1.jpg (39.56 KiB) Viewed 429 times

Template 2.jpg (34.77 KiB) Viewed 429 times

Template 3.jpg (35.34 KiB) Viewed 429 times

Whilst the connecting strip ensures they line up, it imposes one restriction in that it limits how far up the foam the template can reach, so if you want to use one for a high window you have to cut the wall into horizontal strips - mine are 8 cm high. Stone buildings often have ledges between storeys, so it's not a problem.

If you want the top of the door/window to be lower, then simply put a piece of foam between the connecting strip and the bottom of the wall section to bring the top down to the position you want.

The templates are 1.5 mm thick plastic sheet. Measure 2 or 3 times before cutting! One tool I found was good for this was a circular cutter that you can get in The Works, which a discount craft/book store you see in shopping centres. Like a cross between a slide rule and a pair of compasses, but with a little cutting blade instead of the pencil.

With the third one I realised that I could save a bit of time by making 2 in one, so there is a smaller template inside the outer one - handy if you want a smaller entrance or window. Note that you can use it for a window - just decide where you want the bottom of the window and only mark it down to there.

Any other queries, ask away. I was half thinking of doing a how-to article for one of the mags.

Al

[carvel2]

That Al, is modelling genius! Many many thanks

[Johnnie]

Amazing stuff mate!!!!

Cheers