Bits, Pieces, & Clutter

[Gordon Ferguson]

Hi James, thanks for taking the trouble to try and help me.

I did spend an hour today carving a bit of wall exactly as you stated concentrating on the individual shapes and leaving the "spaces" to sort themselves out. However it still did not look right ........... in this case the spaces between the individual bits of stone were too large in comparison to the photo references I have

Decided that actually this may be like doing brick work ............. as some guy in deepest Shropshire occasionally remarks "if you don't build from individual bricks it ain't a brick wall"

So on that basis intend to cast up various sheets of plaster of different thicknesses and build my drystone wall from these ............. will post the next exciting installment sometime soon.

[Malachi Constant]

Gordon --

The painting/coloring on the test stones looks really good ... they give the visual "feel" of stone with the subtle variations in surface color, etc.  Nice.

Dallas

[mabloodhound]

I actually like your original wall, except for the "jigsaw" pieces.   
It is definitely of the "fieldstone" type as opposed to the flat cut stone shown in your next photo.
This is a pretty good example

[Gordon Ferguson]

Well I am glad people liked the colouring at least, but lets not say anymore about the carving.

Tried the thin plaster sheets ................ even more of a disaster!

However one more attempt using individual (Nick may have a point) blocks cut from dense foam, piece is approx 6" long by 2" high



Only posting at this stage as I am not overly confident that I can reproduce the same paint finish

[Andi Little]

Now that's much better, its physicality is much more convincing; helped by the much deeper relief I suspect, and those capstones are what comes to mind if I visualise dry stone walling.
Curious as to exactly what type of foam you're using? - I don't recognise it. [type and source please]  .

Looking interesting Gordon - very interested to see where you're going with this???

[billmart]

The foam one looks VERY good to me, Gordon.  Reminds me of dry stone walls I've seen in the Cotswolds (except for the color of course  ).

Bill Martinsen

[Ray Dunakin]

I think you could refine the carved stones to be reasonably convincing. However, the wall of foam stones looks terrific! It's hard to beat the authentic stacking of individual "stones", combined with the seemingly natural texture provided by the dense foam.

[marc_reusser]

That foam stone wall is a thing of beauty! Now would you please do an SBS on "blocks cut from dense foam".....I mean what the heck kind of an explantion is that?!!!  How about giving is some useful photos and written instructions, so we can copy you!!

M

[Gordon Ferguson]

Thanks.

Andi

I got the foam from B & Q ............ in the home/loft insulation section. However have not seen it there for a couple of years!
(I do have a fair bit kicking around as I was going to use  it for the base of the bottom yard   so if you want some PM me)

Marc

Now I not only have to remember how I painted the first wall but you want me to remember how the foam wall was built as well.

Will see what I can do

[finescalerr]

About painting those beautiful stones:

Some others here may have much better ideas but, years ago, I achieved a very convincing effect by covering cast resin stones with flat white acrylic interior wall paint. When that dried I stained the stones with a dilute India ink and rubbing alcohol mixture and later with dilute acrylic tan paint. The paint behaved as though it was almost porous and took the stains very well.

The trick, of course, is to find a base coat capable of taking stains.

Russ

[lab-dad]

I think you should make a mold of it and send 5 or 6
to all of us so we can help experiment with color(ing).
Marty

[Gordon Ferguson]

Marty, not a bad idea .................. however you have not seen the mess I usually make with silicon whenever I get brave enough to have another go at mould making 

Russ, good idea unfortunately I had already put some paint on it before I read your comments

OK its only some undercoat, a bit of a mix of Vallejo black grey & Vallejo German Green Brown surface primer ............. wanted to soften the shadows a bit by not using a straight black which I am beginning to realise is a bit harsh ......... especially in 1/35



The colour combined with the dark back ground seems to have confused my camera/me but at least it gives you an idea of the textures. Looking a the photo I need to redo the hinge pins in the gate post(another bit of foam ) look a bit lightweight to me 

[Andi Little]

This has great potential, and the pintles don't look so bad - I'm more worried about this constant transgression into 1/35.

"Oh the Horror"!

[lab-dad]

STUNNING!!!!
-Marty

[finescalerr]

Foam seems to be your friend. Embrace it. Most adequate. -- Russ