Faffing about with foam...aka structures and facades
Nov 11, 2023 6:37:07 GMT
Paul B, Boots, and 3 more like this
Post by Paul H on Nov 11, 2023 6:37:07 GMT
I'm trying to develop my skills with different structures/facades made out of xps foam so I thought I'd share my ideas and process.
Tools needed:
a steel ruler for marking out( and also serving as a tool guide) ,
a pencil for marking and also to act as a tool,
a blunt ended probe/ rounded toothpick, some thin straight edge to help open out mortar lines etc. ( for this I use an etch bending blade)
some scrunched up kitchen foil to help provide additional texture to the finished pieces where necessary.
Some basic reference images e.g. brick and block structures, dry stone walls etc.
For a simple wall structure made up of random shaped stone. Here I just go straight into the “carving” and don't bother with marking out.
I typically start by laying down the base course, usually of larger sized bolders/stones , but I don't worry about them being the same height. If you look at these types of walls etc in the real world you will generally find a decreasing size as you go up but it's not uncommon to see some larger random stones further up.
Don't be too concerned about overlaps of the type you see in brick/block walls, but you do need to ensure the thing looks like it is capable of holding itself up!
With dry stone walls in particular its not unusual to see vertical and sloped orientation in some of the components.
If your structure contains openings ( doors, windows or includes a gatepost for example start by marking these out and make sure you identify the location of any lintels and sills required, followed by the stonework framing the opening. Then just go for it …
Here's my most recent trial piece. Just for fun I included a double course of brickwork about half way up, to see what it looked like. This took a little over and hour. and the only tools used were a straight edge for the door and the pencil for "carving"
I've got a few more ideas I want to try ( and if good enough share). So watch this space…
Tools needed:
a steel ruler for marking out( and also serving as a tool guide) ,
a pencil for marking and also to act as a tool,
a blunt ended probe/ rounded toothpick, some thin straight edge to help open out mortar lines etc. ( for this I use an etch bending blade)
some scrunched up kitchen foil to help provide additional texture to the finished pieces where necessary.
Some basic reference images e.g. brick and block structures, dry stone walls etc.
For a simple wall structure made up of random shaped stone. Here I just go straight into the “carving” and don't bother with marking out.
I typically start by laying down the base course, usually of larger sized bolders/stones , but I don't worry about them being the same height. If you look at these types of walls etc in the real world you will generally find a decreasing size as you go up but it's not uncommon to see some larger random stones further up.
Don't be too concerned about overlaps of the type you see in brick/block walls, but you do need to ensure the thing looks like it is capable of holding itself up!
With dry stone walls in particular its not unusual to see vertical and sloped orientation in some of the components.
If your structure contains openings ( doors, windows or includes a gatepost for example start by marking these out and make sure you identify the location of any lintels and sills required, followed by the stonework framing the opening. Then just go for it …
Here's my most recent trial piece. Just for fun I included a double course of brickwork about half way up, to see what it looked like. This took a little over and hour. and the only tools used were a straight edge for the door and the pencil for "carving"
I've got a few more ideas I want to try ( and if good enough share). So watch this space…