Clash of the Aquanauts - an early stage project thread for BLAM 2011

[Hammers]

I think this creature is perfect for your work:

The Sphere wars moray:

A Paint-Me-figure! if there ever was one...

[Hauptgefreiter]

I was wondering why noone had mentioned this?

[Andym]

Dr the Viking- I think Westfella Chris was sorting out the rules. Any ideas what you want to do/build/paint?

I've wanted to try this for ages now and with this project it's finally given me an excuse to do it. I'm roughly following this guys technique for his train layout. Although i don't know what 'top coat' is. Is that just American for plaster? Anyway I'd thought I'd show how I did it...

http://members.westnet.com.au/mjbd/html/foam_rocks_-_frocks.html


I cut out rough circular shapes out of corrugated cardboard and squished down the edges to give a more beveled look.




Next I tore up some old cushion stuffing a friend had been ready to throw out and glued it down with PVA glue.




Once the glue was dry I covered it all in liberal amounts of 'finish skim' from polycell.

Since the board is going to be 6x4 I'll make up a few more(if this works!).

What do you think?

[OSHIROmodels]

I think they look suitably aquatic. Shove a few corals and fisheses in there and you're done 

cheers

James

[Thunderchicken]

They look good Andy and an impressive technique too. Is there any chance of the polycell cracking or does it solidify the foam?

Those rocks will look good when finished, what are you thinking of adding to them? There's heaps of cheap aquatic stuff on e-Bay.

[Andym]

TC- it seems to be quite good so far. The sponge soaks up the mixture like a.....eh....well, sponge and goes hard. I think there's enough play in the mixture to stop it cracking. Only time will tell.

[gamer Mac]

Are they stiil soft when finished?
How fragile are they?
Remember our ham fisted friends

[TheSnackist]

I better stop reading this topic or before I know it I'll be inspired to work on a big living bioship creature for use by the Dark Mariner faction for Shadowsea... And I don't even have any right now. Yikes.

-TheSnackist

[Alfrik]

Foam rubber, soak then ring out with slightly diluted PVA glue, will harden enough to cut like foam board, use that tech myself for some wall sections I have made.

[dodge]

wow this looks well cool

dodge

[Bullshott]

There are so many excellent ideas here that I'm seriously tempted to join in this project too. I just need to identify some figures that I like 

[Andym]

Well the foam rocks have dried solid with no cracks. Seems to be a good way to make rocks. I'll get them painted up soon.

Got a bit more done on the base...





I've got two options in mind for the roof of the moon pool. The top one is more like a metal type church roof with arched windows and the bottom one, I've got a plastic dome I 'acquired' that I'd use for the upper part of the roof. What do you think? Anybody got any better ideas. Preferably something easy to build!

[DeafNala]

That is a GREAT & INSPIRING piece of work...VERY WELL DONE!
Since you asked, I rather like the domed top piece...the top bubble looks to be a fine observation/command station.

[OSHIROmodels]

Plastic dome all the way Andy 

cheers

James

[Dewbakuk]

Domes are definately the way to go.