Last night I did the ground work for the gallows platform.
The platform was affixed to the base board as previously. I screw/bolt in place quite often these days as it allows you to take complex builds apart should you have made a mistake. I had previously sculpted a sort of plinth for each pillar to be fitted in as it did not look quite right having them stand directly on the paved platform.
I have shown before (
link) how I do dirt ground on game boards. The consistency of the mache is important as too much water in the mix makes it shrink like a bastard. You all know the feel of a fresh piece of dog mess when toy with it in your hand? That's the consistency we're looking for! Add a good dollop of white glue to the mix for increased adhesiveness and durability.
As you can see I added a piece of XPS to bulk out the area where the platform has been ruined as a pilar has been pulled down. It is necessary, as Celluclay does not lend itself well to being applied in thick layers, because of the shrinkage issue mentioned.
The surface was smoothed with a wet finger and pebbles, gravel, sand and pieces of slate added and pushed into the paper mache. You cannot see it in the image but I also pushed a couple of indentation into the mache, in which I will pour puddles of clear resin or epoxy.
I went a bit overboard with the debris. The busted up platform would probably not generate this amount of rubble. Fuck it. It will have to do.
