Basalt pillars.

[Hammers]

Has anyone developed a good method to simulate basalt pillars for the gameboard?

[Kings Curse]

Looks like it could be done with plastic sprues 

[nic-e]

Pencils with the points cut off.

[Cory]

Pencils are the best bet, I've used them for taller pieces.

I also built a tool by using a piece of hexagonal brass tubing and a plastic plunger to shape air dry clay.

Between the 2 methods I managed to build a  6"x18" display board in a day.

[nic-e]

you could cast several clusters of pencils in plaster and then break/chip at  them.

[OSHIROmodels]

The most important thing is, what are you doing with them   It'll make for an interesting scenery peice  

They are not all of the same cross section so I suppose it depends on how acurate you want to depict it, it also depends if you want it like the picture above or would be happy just going for a 'typical' representation?

You can get hex section styrene strip which would probably be your best bet for an all round solution, it could be heated to get the irregular curves shown in the picture above and can be chipped and beaten up a bit for a more irregular appearance.

For a more realistic look you could make each extrusion individually, keeping the cross section random and irregular, from clay and lay them over a former. Once dry, either oven or air they could be chipped etc.

Do show some photos when you are making it  

cheers

James

[FramFramson]

Pencils are the best bet, I've used them for taller pieces.

I also built a tool by using a piece of hexagonal brass tubing and a plastic plunger to shape air dry clay.

Between the 2 methods I managed to build a  6"x18" display board in a day.

Hm! Love to see a picture of this if you have one!

[Cory]

Hm! Love to see a picture of this if you have one!

Sadly 20 years ago and now disposed of - it was for a traveling Yellowstone Park education display on vulcanism.

[dampfpanzerwagon]

Make a variety of moulds from pencils - try the childrens pencils as these are usually thicker.

Once you have the mould make hundreds of plaster casts - don't worry about the quality as the next step is

Cut the pencil shaped plaster casts in to various heights and weather them by brushing with a wire brush.

Glue the pieces together with white glue.

Somewhere in the internet is a detailed tutorial.

Good luck

Tony

There is an option of using six triangle sections of wood dowel to make the larger hexagon, once again do not be too particular as the columns will be well weathered.

[dampfpanzerwagon]

Found it.....



go to this link;
http://sharkit.com/alterra1/WGcauseway/causeway.htm

Tony

[Hammers]

Thank you all for your valuable suggestions.

I am contemplating playdough and something like this with octagonal holes and then bake the result...



It would allow for bending the pillars like in the image above.

[SotF]

Thank you all for your valuable suggestions.

I am contemplating playdough and something like this with octagonal holes and then bake the result...



It would allow for bending the pillars like in the image above.

Playdough doesn't really hold up that well, especially with the crisper edges to get the appearance you want for this kind of thing.

[Dr Mathias]

You could probably extrude Sculpey or another oven bake clay, it can get pretty soft.

Sounds like a Lovecraftian project is in the pipeline