Small Scale Military Headquarters

Just editing the original post instead of creating another.
So, I will list some of the pros/cons about foam buildings.

So why would you buy foam buildings? Well, hand cut foam will be MUCH cheaper then casting in resin. Foam should be stronger and slightly cheaper then casting in plaster of paris (AFAIK, still have not tried it yet but I will). I have built foam bridges that can hold 30Lbs! Not saying models should weigh that much! LOL

Hand crafted foam buildings will always be slightly different- bullet holes, mortar/panel lines, ect...

Complex, bulky designs are possible with foam, where as, plaster of paris/resin would be WAY too heavy.

Foam would be way cheaper then anything so far. I charge around $7-$10 when I make a building, so if I spend 2.5 hours on a tobruck bunker I can charge $15-$20 for it. I know (Like I said) resin will be probably twice as much given the amount needed to fill.

I harden the outer surface of my foam buildings with heat giving them a hard, solid feeling exterior.

THere will be other materials added too, not just foam! Well, maybe just all foam for bunkers but not for houses... I added balsa wood, plastics, ect. for final details. The foam just serves as the base.

Why you wouldn't buy foam buildings...

Foam buildings are light, you will not get the first impression of a quality feeling building. (For instance , pick up a Franklin mint B17 and pick up a Revel B17) But, I can always add some weight to them with steel balls or something like that embedded into the foam.

Foam buildings can get dented if not handle with some care in mind. So just be careful. (My foam buildings are surprisingly tougher then you think.

Foam does not like heat in excess of 160F so don't store them in the attic! lol, but that would be sorta common sense, no?

That's about all I can think of ATM.
Leave feed back and if you have questions ask them !!!!

Flyboy this link may give you some ideas...... http://www.educypedia.be/education/worl ... ations.htm

i think 3 basic types are in order.

a basic small machine gun/observation bunker:

http://www.modelingmadness.com/scotts/m ... review.htm

or

http://www.militaryissue.com/product_in ... telligence

or this, which is for 2 machine guns

http://www.tracks-n-troops.com/PN/PN7205.jpg

an artillery bunker (probably just the fron face of it and a bit of the sides and top, sort of like way the power team bombed out building is, mostly a front but a bit of the insides as well):

http://www.tracks-n-troops.com/PN/PN2.jpg



and then a bunker like in the beach landing scene of SPR:

http://www.tracks-n-troops.com/PN/7285bis.jpg


Lots of other types and ideas here:

http://www.tracks-n-troops.com/pn_sud_modelisme.htm

I may start with the first couple. Thanks guys!!! Hope more ideas come in!

what kind of materials/techniques are you going to use?

Foam so far, not sure I want to cast them. The foam I use is very rigid and strong. It does not break apart.

flyboy_fx wrote:Foam so far, not sure I want to cast them. The foam I use is very rigid and strong. It does not break apart.

You're hand-sculpting/crafting each one?

Pretty much. lol To me it seams easier than casting and molding....
I figure around 2-4 hours per bunker depending on size. so if I charged $10 an hour they wont be too expensive!

do a real nice one then cast it with paper plaster to save u time

Bump

bump?

show us what ya got..

aferguson wrote:bump?

show us what ya got..

Soon! I just edited the original post.

Looking forward to seeing these, sounds like a really great idea

Has any one given any thought to Vac-U-Forming the outside walls and roof surfaces? I think some of the 1:32 buildings are done that way.
I agree that casting can get expensive. I had even given some thought to using a paper mache' slur in a mold and squeeze out the water and let dry. This method was used without the squeezing back in the fifties for German made HO train building plants and vegitation, using sawdust and glue.
Just a thought!