1/18 prototype bunker: Paperclips and foam... lol

[pickelhaube]

It does look very good.

[Jnewboy]

Nice!!

[aferguson]

really good work.

[Lance Quazar]

Can I ask some advice about making foam dioramas? I've been working with blue foam (not pink) and am basically trying something very similar - to create rock and stone patterns and then paint it.

But with nearly every tool I use to create the "stones", my cutting produces vertical "tears" along the grooves which ruins the effect.

Only the thinnest exacto knives seem immune from this issue, but then I wind up with grooves that are so thin they usually get lost when painted.

Any thoughts or advice? Am I using the wrong foam? Is there a way to avoid this problem?

[B17Fortress]

I suggest using those plaster rock molds Woodland Scenics and others make. I have been using them for years and look good for all scales.

[normandy]

Flyboy, this bunker is fantastic! The texture, paint and battle damage look great!!!

Lance, you might want to try a hotwire foam cutter......... not necessarily this one but something like it.
http://hotwirefoamfactory.com/home.php?cat=
If you look at the pic, the two handles on the right.....thats the type I've used. You bend the wire between the poles to a shape other than straight or round and start cutting....should say burning. Do this in a very well ventilated area, not the den or basement. With a little practice you'll get the hang of it.
As B17 noted, the rock molds are another alternative. Plaster and the rubber molds are all you need and then paint.

[flyboy_fx]

I will have to look into those. Im just concerned on how strong it would be.

[Light.Inf.Scout]

very cool

[Chernobyl18]

I like what I see.

[CW4USARMY]

It looks great! I'm jealous of you guys with those weathering skills.

[flyboy_fx]

Well, the magnets came in and have been installed in the roof.
Works pretty well as you can see here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXspVAsKxWM

They are not intended to hold the building up, just keep the roof on.

Let me know if this is a good idea!

[gburch]

Looks great and, yes, the magnets are a good idea!

[aferguson]

looking good. Can't wait to see more of your ideas.

[Jesse James]

Slick design Flyboy. More and more folks are using magnets to hold things together that they want to gain access to like that. Much better looking than bolts and stuff. Just a matter of making sure whatever you're doing isn't too weighty for the magnets. A guy making a scale Millenium Falcon is using a lot of magnets to hold panels in place for interior access, or the boarding ramp. Pretty neat and looks great.

[aferguson]

magnets are like magic to me. I bought some little blinkie lights, the kind that ravers use, those rapidly flashing really bright lapel pins. They are held onto clothing by magnets that are strong enough to attract through cloth. The magnets are incredibly strong.

I have one of the little magnets of my fridge. It's the size of a thing slice of pencil eraser....quite small. I can't pull it off the fridge it's so strong. I have to slide it to the edge of the door and only then i can get it off. It's amazingly strong.

[Jesse James]

May have to look for those lights!

Harbor Freight sells some magnets but I never looked into them either. They're always pretty inexpensive though, so may check that out too.

[flyboy_fx]

Well, I have been busy and not been working on them at all... I did get started up again yesterday (Aug28th)! I tried working on concrete... Not sure I'm entirely happy yet. This is just a basic Grey. I am going to try some brown, light tan, ect... concrete colors in the future.


Let me know how it looks. BTW, you can get an Idea how to display them!

[parrish333]

flyboy - the bunkers are looking GREAT! Definitely interested in your work if you make it for sale.

magnets are like magic to me. I bought some little blinkie lights, the kind that ravers use, those rapidly flashing really bright lapel pins. They are held onto clothing by magnets that are strong enough to attract through cloth. The magnets are incredibly strong.

I have one of the little magnets of my fridge. It's the size of a thing slice of pencil eraser....quite small. I can't pull it off the fridge it's so strong. I have to slide it to the edge of the door and only then i can get it off. It's amazingly strong.

Aferg/anyone - so what is a good way to get a lot of those types of magnets cheap? I've long had a desire to converting all of the myriad of ordnance connections on various 1:18 aircraft to a uniform system, and small little strong magnets would be gold for that! Though I don't want to pay gold-like prices How much did you pay for those blinkie lights?

[flyboy_fx]

Get em on ebay. You can get cheaper grade magnets for cheap! I got 100 for $10!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/300381165898?ss ... 1439.l2649

[flyboy_fx]

Well, got some more time in on the prototypes. As summer ends I should have more time to build stuff! But for now just working in time when I can.


Let me know how the Rebar looks! It is made from paperclips!!!








Pics removed until cropped. Accidentally exposed another members address in them. 0_0 Sorry. lol

[aferguson]

awesome.

[Razor17019]

Very realistic look.

[TankAce]

Very realistic.You have a good talent for taking piece of foam and making it into a work of art.same with your tanks.Let us know what is available or when.I am glad we have you in this forum making WWII dioramas and not in hisstank forum making GI Joe dioramas.We are really lucky to have you. Thanks for making this bunkers available for our forum members.

[flyboy_fx]

Thanks! I have 3-4 bunkers being worked on and available for sale soon. Sorry about the delays! 0_0 End of summer is nearing and LOADS of work to finish!!!!

I plan on making little diorama things available in the future! Buildings for normandy/afrika, telephone lines, brick walls, fences, ect...


-Alex

[Jesse James]

Flyboy, the exposed Rebar is insane. Way to go man.