Welcome to my blog, the story of my continuing journey into the World of Zombie Wargames.

Monday 15 February 2016

Stairs (3)

Modelling Crap Scrap
No doubt you'll be thinking that a few photographs of a staircase glued into place would be the inevitable boring conclusion of this mini-build.
These were also my thoughts exactly, so I decided not just to glue it into place but  to give it a little more interesting detailing. The objective was two-fold  as it allows me both to show some of the crap scrap materials I use and how easy it is.
Though I may not use everything  in the photograph (to the right) I tend to try and have more bits and pieces than I'll probably need.
So, there's polystyrene (foam variety), a couple of cylinders, an oil drum, some tissue paper, printed signs and stuff and  some string. and some blackened coffee stirrers (yes I  am sad enough to have some of these  already done)



The rubbish base - foam and tissue
The objective was to model the underside of the staircase as a rubbish dump.
I broke the polystyrene foam into bits and tucked it into the holes created by the bracing on the stairs. (This was all done whilst the model lay on a flat surface ) . Next the foam was glued into place using pva, finally a layer of scraps of tissue were placed over the foam and then wetted with an old paintbrush, tucking it into corners etc. with the overall objective of just hiding the foam. The various crevices etc. would be filled with rubbish.
A very quick (and imprecise) coat of various dull paints (browns and green) gave the underlying base some colour and it didn't really matter if there were specks of white left.
The view from underneath
Next the rubbish was placed in (not completely randomly as everything that is placed has to be seen otherwise it's a bit pointless adding it ! Most everything went in randomly and sat on top of the base, though a few bits were strategically placed in crevices on underneath bits of the base where it overhang. I also had to make a few black-plastic rubbish sacks to add to the pile of rubbish. I may well have run out of these and may have to make a whole batch more.(The half a dozen I made took about 5 minutes.)
Photo showing the truest colouring of the model
 The next three pics show the whole thing in situ; the rubbish base also acting as a very strong support to the staircase being glued to the building. 

















Another view but looking very dark
Close up view













 









The final photograph showing the staircase in context.
 I did have a thought that if I'd made the steps an additional 5mm deep (making them 15mm x 30mm) then a figure on a 20mm base would comfortable stand on it with the part of its base tucked underneath the step in front.
No doubt the more Poirot-like among you will have spotted the health and safety failing that the upper walkway hasn't got a safety railing - well that's already been spotted. I'm currently wondering how to fix one securely to a very thin piece of card (the floor).

Thanks for taking the time to view I hope this bit of rubbish was of interest.







28 comments:

  1. Yes Joe it was interesting, who knew rubbish would look so good? :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks rubbish is what I do best. Though on seond thoughts maybe it;s not something I should be proud of.

      Delete
  2. Brilliant. Looks great. Your pile of rubbish looks great, too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks ML, without the garbage strewn around the base I doubt I'd have much of a post.

      Delete
  3. I must have missed part 2. (I will have to go back and check) With all your models there is a state of decay and the untidied rubbish under the stairs fits in so very nicely/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thansk Clint, (I see you caught up); my models reflect myself I guess, old and decayed!. I really don't like pristine looking buildings and even if we don't need the detail of model train layouts, wecan putin some .

      Delete
  4. Excellent job!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Roy, not too shabby for a couple of hours modeling (ecluding drying times haha)

      Delete
  5. Clever modeling from start to finish, Zab.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jay, I do get a lot of inspiration from a lot of sources.

      Delete
  6. A bit of rubbish it may be, but it looks superb!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you mMichael, quite a compliment coming from your good self.

      Delete
  7. Terrific stuff Joe. I thought the stairs looked good last time but you're really notched them up a few levels with your additions; the rubbish being especially realistic-looking. As Sir Michael states: "superb" :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Bla, I do find it strange that some of the simplest things can be so well received.

      Delete
  8. That rubbish really sets of the model. Good work, full of atmosphere.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Irqan, it's part of my urban degeneration scheme.

      Delete
  9. Excellent job Joe! This is exactly the kind of detail that brings a tabletop to life. Great stuff. There's always detritus like that in tucked away, forgotten places. Really good selection of crap too dude!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Bob, it may be 'detail' but it is so very easy to do and does 'lift' what otherwuse have been just another crd model.

      Delete
  10. Great looking Rubbish! As Bob says it adds that little bit extra which brings it to life.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Brummie, it always seems strange to me to have folk saying they like my rubbish.

      Delete
  11. Love the stairs and the rubbish makes a great base for them. This was an excellent build!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks N667, the benefit of the rubbish supporting the stairs on the model is an added benefit.

      Delete
  12. People are dirty, aren't they? That rubbish is fantastic - it really brings the scene alive.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks C6, I've always wanted the run-down look to the 'deprived' areas of my city = Ihtink this may well have achieved it.

      Delete
  13. Thanks BF, that comment did make me chuckle. It's strange how rubbish can be so well received.

    ReplyDelete