Scratchbuilt Eldar webway gate project

[VenuxHashMan]

So I've been playing the new Iyanden missions and have decided that my pointy-eared friends deserve a better webway gate than the imaginary line between two 2p coins I've been giving them...

After doing a bit of digging I settled on the (really bad quality) image below as my shape template, made it nice and big on my laptop screen, and then traced it onto an A4 piece of plasticard.

My plan is to carve this shape out of some inch-thick foam and then sandwich it inbetween two layers of plasticard with the detail sculpted into them.


The original image:



Traced onto A4 plasticard:



A sketch of the details and modifications I plan to add:



My big question is...

Does anybody know what type of foam I should get and where I can get hold of it in the UK?

I really need something that I can carve with a knife, but then also file flat so that it lines up seamlessly with the plasicard edging


Any ideas, comments or observations greatly appreciated


Thanks Hive!

[Deleted]

This post has a lot of information on how to use/cut/sand/paint pink insulation foam (also known as Polysterene or Polysterene board) which is a fantastic material for terrain. Its basically a really dense version of styrofoam and is very common in building wargames terrain. Im not quite sure where to get it in the UK but ill look into it

www.cosplay.com/showthread.php?t=95725

EDIT: Heres a site i found for a UK store. Not sure what Wickes is but i'm guessing its like a UK version of Home Depot?

www.wickes.co.uk/polystyrene-50mmx600x24m/invt/210802/

This product looks a little different so id do some more research before buying it

[VenuxHashMan]

Thanks Orphenox!

There is a Wickes just around the corner from my workplace so I'll pop in on my lunchbreak and pick some up. With a sheet that size I can afford to have a few trial runs as well which us nice!

Is this the same stuff that your epic board is built from?

Thanks again!

[Deleted]

Yep! just a heads up that transport can be a pain if they only sell it in huge sheets, but if you dont need giant pieces you can break it up pretty easily by hand. Glad i could help! Cant wait to see ur progress! Eldar terrain's my favorite (behind tau)

[VenuxHashMan]

Well Wickes didn't have any in stock (sadface), but... I just noticed a big styrofoam insulation box in my office which needs to be gotten rid of and seems dense enough to carve etc!

Pics when I get round to trying it out...

[gman25639]

awesome. good luck

[VenuxHashMan]

So I got round to having a look at that styrofoam box and it seems promising!

Here is the box, followed by a couple of prototype pieces I have made...


The box with one small side cut off. The genestealer is for scale:




And here is my first attempt at carving the stuff. Slices very easily with a scalpel or carving knife and my little file is taking to it quite nicely. The finished one will be about twice this size, genestealer again for scale:




This is a prototype of an edging piece, with some random curvy shapes to practice cutting the plasticard. The idea is to make two full sides of the gate like this, glue them onto either side of a crudely carved styrofoam shape, and then trim and file this down until the joins are all smooth. I'm not sure about the gold lining, might work better on the full sized model though:




Comments and criticism welcome

[tylertt]

Looks awesome. The filing on the test piece turned out excellent.

I can't tell due to not getting a good enough view, but what kind of foam is that? The packing material stuff or foam insulation?

[VenuxHashMan]

Thanks tylertt!

It's really high quality insulating foam, it was actually a box we used for keeping dry ice in (-78 degree solidified CO2) so it's pretty hefty stuff.

The project is unfortunately now on hold however, until I:

A) get some more plasticard
B) get my hands on a dust-mask...

On a side note, I need some semi-oval pieces to use as the gemstones. Anybody have any leads?

[tylertt]

hmm, depending on where you live, I know Wal-mart has little gems that come in packs that are used for little kids crafts. I don't recall if they are rounded, or have multiple edges on them. But it is worth a look I suppose. They are cheap too, like $5 for like 25 of them.

[VenuxHashMan]

I'm in the UK so no Wal-mart Might see if Hobbycraft have anything next time I have the chance..

[gman25639]

go to the dollar store or party shop, buy one of those plastic tiaras with all the little gems on it that little girls use for parties, then pop off the gems, they arent glued on very well, and use those. this will cost you like, $5 at most?

[VenuxHashMan]

Good shout gman! Next time real life gives me enough time to visit some shop I'll have a look...

[gman25639]

Yeah, I got the idea when as one gems fell off one my little sister had. Thx!