I,m working on a 1/32 diorama that requires logs. Tried actual tree brachnes but just doesn't look right. So, I've been experimenting on scratchbuilding some logs. Just tried some FIMO clay. Seems to work. Was wondering if anybody had any other techniques of creating miniture logs themselves.
Thanks,
Hobbit 77
Scratchbuilding 1/32 logs
Moderators: DasPhule, Moderators
Hi,
instead of tree branches look to a smaller plant. I find the dead wood from Rose stems very good as it replicates the rings of a larger log but is smooth and straight on its outer surface matching a trunk of younger tree. If you need twisted old logs then the older stems of Heather are nice and gnarled.
If the logs are for fencing or unditching beams for a tank then try using a razor saw dragged deeply along Kit sprues. Or thicken sprues with putty and scratch the surface to give bark.
All these ideas have been used by me, but not knowing what you are doing may make them unsuitable. Still I hope its of use.
DEC
instead of tree branches look to a smaller plant. I find the dead wood from Rose stems very good as it replicates the rings of a larger log but is smooth and straight on its outer surface matching a trunk of younger tree. If you need twisted old logs then the older stems of Heather are nice and gnarled.
If the logs are for fencing or unditching beams for a tank then try using a razor saw dragged deeply along Kit sprues. Or thicken sprues with putty and scratch the surface to give bark.
All these ideas have been used by me, but not knowing what you are doing may make them unsuitable. Still I hope its of use.
DEC
look sir.............Droids
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Chacal
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Totally out of the blue, and probably you solved your logjam already, but I stumbled into another answer for you: Pasta. You know, dry pasta, like spaghetti. It is cylindrical and comes in several calibers, so you can make your logs in various sizes.
The neat trick, however is HOW you get the right texture into the pasta, and how I stumbled upon the technique: You burn the pasta! Not like forgetting-the-pasta-cooking-on-the-stove-until-the-water-dries-up-and-sets-off-the-smoke-detector burn, but roll the raw pasta over a flame, as you would a piece of sprue (but close enough and for long enough to actually burn the surface of the pasta, what you don't want to happen to the sprue).
When done properly, the surface of the pasta will bubble as it burns and will get a nice tree bark texture. Furthermore, the burning pasta will warp a bit when it burns, like many tree trunks are gently curved (if you turn the pasta properly, it won't just buckle to one side, but gently curve).
I suggest you prepare a long section of burnt pasta (some 8 inches out of a 12 inch stick). After that you paint the surface with markers, in varying shades of brown, then you give it a coat of matt varnish just to seal the marker ink in.
You then cut the logs to size by pressing a razor blade down until the pasta snaps away (hold both ends, 'cause the small ones will take off and be lost for ages). The yellow inside of the pasta will be just like the light wood, and the thickness of the burnt pasta/marker ink/varnish will be perfect for bark.
Oh, ater you cut the logs, dab a bit of varnish on the ends to keep hungry bugs away from your logs.
The neat trick, however is HOW you get the right texture into the pasta, and how I stumbled upon the technique: You burn the pasta! Not like forgetting-the-pasta-cooking-on-the-stove-until-the-water-dries-up-and-sets-off-the-smoke-detector burn, but roll the raw pasta over a flame, as you would a piece of sprue (but close enough and for long enough to actually burn the surface of the pasta, what you don't want to happen to the sprue).
When done properly, the surface of the pasta will bubble as it burns and will get a nice tree bark texture. Furthermore, the burning pasta will warp a bit when it burns, like many tree trunks are gently curved (if you turn the pasta properly, it won't just buckle to one side, but gently curve).
I suggest you prepare a long section of burnt pasta (some 8 inches out of a 12 inch stick). After that you paint the surface with markers, in varying shades of brown, then you give it a coat of matt varnish just to seal the marker ink in.
You then cut the logs to size by pressing a razor blade down until the pasta snaps away (hold both ends, 'cause the small ones will take off and be lost for ages). The yellow inside of the pasta will be just like the light wood, and the thickness of the burnt pasta/marker ink/varnish will be perfect for bark.
Oh, ater you cut the logs, dab a bit of varnish on the ends to keep hungry bugs away from your logs.
Sheer elegance in its simplicity.
Political unrest in dictatorships is rather like a round of rock-paper-scissors: The oposition goes on denouncing the regime on the papers, the regime censors the papers, rock-throwing ensues.
Political unrest in dictatorships is rather like a round of rock-paper-scissors: The oposition goes on denouncing the regime on the papers, the regime censors the papers, rock-throwing ensues.
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Chacal
- Posts: 3654
- Joined: Fri Jul 12, 2002 3:09 pm
- Location: Rio. Always unseasonably warm, even in the Winter, when we'll host the Summer Olympic Games of 2016
Forgot to add "roots": "...we had to make ourselves, out of rocks - hard, ugly rocks that were impossible to work with. And roots - stinky, worm infested roots."Lt. Z0mBe, on his signature, wrote:When I was young, we had to sit out in the yard, on gravel, to work on our models, which we had to make ourselves, out of rocks - hard, ugly rocks that were impossible to work with.
Sheer elegance in its simplicity.
Political unrest in dictatorships is rather like a round of rock-paper-scissors: The oposition goes on denouncing the regime on the papers, the regime censors the papers, rock-throwing ensues.
Political unrest in dictatorships is rather like a round of rock-paper-scissors: The oposition goes on denouncing the regime on the papers, the regime censors the papers, rock-throwing ensues.
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Lt. Z0mBe
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Chacal wrote:Forgot to add "roots": "...we had to make ourselves, out of rocks - hard, ugly rocks that were impossible to work with. And roots - stinky, worm infested roots."Lt. Z0mBe, on his signature, wrote:When I was young, we had to sit out in the yard, on gravel, to work on our models, which we had to make ourselves, out of rocks - hard, ugly rocks that were impossible to work with.
I needed that.
Kenny
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Antenociti
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