"30mm Tall Egyptian Lotus Columns (For 15mm Figures)?" Topic

Yet another crazy idea that came to me out of the blue . . .

The lotus flower column is what I would like to duplicate (second from left):

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More details in these other pictures:

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However, here's the catch . . . I want to make them with beads! Yes, BEADS!!!

Has anyone done any columns using beads? If so, which beads did you use?

I'm thinking of these for the upside down bell-like capitol (top portion):

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What do you think? Too big for the proportions? Remember, I'm trying to keep to a maximum column height of 30mm. Or should I re-think that maximum height?

The shaft portion would have to be a long tube-like bead, I suppose.

Thanks,

Dan
PS. Why? Because I need a fast way to create uniform columns to line up underground chamber entrances and tomb corridors for Egyptians and Aliens alike:
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OK not beads, but you may want to check out this idea. Some time ago I was building terrain pieces (28mm scale) and needed a Greek column.

I used giant (or children's) sticks of coloured chalk. Mount the chalk in a simple hand-drill lathe and sand to shape. It caused a load of dust, but I was able to produce the pillars quickly and with little fuss.

I am sure that coating them in uPVA glue would have strengthened them and stopped the dust.

Worth a try?

Tony
dampfpanzerwagon.blogspot.com

Nice ideas, both.

Once you get the columns done in bead, why not try to mold them and cast in resin? A mold of four or six of them would provide LOTS of columns pretty quickly.

Check Beadcaps, your issue is gonna be they are not very wide.
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For the shafts, look for tube beads on the same site. They tend to have pretty good prices.

This was me last night, as I reached a dead end with this bead idea:

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I'm still waiting for the "tulip beads" to arrive:

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Let's see how it goes with those.

Or maybe I should give up on the beads and try shaker pegs instead:

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The do seem to have the right basic shape:

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The problem with the wooden shaker pegs is that, after cutting off the tenons at the bottom, and grinding down the tops flat, the only detail I'll have time to do is going to have to be painted on. I'm no good at carving intricate details on wood.

With my luck painting these days, they'll probably look as tacky as these Cheesecake Factory columns:

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Dan

I think wooden golf tees would work for them also

Hmm. Interesting idea.

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With the top being so wide, the width of the column itself would need to be bulked up quite a bit to look proportional though (for the lotus flower column I'm after).

Here it is, column a:

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More examples of the lotus flower column:

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Dan

If you wanted the the shaft thicker ,ti wouldnt be to hard to slip on a rubber hose or dip the shaft down in some plaster. Sort of the way you make candles. You keep dipping till it gets as thick as you want. That or you could carve the top smaller to match the shaft more.

Wow, check this out:

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Dan
PS. Now, if I knew how to do this, all my problems with Egyptian Lotus Columns would be solved, once and for all:
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Nice idea Dan, I agree with Womack, once you have made the shape you want, give it a coat of baby powder in white glue and water mix, it gives a stone/concrete type texture then cast them from Resin, good luck.

"give it a coat of baby powder in white glue and water mix"

Wow! Really? Any pics of what that would look like?

Thanks,

Dan

Hey guys,

Here's a picture of one of the first "bead column" I completed (about twice the height of typical 15mm figures):

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Not exactly what I was after, but I'm curious what you guys think.

Thanks,

Dan

Gentlemen,

You won't believe what I've just found:

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If I understand the description correctly, they are resin casts of small (1.5" tall) Egyptian columns (just columns) from Hirst Arts mold #96:

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From the picture in the auction and from the mold, I can't really tell if they have exactly the same detail as the actual historical lotus columns, but I'll give it a shot.

Dan

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They are nice pillars, I have used them on much of my terrain, they are more of a palm styling than lotus though.

You are absolutely right. Well, I guess I'm getting a bunch of palm columns then. :)

But I am definitely NOT giving up on the lotus flower column idea.

Dan

I'm away from my normal computer – so I don't have the links to my sources…but use your Google-fu in conjunction with a few of these terms:

"Shaker Peg"

"Craft Spindle"

That should get you the column well enough – some of them might need to be trimmed up – but the price is right (less than 25 cents each the last time I did one).

For the lotus portion – "lamp finial". Most are soft zinc alloys or a similar cheap metal…easily cut with a roto-tool or hacksaw. Think those set me back about 50 cents each the last time around.

I would love to see how yours turned out.

Dan

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Yep. Even if I get the palm columns from ebay, the shape of the lotus ones will haunt my dreams forever, until I finally make them reality.

Dan

And, to go with the lotus columns . . .

If any of you have the Konami Aliens figures, look at the design on the bases. THAT'S the look right there!

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Imagine the pattern on those bases as the basis for a wall template!

What do you think of that idea?

Dan
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Ah, CC, I feel dumb. Hirst Arts has Lotus Columns, though they are bigger than what you asked for.

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Alas. If only they were thinner, then I could cut them in half.

Dan

The ones I got this week were short "palm columns" cast IN RESIN from one of Hirst Arts' moulds (Mould #96).

Here's the seller:

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And what a deal too! Comes to just 12.5 cents (plus postage) per column half.

The columns are 1.5" or 38mm tall. A little taller than what I was shooting for, but not by much:

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Can't wait to get started.

I really wish Hirst Arts would make more items that could be used for 15mm.

Dan

These tiles by "Stone By Stone" might be perfect for 15mm tomb floors:

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Dan

Good idea on the tiles Dan.

Man, this artwork is inspiring:

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Dan
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I guess that, even if I can't quite get the lotus flower look, there are other ways to get the right feel despite the inaccuracies:

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Dan

Tomb at Bahariyah:

It's the tomb of Zed-Amun-Ankh.

Dan

Here's another use for those "lotus" columns:

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Dan

Here's another example from film:

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Wow. And all this time I thought they didn't get anything right in that film.

Dan

Guys,

Check out what I've just discovered on Blue Moon's website:

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I had no idea those were out!!!

Can you imagine those fellas going underground into a temple complex and finding a Stargate or some other interplanetary portal? Or to another time period?

Dan

Dan,

Mold 99 May be small enough from Hirst and it is in 2 parts.

I'll check I do not think I own that one.

Been asking for 15mm stuff from him for years now.

Lee,

Mold 96 has a two-part palm column that is 1.5" tall:

I really wish they did gates, corridor supports and lotus columns that were 1.5" or shorter.

Dan

Ok guys,

Let me know if I have reached my objective:

Here are my final two candidates. Both are 30mm tall, just like the cork wall behind:

More here:

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Thanks,

Dan

Interesting design at the top of these corridor walls:

Dan

Another angle:

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Dan

1) Does anyone know how tall these Armorcast Egyptian gates are? Is that figure next to it a typical 28mm figure?

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2) And how tall are these Scotian Grendel gates?

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Thanks,

Dan
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Never mind about #2.

The Chronofus site has the specs:

"75mm wide x 27mm wide x 83mm high. No detail to rear face"

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Thanks though.

Dan
PS. That would be so awesome for 15mm corridor interior gates IF it was half that size!!! (hint, hint – to terrain producers)