"Need help with Finishing 'Pulpy' Mayan temple" Topic

Hi all,
I'm knocking together a simple, and cheap Mayan temple (of sorts) for a Pulp Alley adventure to come. I need some advice about a cheap, yet effective way to get a exterior finish on the structure.

At the outset, let me say I know it's got its problems, but I'm not letting that get in the way of just finishing and getting it on the table! I've not worked out what to do with the summit shrine – partly because I've not allowed enough space!

It's constructed out of corrugated cardboard and white glue – I was contemplating using watered down white glue and tissue paper then just dry brushing and adding some vegetation.

I'd welcome any ideas for this ultra-low cost and fast results project!

link

Cheers and thanks in advance.
Alan

you have the rough shape done and i usually find that to be the most difficult step – so bravo. for texturing i tend to spray the whole thing with fleck-stone. when that's dry, i spray with black (or army painter colored) primer, followed by several coats of dry bush in whatever color you want.

Nice work, Alan! Also good -- and very easy to follow -- advice from PistolPete.

I'll offer a few other suggestions on the more labor-intensive front…

You could try texturing your structure with MOD PODGE, or DURHAM'S WATER-PUTTY, or Minwax WOOD HARDENER. A small container of any of those should be enough for the job.

Thanks PP and MG,
Will look into the products and methods you suggest – appreciate it.

Mad Guru, are the compounds you suggest reasonably flexible when dry? Just wondering if I'd be best to reinforce the raw edges of the card?

Pulp Alley Dave also suggested cutting some blocks of thin card to give detail under the tissue paper coating. Have done one side and it looks like a good possibility. I might try Pistol Pete's texturing over that.

Will post progress shots. Thanks for your encouragement.
Cheers
Alan

Alan,

No, once dry the compounds are not too flexible, though a coat of Mod Podge will leave flexible materials -- like butcher paper -- somewhat flexible, even after it dries.

You raise a good question re: the edges of your corrugated paper. If you do use one of my suggestions it might be worthwhile to prepare the edges in advance by covering them with thin pieces of glued-on card. On the other hand, the same compounds could work to strengthen the edges too, so long as you apply it carefully in small amounts, so there's little chance of getting the thin parts of your model too "soggy" and risking a chance something could lose its shape or collapse. I have used small amounts of Elmer's Wood Filler to do similar work in the past, and so long as I was careful and used small amounts of the material, it didn't cause a problem.

Using thin pieces of card to add some architectural detail to the surface is also a great idea! I've done the same on Medieval castle parts, using the card to add some raised brick or stone work.

Personally I'm not a big fan of using paper mache for terrain, like with your proposed tissue-paper coating method. I find such models a little too delicate and fragile for game use, but that's just me.

Whatever method you decide on, I look forward to seeing your progress!

Hi there – nice temple so far.

A few of suggestions…

1. cover the whole thing in pva and the fine builders sand. Paint black and dry brush grey

2. Many of there temples were built from blocks so start cutting out stone slabs from cereal card and glue these on in a block work pattern. Paint black and then drybrush light & dark grey

The second is somewhat slower but both will give a good effect.

Good luck

A wealth of advice – cheers.

For this attempt I'm going to try the slabs of card covered with tissue paper and brushed in PVA/wood glue. Mostly, because I can start it right away.

Here's the progress so far.
link
(hope the image link works)

Looks great so far!

Here it is – about 90% complete. A few details I want to address (eg. paint job looks a bit 'patchwork quilt') but am generally happy with progress.
link
Thanks for all your encouragement and ideas.

Cheers
Alan