boy wundyr x | 20 Aug 2015 7:34 a.m. PST |
Earlier this week I was in a Michael's with a 20% off everything coupon burning in my pocket, when I came across Creatology's Molecule Kit of foam balls on sale for $9.99 USD CDN (so about $7.50 USD USD), which my coupon also counted on. link So I have 50+ foam balls now, from 2"+ to 15/16ths of an inch, for fighter and fleet scale asteroids and moons, maybe a sun. I may use some for planets, though I have a few half-ball resin ones from Black Cat that are my first choice. If I'm brave, I may use some of the larger ones as the basis for 3rd Imperium Tigress BBs, but I'll think about that. Anyone have a suggestion on how to do a first coat on this sort of open Styrofoam? Paint or a modelling paste or PVA glue? |
Maddaz111 | 20 Aug 2015 7:39 a.m. PST |
if you are making rough asteroids.. how about papier mache on to the ball.. |
Baranovich | 20 Aug 2015 7:40 a.m. PST |
Watered down PVA glue is an excellent sealer, just give them a good base coat of that and it should make them pretty sturdy. You could also rub them with some wall filler or spackle first to give them some stone texture and then coat them with the PVA. *While the spackle/filler is still wet, you can texture an asteroid-like surface into them by just making little depressions with your finger tips. Once the filler is dry, you can paint those depressions with a darker color to give the impression of them being deeper into the asteroid. I have found thousands of awesome uses for wall filler in my terrain modeling, it's just great stuff. |
boy wundyr x | 20 Aug 2015 7:59 a.m. PST |
Thanks for the suggestions guys. |
Landorl | 20 Aug 2015 8:23 a.m. PST |
If you want something that works similar to wall putty, but is even harder, try Durhams Rock Hard Putty. It is a powder that you mix with water. It dries pretty hard. |
TamsinP | 20 Aug 2015 11:38 a.m. PST |
Or you could use these – just drill a hole in them for flight stand pegs and no need for paint. link Mind you, that's an awful lot of asteroids from one pack, but the excess can be used for the intended purpose I guess. |
dmebust | 20 Aug 2015 12:21 p.m. PST |
Well normally I would agree with all the above suggestions. BUT, for asteroids I did the following. Put on latex gloves. Take the foam ball in one hand, uncoated and with the other hand spray with black or perhaps dark gray spray paint. As the foam ball reacts to the spray paint, squeeze the foam ball some. I got some very nice odd shapes. The melting styro foam actually wotks in your favor as it will create crevaces, cracks and holes all the features a good asteroid should have. I did mine sprayed in black then went with three different grays, dry brushed on. Cheap, look good and fast. Give it a try! |
Mako11 | 20 Aug 2015 1:06 p.m. PST |
I prefer gray volcanic rock, available from most home improvement stores. You can also get rust colored ones too, if you want iron-ore asteroids. |
Toaster | 20 Aug 2015 4:01 p.m. PST |
I coat my polystyrene asteroids in pva and dip in sand, gives a strong finish and good texture. Robert |
Winston Smith | 20 Aug 2015 6:44 p.m. PST |
Spray paint dissolving polystyrene foam can often work in your favor. |
Ron W DuBray | 20 Aug 2015 7:15 p.m. PST |
you could also just ball up some aluminum foil rock shapes and dip them in wall paint :) |
Ivan DBA | 21 Aug 2015 10:23 a.m. PST |
Only spray paint styrofoam outside, with good ventilation. The fumes from polystyrene reacting to spray paint are toxic. |
thedrake | 21 Aug 2015 11:19 a.m. PST |
In addition to lava rocks I also use the small bags of fish tank rocks that you can get at Walmart for about 2 dollars…they come in various colors and make excellent small asteroids. One other suggestion is to find a gem shop that sells rocks of all types--round polished ones for planets,irregular ones for asteroids and flat agate rocks for space phenomena. |