"Progress on castle/keep, etching foam" Topic

Continuation of my post from about a month ago. I have reached the stage where I have the basic structure done and I'm working on etching all of the insulation foam with stone textures.

I'm using mostly just a pencil and ballpoint pen. Drawing on the stone shapes and then pressing into the edges to create the recesses. The final result is well worth the effort, but you also start to lose your mind in the process!

Also some views on the front gate double door, which has a basic structure of foamcore but to shape with craft sticks glued to the outside of it. The craft sticks were then trimmed off to match the arch of the door.

Hope you like the results:

Etching on foam tower exterior:

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Overall structure of the keep:

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The front gate double door:

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Wall pieces:

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Well worth the effort.

It's great work. Not sure I would have the patience for all those stones

John

That is looking fantastic and is inspiring. One day when I have a work room again.

Great work.

Keep the spirit an sooner than you think it will be done!

Thanks for sharing.

Again, great work.

Your patience and results are admirable! What did you use to cut the thick insulation foam? Looks like a knife rather than a hot wire cutter but you have had far more success avoiding burring than I have. Any tips?

Nice work.

Xin

You must ferl like a 13 th century mason. Plus the music ( or maybe they too had some).

Looking good.

Yep, very nice work.

Makes me want to give it a try as well.

Now, to find a suitable small, yet attractive looking Italian, French, or German medieval or renaissance castle, or walled city to use as a model.

Thanks for the positive feedback everybody.

Quite correct, all the foam was cut from larger sheets just using razor saws and utility blades. I have never owned a hot wire cutter, although I should invest in one. There are effects you can achieve with hot cutters that you just can't do with bladed tools. Up until now all my stone and rock-related terrain has been done with ordinary hobby cutting tools.

I have the small tower completely etched, now working on the large tower and wall sections.

Interesting about the comment about feeling like a mason, it's genuinely like giving yourself an education in how stones fit together when constructing buildings! I looked at alot of reference photos of historical castles so that my etching would make logical sense, and not be just random stones all over the surfaces.