Statue and Street Build
This article accompanies the Gallery page "15 Years Later". It describes how the architectural elements of this scene the cobblestone street, sidewalks, (yes both individually paved stone by stone) retaining walls and statue bases where built. This was done by first making a wooden master (cobblestones and statue base are shown in the photos) then creating a mold using Micro Mark’s rapid mold rubber. This rubber is a two part RTV (Room Temperature Vulcanization) silicone rubber. There are RTV articles to be found on the web (www.armorama.com) so great detail is not necessary. It is very easy to use and does a fantastic job. However, when making a master out of wood it must be properly sealed with something like a clear acrylic gloss. Wood is very porous so it has a much larger surface area than what appears to the naked eye and if not sealed (and cover with the proper release agent) the RTV will stick and ruin the master. Heed this warning it is a very sad lesson to learn first hand.
Some notes about the wooden masters. The statue base and retaining wall are basically just small blocks of wood. The trim was done with scale floor boards and crown moldings for doll houses. Just proof it pays to look in other hobbies for inspiration and supplies. Another interesting point is the crest (the double-headed eagle) on the statue base (first picture) is a resin cast of a 2 pfennig coin from the turn of the last century. Again, good model parts can come from anywhere.
Casting plaster (perma-stone is the brand name) was used to create the necessary walls, stones and bases. Note, due to LHS shortages some of the pieces where made with plaster of paris. Do not use this, it is far too soft thus breaking easily and does not carve well. Another thing to keep in mind is too tint the plaster to match its final color. This makes it easier to paint and weather. All the places that the brick is exposed where carved into the plaster using needles and a few sculpting tools. Also, to show the Red Army had been through that area years ago, there are a few Russian names scratched into the walls. Actually they are the names of the Russian players from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The statues (or what is left of them) are made of two part resin poured into RTV molds made from 6 inch statuettes of the Four Seasons, which are shown in the pictures. The original intent was to use them as is, weathering them to look like marble. However, in 1/35 land they would be something near 18 ft tall. That is a stretch for a single piece marble statue. Plus the height did not fit in with the layout of the scene. So, to make the statues appear to be made of bronze (which are hollow) resin was poured into the molds and allowed too dry for 15 minutes. This formed an outer skin of hardened resin in the mold and the remaining liquid resin was poured out. The statues are depicted as if damaged during the war or scavengers have started to cut them apart for scrape, thus fitting into the scale of the scene.
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