When it comes time to paint this thing, I've got some white primer around here and could use that, but I think I'll got to Walmart or someplace and see if I can get an inexpensive can of flat paint, have them tint it medium/dark dray for me. That'll save one layer of paint, although if the paint will significantly strengthen the PM, then maybe I should reconsider. In any event, I'll need to pick up some gray paint, either some latex or some acrylic craft paint.
Had to do a bit of sealing around the base, as I seemed to have left the papier-mâché a bit short on the back side. I had a previously-opened tube of DAP Dynaflex which seemed to work. Says its paintable once it's dry (and waterproof!). I also used the stuff to touch up a few spots on the shell, and have a few more. I see now why it was so important not to cut the paper into strips, but tear it instead. Wherever the paper's edge was not torn, it left an ugly, obvious seam. I'm going to have to go back and touch those up so they don't look so bad once painted. The primer might hide most of them, so I'll have to experiment with that.
I then moved on to the masonry for the tunnel portals. Basically just some cereal box cardboard cut into L-shaped bits and cemented in with some Weldwood contact cement. Here, too, I'm hopeful the thick primer/anti-skid paid hides the gaps. I guess we'll see. I flat out stole this idea from Howard, as I couldn't think of any better-looking alternatives.
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File comment: Sealing and masonry.
HL project j.jpg [ 242.57 KiB | Viewed 7302 times ]
I'm not happy with the top of the road. Howard has a scenic depression for his draw-bridge to cross, I do not, instead just going with a steep slope. I'd like to add a bit of road up to the gate where I'd replace the drawbridge with a portcullis in front of heavy wood doors. Unfortunately there's just not enough space. I've developed a cheat approach, but I'm not happy with it. I fiddled around with it last night and couldn't come up with a way to make the original scheme work. We'll see...pretty far off on this project's timeline.
I'll tell you one thing...if I was tasked with making these in the Elastolin factory and was paid piecework, I'd starve to death.