Cobblestone Groundwork

Modeling Subjects Dioramas
1

Hi,

I’ve been trying to find cobblestone groundwork (any design) for a Dio. (A ww2 town scene) However, I can’t seem to find them. (Either out of stock or they don’t sell them - some hobby shops!!! [:(])

I thought of making the groundwork myself. Has anyone done such ground work from scratch before? suggestions to how i can go about making them is greatly appreciated. Thanks [:)]

2

Hi Umustb,
you could try our this site: www.kancali.com, they have several types of cobble road sections, and the material used is latex rubber, so it’s thin, and ultra light. Just cut to size, and glue and paint and weather.

If you want to DIY it, you could pour some plaster sheets, and carve in your own designs. It does take a little time however. You can also do the lentil method, that 's where you go to the grocery store, buy alot of dried lentils, and glue them down individually to your base, forming the road. Then trowl in either tile grout, or plaster, spray with white glue/water to cure everything.

3

lentil… won’t they spoil the dio in the long run?

Thanks anyway. your help was greatly appreciated [:)]

4

Umustb…I think you’re confusing lentil with Yentil…that will spoil anything!!

You can also try some model railway suppliers. I know that there are cobblestone accessories available.

5

No no… lentil - a crop (food stuff, won’t they spoil over time.) [:)]

Yup… i’ll try those model railway suppliers.

6

[quote]
Originally posted by umustb

Lentils should be fine, you buy the dried ones (not the ones in cans) and they will not spoil.

Custom Dioramics also used to make hexagonal cobblestones that you had to individually put together (time consuming but a nice effect)

firestorm models also make both resin and plaster cobblestone bases.

7

Vollmer and Faller both make cobblestone roadways. Look at www.eurorailhobbies.com.

8

umustb;

When I need cobblestone or any structure materials there are two choices I have.

  1. Available off the shelf - www.modelbuildersupply.com

  2. DIM (Do-It-Myself) - I have drawn out the diorama idea and planned out the “roadway” on cardboard first. Then I remove the structures, vehicles, figures etc. Now comes the fun part. with your cardboard trace of the ground work and a sharp No. 11 blade cut the shape of the roadway to use as a template. Take plasticene and roll it out flat on a sheet of tempered glass (Cutting Board, Plexiglas, Perspex or similar from the hardware store) Roll it out to about 1/4" in thickness. Now lay your cardboard trace over top of the plasticine. Remove the excess plasticine around the trace. Remove the trace of the roadway. Now you can either glue lentils or small round pebbles to your cardboard trace (remember to glue on the side that was on top of the plasticene) Once you have the trace covered completely (remember to leave some room between stones or lentils on all sides) Turn your trace back over toward the plasticene with the “stone” down. Press the trace into the plasticene and remove it. You should be left with an impressed cobbled street mold. Mix up ordinary plaster of paris according to the directions on the box. Form shallow walls that will contain the plaster as it is poured. Pour and allow to set up. When it is “solid” remove the “roadway”. Coat the basboard with adhesive evenly and place your roadway. Let it dry for a few days. Let it get seated very very well before painting and weathering.

That is how I do it. I hope this will help you. Email if you have any questions.

Cheers;

Gregory

9

I have a small section of Cobblestone Street I bought at AMPS…I need advice on painting and weathering, I would like to use it in a Sturmtiger dio I’m doing, “somewhere” in Germany. Any ideas in regards to color?

Thanks-
Jeff

10

Hi Gregory,

thanks! Do you have pictures of your DIY cobblestone roads? Would love to see the outcome.

[:)]

11

UmustB, The lentil/Yentil thing was a joke. It’s a terrible film starring Barbara Streisand. If you ever see it you will know what I mean!

12

Here is a great site for 1:1 Cobbles or Setts as it were.

http://www.pavingexpert.com/setts01.htm

HTH,

13

[/quote]
If you ever see it you will know what I mean!
[/quote]

I haven’t watched that show before…[:D]

Thanks Jack. That site is cool. Lots of pictures.

Cheers,
[:D]

14

I made my cobblestone street from small balls of Sculpey, pressed flat on a baking sheet and baked all together, then painted.

Don’t know if that’s what you’re after, but I’m pretty happy with the way it turned out…

15

Well thanks drucifer67. Ain’t excatly what i’m looking for. I’m looking for colbblestones groundwork in an urban setup. Nicely done anyway. But don’t they look huge for the scale you’re doing? (Looking at the size of the man to the stones)