Castle-esque

[CynicWhisper]

Okay, so I'm trying to design a set for Beauty and the Beast. And of course, I am having serious issues with how to make lauan and 2x4's look like a stone castle. I know that some serious painting will be required, but also, I know I need to add some dimension, I just can't figure out how.

I've been trying to figure out how to make it look ornate or at least vaguely cooler than the average hs show.

I've been looking at this picture as a bit of a base for how I want all this to look.



I want to add those little ornate bits on the windows and possibly gargoyles. I'm also thinking for railings and other random bits of decoration, I'm afraid they'll look like blobs of cat-excrement if we try to use paper mache.

Any ideas? Pictures from your shows? Thanks in advance.

[Footer]

Scenic dope. Do a search. It will give you some texture to play with. Also, you might want to overlay elements with blue/pink/gray foam and start carving (surefoam shaper is a big help here...)

[derekleffew]

Repeating geometric solid shapes of blue foam, glued to the luaun. Van says to use paintable latex caulk as the adhesive. Depending on the steadiness of the hand, the caulk might even be used for some of the details. Don't work about the paint job, the Lighting Designer will fix it!

[superdoo]

Carving foam is the easiest way to add dimension. A hot foam knife, some files and sand paper (and I guess some imagination) goes a long way.

[icewolf08]

Vacuform! You may not be able to do it your self, but it isn't terribly expensive and you can buy preformed sheets with all sorts of brick or stone patterns. Then all you do is paint and staple them to set. Very light weight, doesn't crush and fall apart like foam, and it is even reusable.

You may also try taking homosote and cutting it into the shapes you want, then splitting it in half. This give a really cool, stony texture, and you get two bricks/stones for each one you cut out (cause you split them in half). It is also pretty easy to paint homosote.

[thelightingmancan]

You can also use "Great Stuff," available at your local hardware store, it is cheap, and you can carve it or mold it. You can paint most of the kinds they make, but check the can. This will expand quite a bit, so use sparingly, and if it didn't go far enough, add more and it will form together. Also, when worn, it has a limestone-like color, so you might not need to paint it at all.

[bobgaggle]

For my school's production of Dracula we had a giant 40'x19' castle flat that we made. Our painter painted amazingly realistic stones on it, but because the show was dark and dim in its concept, the 3rd dimension wasn't very important. We lit it just enough to see the stone, but not enough to notice the 2 dimensionality. Depending on your take on the show (dark, happy etc.) this might be something to consider, rather than the painstaking work of detailing.

[gafftaper]

Originally Posted by thelightingmancan

You can also use "Great Stuff," available at your local hardware store, it is cheap, and you can carve it or mold it. You can paint most of the kinds they make, but check the can. This will expand quite a bit, so use sparingly, and if it didn't go far enough, add more and it will form together. Also, when worn, it has a limestone-like color, so you might not need to paint it at all.

Great stuff can get pretty expensive. I built a rock about 3 foot high with wood and chicken wire covered with great stuff. If I remember right it took like 10 cans at like $6 a can. It's great if you are doing small things but not for big set's.

You can buy the two part foam liquid mix and make your own great stuff... I think Home Depot carries it. Or you can get it here on the "core materials and foam" page. It sounds expensive but there's a lot more foam in there than in a can of Great stuff.

[thelightingmancan]

Two part foam works great, but it is harder to use. If you light a 2D set from the top with a steep drop, you can make a better 3D effect.

[MaddMaxx]

Foam is the answer: Use "PL" tube glue for the foam to luan join - won't melt foam. Draw stone joins and slit with blade, take outside, wear mask, and run thin torch flame down slits - great effect! You can then use wide flange attachment on torch to distress foam surface for realistic stone surface. Prime with Kilz acrillic or more expensive rosco foam coat before painting. Works best with 2" blue foam sheets. I have replicated the ruins of Petra for an Agatha Cristie play, Camelot, the "Scotish" play, etc...