Showing posts with label stalagmite. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stalagmite. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Stalactites & Stalagmites


Since the mission room is the Firefly Caverns, the first thing I decided to tackle was some 3D stalagmites and stalactites. I wanted to be able to hang the stalactites from the ceiling, so they needed to be light weight. I decided to use Great Stuff expanding foam (found at many hardware stores).

How-To
  • First find something to use as a base for building the stalactite. It doesn't really matter what it looks like, because we will be peeling it off once we're finished. I prefer wax paper and poster board .
  • Spray the foam in a circular pattern or in the shape you want your stalactite (keep in mind that it expands). I would only spray a few layers at a time to keep it from collapsing. After it stiffens add a few more layers. Keep doing this until you get it to the shape that you want. Be very careful with the foam - it is very sticky, so try to keep it off your skin and clothes.
  • After you have the final shape of your stalactite and it has had time to harden, spray paint it to match the colors you are using in your Firefly Cavern. I mixed a flat-base and a satin-base to give the look of moisture.
  • Once your stalactite is dry, it is time to peel it off the base (this is where the wax paper comes in handy). If you used wax paper it should peel off easy. Peel carefully to make sure you don't crack your new stalactite.
  • When it is time to hang them from the ceiling, take a quilting needle and feed fishing line through the eye. Find a spot on the bottom of the stalactite and feed the needle through the foam. Once your line is through, your stalactite is ready to hang in your Firefly Cavern!
 
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