What happened at your workbench today?

Next tunnel portal made and in undercoat.
IMG_20260506_111349344_HDR.jpg
Have gone with a lighter undercoat over the black modge podge sealer coat this time.
The last tunnel portal brown stone colours seemed to come out too dark and dull. After I had grouted and sealed it.
Looked ok on the bench when I finished painting it, but on the railway it looked a even dark brown/black.
Will see if this makes a difference this time, when I have finished it.
 
Last edited:
grizzmo said:
Next tunnel portal made and in undercoat.
View attachment 356032
Have gone with a lighter undercoat over the black modge podge sealer coat this time.
The last tunnel portal brown stone colours seemed to come out too dark and dull after I had sealed it.
Looked ok on the bench when I finished painting it, but on the railway it looked black.
Will see if this makes a difference this time.
Click to expand...
The tunnel portal looks just the business Stewie.
 
All finished ready to seal with a final coat of polyurethane matt varnish and install. Maybe tomorrow if its not raining too much.
IMG_20260506_174158949_HDR.jpg
I am pretty happy with how its come out, a bit weathered and few different colour rocks.
The lighter under coat made a big difference and I sealed the paint with poly before I put the grout in. That made cleaning up any extra grout much easier.
7 more to go :D
 
Work going well, in the conservatory, getting some track laying done for the Claptowte Railway. Baseboard No1 finished and tested, track laid on baseboard No2, now need to turn it over and attend to the wiring, after that, only eight more boards to go.

IMG_5374.jpeg


David
 
grizzmo said:
All finished ready to seal with a final coat of polyurethane matt varnish and install. Maybe tomorrow if its not raining too much.
View attachment 356039
I am pretty happy with how its come out, a bit weathered and few different colour rocks.
The lighter under coat made a big difference and I sealed the paint with poly before I put the grout in. That made cleaning up any extra grout much easier.
7 more to go :D
Click to expand...
I've built these from actual clay bricks - but despite coating these doesn't withstand British weather, they looks ok, but i fera another year or two will finish them. So, very interested on coating - i clearly got this part wrong.
1000030832.jpg
 
peterpavuk said:
I've built these from actual clay bricks - but despite coating these doesn't withstand British weather, they looks ok, but i fera another year or two will finish them. So, very interested on coating - i clearly got this part wrong.
View attachment 356107
Click to expand...
Wow individual bricks, that must of taken a while. Looks good, real shame the bricks are crumbling.

Not sure what to use on clay bricks, I have only ever used xps foam sealed with modge podge and painted with cheap craft store acrylic paint.
I have used a exterior grade of polyurethane spray varnish, 3 coats now. 1 coat to seal the paint then i grout with normal tile grout. 2 coats after to seal it all up.

Climate here in Tas would be similar to Britain. Cold and lots of winter rain we get frosts regularly, with probably more sun in summer, very high uv.
The first walls i made still look the same after a year.
 
grizzmo said:
Wow individual bricks, that must of taken a while. Looks good, real shame the bricks are crumbling.

Not sure what to use on clay bricks, I have only ever used xps foam sealed with modge podge and painted with cheap craft store acrylic paint.
I have used a exterior grade of polyurethane spray varnish, 3 coats now. 1 coat to seal the paint then i grout with normal tile grout. 2 coats after to seal it all up.

Climate here in Tas would be similar to Britain. Cold and lots of winter rain we get frosts regularly, with probably more sun in summer, very high uv.
The first walls i made still look the same after a year.
Click to expand...
Stewie, what is “modge podge”?
 
casey jones snr said:
Stewie, what is “modge podge”?
Click to expand...
Modge Podge is a water based clear sealer, glue and you can use it as a varnish.
I tint mine with black paint to use as a sealer/undercoat. It sticks to the foam really well.
You can get it any arts supplier, craft shop, E-bay, I get mine here in Aus at "spotlight" chainstore whenever they have a 30-50% off sale.
I learned about it watching dungeon & dragon scenery makers on youtube, where i also learned how to work with XPS foam.
 
grizzmo said:
Modge Podge is a water based clear sealer, glue and you can use it as a varnish.
I tint mine with black paint to use as a sealer/undercoat. It sticks to the foam really well.
You can get it any arts supplier, craft shop, E-bay, I get mine here in Aus at "spotlight" chainstore whenever they have a 30-50% off sale.
I learned about it watching dungeon & dragon scenery makers on youtube, where i also learned how to work with XPS foam.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the explanation Stewie.
 
grizzmo said:
Modge Podge is a water based clear sealer, glue and you can use it as a varnish.
I tint mine with black paint to use as a sealer/undercoat. It sticks to the foam really well.
You can get it any arts supplier, craft shop, E-bay, I get mine here in Aus at "spotlight" chainstore whenever they have a 30-50% off sale.
I learned about it watching dungeon & dragon scenery makers on youtube, where i also learned how to work with XPS foam.
Click to expand...
No2 Child uses it on some of her projects, there's various types
 
peterpavuk said:
I've built these from actual clay bricks - but despite coating these doesn't withstand British weather, they looks ok, but i fera another year or two will finish them. So, very interested on coating - i clearly got this part wrong.
View attachment 356107
Click to expand...
I wonder if clear external PVA let down 50/50 with water all sides may work. Will look white when applied but dry clear with a very slight shine that will disappear in short order outside. Ther is also a similar product called SBR that is already to brush on without letting down with water, just make sure external variety. Both will benefit with a tiny drop of washing up liquid added to the mix.
 
grizzmo said:
Wow individual bricks, that must of taken a while. Looks good, real shame the bricks are crumbling.

Not sure what to use on clay bricks, I have only ever used xps foam sealed with modge podge and painted with cheap craft store acrylic paint.
I have used a exterior grade of polyurethane spray varnish, 3 coats now. 1 coat to seal the paint then i grout with normal tile grout. 2 coats after to seal it all up.

Climate here in Tas would be similar to Britain. Cold and lots of winter rain we get frosts regularly, with probably more sun in summer, very high uv.
The first walls i made still look the same after a year.
Click to expand...
 
Bricks are glued to xps foam frame, so only one layer, about 700 bricks per portal. Not that bad, maybe 4-5 hours.

Sealing is an issue - i may try epoxy next time and then matt varnish.
 
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