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Post by Mike Harris on May 13, 2012 3:23:06 GMT -5
Hello All, I've been absent from the forum for a while, but not from the Alamo. I've been working on a 1/72 scale Alamo based on the interpretations of Rick Range, Craig Covner and Jake Ivey has thrown in more than his two cents worth, although I've never actually spoken to Jake during this project (Jake, we really need to talk!). Anyway, here are a couple of pics of the church and courtyard wall. The wall will have some changes made to it, but the church is completed except for the fine detail painting. The remainder of the compound is somewhat close to completion. Hope you enjoy the pics. Mike    |
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Post by davidpenrod on May 21, 2012 10:37:17 GMT -5
Mike, beautiful model, as usual. I like the fact that you have reduced the amount of "dip" in the parapet of the facade. Gary Zaboly on another thread discussed the probability that the deep "dips" weren't there during the siege but were created after San Jacinto when the Mexicans knocked down the perimeter walls and defensible parapets of the Long Barracks and Church. I think they may have also knocked down the second floor of the room next to the granary - the rubble of which fell into the cloister and caused the central area to collapse - as we see in Everett's diagram of 1846.
Did you use Balsa Foam II for your medium. If so, do you know how to paint the stuff and keep the gritty details gritty?
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Post by Allen Wiener on May 21, 2012 11:17:37 GMT -5
My guess is that at least part of the deterioration we see in that facade in the paintings and sketches following the war resulted from locals using Alamo stones for other buildings or to sell as souvenirs to visitors. I can't recall where, but I read not long ago that "Alamo Stones" were a hot item in Bexar for a time. I think the same thing happened to the Colosseum in Rome; once the place fell into disrepair and wasn't used anymore, people pillaged for stones to use in other construction.
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Post by davidpenrod on May 21, 2012 13:10:10 GMT -5
There is a chunk of Alamo wall in the exterior of the Tribune Building in Chicago. Its in the exterior of the first floor, set in concrete. There's a plaque that reads only "The Alamo."
I wonder how many old American families have big chunks of sandstone in the attics or basements of their family homes and wonder what the hell it is and why did great-great-great-grandpa ever collect the thing? Or maybe some of them know what it is. Maybe somebody ought to put out an announcement in the big newspapers asking for information relative to Alamo artifacts in their homes.
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Post by Mike Harris on May 22, 2012 13:56:21 GMT -5
Mike, beautiful model, as usual. I like the fact that you have reduced the amount of "dip" in the parapet of the facade. Gary Zaboly on another thread discussed the probability that the deep "dips" weren't there during the siege but were created after San Jacinto when the Mexicans knocked down the perimeter walls and defensible parapets of the Long Barracks and Church. I think they may have also knocked down the second floor of the room next to the granary - the rubble of which fell into the cloister and caused the central area to collapse - as we see in Everett's diagram of 1846. Did you use Balsa Foam II for your medium. If so, do you know how to paint the stuff and keep the gritty details gritty? Thank you, Mr. Penrod, It's always been the challenge to backdate the "look" of the Alamo to 1836 from what we see in the maps, drawings and photos of the late 40's. But, right or wrong, that's the fun part. Of course, I always try to be on the right side of right or wrong. But inevitably, someone always seems to be more right!  I mostly use Balsa Foam II, but have also found for the really nasty, ruined walls, Balsa Foam I is fantastic. To keep the gritty details looking gritty, I use a thinned down latex paint (latex, as in house paint) for the base color. That's all the above photos have them at that point. It covers beautifully, dries fast and it's strong. That way I can also customize the basic, overall color I want. I apply the fine detail and shading with oil paints so I can have better control of "keeping it gritty". |
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Post by davidpenrod on May 22, 2012 17:21:14 GMT -5
Mike, thanks. That's good info. I'm going to try it out on a model of the Long Barracks.
Now that I've lulled you into my confidence, can you reveal how you created that beautiful church facade with all that great detail? Did you carve that out of Balsa also?
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Post by Mike Harris on May 23, 2012 10:42:17 GMT -5
Mike, thanks. That's good info. I'm going to try it out on a model of the Long Barracks. Now that I've lulled you into my confidence, can you reveal how you created that beautiful church facade with all that great detail? Did you carve that out of Balsa also? I feel so used! Of course I'll share how I made the church facade. The floral designs on the niches were drawn by Craig Covner and the designs for the door were drawn by me. I then laser etched the detail onto a piece of plastic. After the etching was completed, I made silicone molds and resin copies. I like using resin for the doors and niches, because when I hit it with the dremel it damages much like stone. The keystone was carved into balsa foam and additional detail being added using epoxy putty, with molds and resin copies also being made. Basically anything with molding was accomplished with styrene plastic. The detail on the entablature, columns and column bases were scratchbuilt from styrene, with the sculptured designs on the bases being carved with epoxy putty. Once again I made molds and resin copies. The rest of the church, stones, ashlar, etc. was hand-carved into Balsa Foam II. Now that you have all the secrets, you're in for many, many, many, many hours of Alamo fun. When you get to the point where you feel like quitting, send me a PM and I'll give you some tips that I'm sure I didn't include above. Happy Alamoing! Mike |
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Post by davidpenrod on May 23, 2012 12:10:52 GMT -5
Thanks, Mike. Holy Mackerel! That's some effort on your part but it has paid off. Exquisite stuff. What will you do with the model once you are done? You've got to display it.
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Post by Wade Dillon on Jul 31, 2012 0:43:16 GMT -5
Sell it to me to serve as visual aid for my illustrations. Ha ha!
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Post by Mike Harris on Jul 31, 2012 13:14:53 GMT -5
Sell it to me to serve as visual aid for my illustrations. Ha ha! You know you could just use it any time you want, Wade...no charge. However, I'm not sure if you'd want to. According to Mr. Penrod in his article in the Alamo Review, I haven't shifted my paradigm view of the long barrack quite far enough yet!  I may have to throw it away and start over. I had no idea just how wrong I was before David helped me see the light!! Mike |
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Post by davidpenrod on Aug 6, 2012 9:17:28 GMT -5
Mike, dont't throw it away. Its too damned good looking. You can still salvage it from the ravages of paradigmism! Just follow Doctor Dave's cousel: take two oxycodein with aspirin and three shots of your favorite single malt while hopping around on one leg. Dont forget the cigar. Call me in the morning. Your paradigmism should be cured. If not, its off to the asylum for a nice "rest."
In all seriousness, you're model is better looking than Lemon's and includes more realistic detail. I'm jealous of your skill and craftsmanship.
Are you going to add the whole of the Long Barracks to it?
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