DIY help needed

[essbee]

For some project I'm doing I have to build a toy tunnel.
It has to be portable and look good. Rough size 10 inches high by
10 inches wide by 1 foot deep. Bit like a model railway
tunnel but bigger.

I have tried fashioning cardboard boxes - but that looks shit.
I have thought about LEGO - but that would be a sledgehammer
to crack a nut.

Wood is an option - but heavy.

Can any woodwork-ish people of the great and good of NSC
help please wrt materials etc. ta.

 

[Magic Sponge]

Have you thought of paper mâché, you can form to whatever shape you wish and paint whatever colour, would be light as well?

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Bozza is your man for this topic

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Chicken wire & papier mache, as Blue Peter would surely advise you, by the way.

 

[smeariestbat]

thin ply or chipboard may be able to bend. But chicken wire and paper mache is tour best bet. I made a full size m and m costume for a pub crawl using that method

 

[skipper734]

Balsa Wood is the material of choice when paper mache and chicken wire looks too rough.

 

[moggy]

I do a few dioramas for modelling but 1/35 scale.
For what you're doing I suggest as weight will be a problem is to roughly build what you want using polystyrene then covering it with strips of plaster of Paris (bought from a chemist.)
Once dry and solid you can paint it with a mix of greens and browns for ground cover.
Once dry, using a spray bottle, mix some white glue with water 50/50 then sprinkle on some different types of mixed herbs.

 

[swindonseagull]

I do a few dioramas for modelling but 1/35 scale.
For what you're doing I suggest as weight will be a problem is to roughly build what you want using polystyrene then covering it with strips of plaster of Paris (bought from a chemist.)
Once dry and solid you can paint it with a mix of greens and browns for ground cover.
Once dry, using a spray bottle, mix some white glue with water 50/50 then sprinkle on some different types of mixed herbs.

then when you dont need the tunnel you can eat it!!

 

[jackanada]

Well I think [MENTION=1284]moggy[/MENTION] has covered this - my idea was to construct a mould and then fill it with expanding foam.

 

[clapham_gull]

What about that modern quick fit pipe they use for water these days.

Strong and will bend.

They use it for making DIY poly tunnels.

Cap the ends and screw on a some hardboard.

Cover the arches with sheet plastic.

Job done.

 

[essbee]

thanks all...great tips

Just makes me realise how brill NSC is.

 

[SE25 Nick]

Have you lot been watching Blue Peter?

 

[brightonbaz]

Well I think [MENTION=1284]moggy[/MENTION] has covered this - my idea was to construct a mould and then fill it with expanding foam.

this

 

[DanielT]

willy wonka had that camera that could shrink massive chocolate bars. Get hold of that, take it to a full size tunnel, and voila! simple