discussion How to make a model tarp shelter?

[pjgtech]

Hi, a possibility for a diorama I am thinking of doing will include a tarp sheet, (it would be something like a 2mx3m tarp - in 1:35 scale, so will be about 57mm x 85mm approx ) but laid out as a simple sloping shelter, eg: tied up low at two corners, with the opposite two corners supported on some sort of poles.

Something like this, see pic....


But what to make the tarp out of? any suggestions peeps please.....

It needs to be thin (obviously) but would also be nice it I could get it to simulate some of the creases and fabric shape, eg: sagging.

I know there are many YouTube clips on how to make tarps, eg: wrapped up or rolled into a bundle, or laid over stuff, eg: covering stowed items, and I'm aware of the tissue paper and pva technique, but doubt this would work on a freestanding tarp shelter?

Any suggestions appreciated, cheers.

 

[pjgtech]

Actually just had a couple of ideas......

I wondered if making some sort of former, (in the shape I want) would work, eg: out of a bit of old scrap timber or cardboard, or similar etc, then cover the former with clingfilm, (to stop the tissue/pva from sticking) then cover with tissue paper and pva in the shape I want, then when its dry hopefully just peel off the clingfilm and voila! instant tarp sheet / shelter.....(Maybe?)
Or
Then I thought, why not just use clingfilm, it may work if I use a couple of layers and then paint it or pva it to see it keeps its shape?
Or
Then I thought what about Bacofoil/tinfoil? same idea use a couple of layers and shape it as needed then paint, I know it tends to crack when painted if moved, but a possibility as once its laid out in the diorama its not going to be moving anywhere?

Hmm, so some ideas to try out.....

 

[spanner570]

Peter, make the shape and size you require out of thin card.
Then apply a piece of bog roll, slightly larger than the card and suitably soaked in PVA. Should you wish, this will produce a natural amount of creases as it dries, or make it smooth. Your choice.

Allow to dry and then paint whatever colour takes your fancy.

Job done in nothing flat!

Keep it simple.

Ron

 

[Jim R]

I've seen tarps/tents and similar made very successfully using that metal foil used for pie tins. It bends and cuts easily but retains it's shape. You may have to rough up the shiny surface by light sanding to create a better surface for painting.

 

[pjgtech]

Hmm, good idea, might have to consider that too.... cheers
Think I may do a few experiments to see what works.....

 

[pjgtech]

So a bit like the water technique, eg: loo paper and pva glue? ok,
I used that technique for my SBS figures and kayak diorama and it worked ok....
So will give that a go and see what happens.... cheers

 

[Richard48]

Or be very daring and Mix Milliput with Greenstuff epoxy putty and roll out thin with the aud of talc etc.
Richard

 

[Tim Marlow]

The late Simon T would probably have said “use pewter sheet”, and he wouldn’t be far wrong. Folds realistically, and takes paint very well.

 

[wasdale32]

Depending on the scale you might want some texture. I find that the material used in spectacle wipes is good as it doesn't disintegrate when soaked in PVA or similar.

 

[PaulTRose]

Mark beat me to it..... spec wipes are brilliant for this sort of thing

 

[pjgtech]

Nope, not that brave, I do actually do a bit of baking, cakes and cookies, etc but my rolling skills are really not up to much! Lol....

 

[pjgtech]

scale will be 1:35 so not too much texture detail, but thats a good shout, I do wear glasses for reading and have a few of those little cleaning cloths, plus a I do a bit of airgun target shooting, and have some similar cleaning cloths for scopes, cheers....

 

[pjgtech]

Hmmm, just had another thought, I have been toying with the idea of making some small camo nets using either old bandage type gauze or cheesecloth type material, but could use that as a shelter also, and it is already a fabric type material..... so soaking it in pva then painting may also give a half decent effect.

So far the possible candidates to try out are:
Tissue paper and pva made over sort of former, pva and painted
Tinfoil / Bacofoil or pie crust type foil tins, shaped and painted
Bandage gauze, pva and painted
Cheesecloth, pva and painted
Very thin card, pva and painted
Very thin plastic sheet, pva a painted
Glasses type cleaning cloth, formed, pva and painted
Phew!

 

[pjgtech]

Ok, so been busy!
Set up a little experiment too see what works best....
Some strong tissue, bit thicker than standard loo roll.
A small glasses cleaning cloth.
Some old bandage gauze.
Some tinfoil, doubled over and edges folded over to make a crease/hem. (Also holes punched in corners).


Then made some "formers" using hard but thin card, cut to size, creased into required shape, matchstick supports, then all super glued to a foam board.

Gathered the materials, pva, water, clingfilm, and checked the cut samples all fit the formers....

Then covered three of the formers with clingfilm as best I could, helped with bit of tape at the sides to hold in place. The tinfoil tarp does not require pva, etc, its just simply formed over the card and seems to hold its shape quite well. The tinfoil is ahead as the main contender at this point.....
The thinking here is that the tarps once formed will maybe stick to the clingfilm, but hopefully not the card formers underneath, so can be removed and hopefully will hold their shape? we'll see......

Each sample (tissue, cleaning cloth and gauze) was then placed onto each former and liberal amounts of thinned pva applied. I used a rough mix of 60% pva to 40% water so it was slightly on the thick, but still liquid side of things. As above the foil does not require pva.

Here's the cleaning cloth and gauze after being coated in pva. I ended up soaking the cloth in the pva solution as just brushing it on was not penetrating the cloth that much, but by soaking it, the pva was absorbed much better.

And here's the tissue and tin foil, the tissue was easily soaked and produced lots of little ripples, etc, much like when you use it to make "water", so not sure how convincing it will look as a tarp?


Now just gotta wait for them to dry and hopefully set, and see whats what, will probably need at least 24 hours, and if it looks like they may need another coat of pva then I will do that, we'll see tomorrow.....

 

[scottie3158]

That's an interesting experiment. The lens cloths can be good I have used them but it does depend on the texture. I tend to use rolled out 2piece putty this can be shaped as required.

 

[pjgtech]

Will be uploading a video a bit later....

 

[pjgtech]

Uploaded to YT short video on the four model tarps (tin foil, tissue , gauze and cloth), see linky:
I wanted a convincing 1:35 scale tarp shelter, with two support poles and erected at an angle with a small overhang. See 1st post above.
The three porous materials (tissue, gauze and clot h) were coated with pva (two coats) to stiffen them up a bit so that they hold their shape, which seemed to work well.
I used small formers made from foam board, card and cocktails sticks to obtain the appropriate shape.

TBH all four methods would work ok.
But I think the tinfoil and the cleaning cloth worked the best out of the four.
Hope its useful to someone.....
Cheers

 

[pjgtech]

So last update on this....

After applying two coats of pva, all the samples , cloth, tissue and gauze, stiffened up a fair bit, but were still malleable and the angle of the tarps could be easily adjusted, etc but still held their shape. Obviously the tinfoil did not need pva.
Once set and dry from the pva, I applied a coat of black primer to each.


I then applied a coat of Olive green, but found that to be too dark, so once that was dry I then applied some khaki over the top which has lightened the colour a bit. NB: the tinfoil needs at least one more coat as the paint is obviously not soaking into it as well as it is with the other materials.


A close up of each one. TBH I would be happy to use any of these now in a diorama, as they would all look ok, especially once a bit of weathering has been applied maybe an oil/fuel wash or similar?

Here's the tinfoil tarp...

Here's the tissue tarp....

Here's the cleaning cloth tarp....

And here is the bandage gauze tarp....

So what have I learnt form this experiment? Well, for me its that you can try modelling with any material, and some will work, and some will not work. In this case I think they all work as model tarps, but obviously some look more convincing than others.
I quite like the tissue one as I do like all the little creases, etc. But I also like the cleaning cloth one and the tinfoil one. My least fave of these would be the gauze one. But at least I now have a choice of ready made tarps for any upcoming diorama's.....
Cheers

 

[Valeron]

Good test there Peter. My preference i think is the tissue one.

Mike