So Amanda has 2 full Stargates, one with the ramp and one without. She wants to use the one without as an "off-world" gate. We want to build up some steps and "embed" the gate in them to simulate the look almost every SG-1 off-world gate has. We'll plan to make the structure and carve the stairs out of that green foam they put artificial flowers in and then use some kind of material for the texture, then paint and add grass and stuff.

So my question is, what kind of material should we use for the texture? It's got to be relatively inexpensive, easy to use, takes paint well and is readily available. Any suggestions?

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Plaster fabric strips.....the stuff they used to make casts from. It'll be a bit heavy in the end...but you'll be able to smooth it out or texture it as needed.

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There is another alternative, and since you are using the floral foam (hopefully the hard cell variety and not the microcell that often disintegrates), after carving, use a hair dryer on high, or get an embosser.

When I carve foam, and want to seal the surface to create a good paintable texture, I use an embosser heat gun lightly over the surface. It gently melts the surface to a flat stone-like appearance. This will take first, second, and drybrush coats excellently.

Or if you prefer the rough exterior, just paint over what you carve/cut:



This was a decade ago, but if I do it over, it would be with the embosser to ceate that flat stone look.

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Hard cell foam. Got it. Good to know since I didn't know there was a difference.

I'll look into the hair dryer technique and see how it works. If it saves a step and gets me the desired result I'm all for it.

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Cap, that dio is completely fantastic. That has given me inspiration for a dio I want to do myself.

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