Mermaids

Hi


While on holiday I picked up a few small models of mermaids which set me thinking. So I looked around and discovered Model zone sold even smaller ones.

I found a perspex container that I had received as a present containing soaps etc and painted the inside of the base blue using glass paints.

I looked out an old shell I had collected years ago on the beach and cleaned it up and added a glass stone.

Next I needed something to represent water. After searching I discovered Hobbycraft sold packets of E-Z Water for woodland scenes. This is 'non toxic, low odour product which requires no measuring or mixing and hardens in minutes.' Sounded about right for me to have a go with.

So armed with a heating pot (which is for cooking individual puddings in) and a pair of pliers I set about melting the globules to make water.

I dropped in to the tank a few sequins and small blue shells that I had found in The Works for making cards along with crushed glass and glass stones for the bottom of fish tanks.

Unfortunately I didn't heat enough water globules the first time to cover the whole base. The packet was absolutely spot on when it claimed the product to be quick drying and before I had heated extra the first lot had set hard so giving a permanent line across the bottom.

I added a small pearl star, the shell and more sequins, and determined not to make the same mistake filled the small bowl this time. I'm not sure what the problem was but the water started pouring well but seemed to cool as it ran along the sides of the shell. This meant that I ended up with an uneven layer that didn't cover the whole base. Undeterred I heated a third bowlful and poured it into the missing corners and allowed it to overlap the shell on one side. I was hoping that this would look as though a wave was lapping into the shell. I'm not sure it was totally successful.

I think layering the sequins and tiny shells gave it a bit of depth as did painting the base darker than the sides. On reflection I think I should have painted it much deeper blue on the bottom and much higher up the sides. I added the mermaids afterwards. I had intended to partly submerge a couple of them to make it look as if they were swimming but after a previous attempt with heat and small figures I thought better of it.

The overall effect is not too bad and I learnt lots, so I am happy. The water was a bit disappointing since I thought it was going to be clear but as you can see it turned out rather yellow. Still next time I know to try adding a bit of colouring to the water itself.

Fairies

Hi
I have been collecting Preiser figures for a while now. I particularly enjoy looking at winged creatures and picked up some fairy figures from Model Zone.
I found a tub that had once held an assortment of bath oils etc. in which to make a scene. The top is a bit cumbersome but it will keep the dust out.
I wanted to include something to give scale so I looked for a tree. Unfortunately the only ones I could find were on the small side for what I needed. I decided to make my own and ended up using Woodland Scenics 'plaster cloth'. I wet it and wrapped it around a newspaper shape and I think it worked reasonably well. The rough texture once painted gave a fair representation of bark.

I covered the base with grass paper and added a few pebbles and a few polystyrene balls. The purple fluff was claimed to represent woodland flowers but I wasn't totally convinced on that point. I think it works better when viewed from the distance.

Anyway I glued one of the seated fairies to the tree root and the other to the branch.

One of the standing fairies I hung from the branch to try and make her appear to be flying. I think this has worked quite well. The thread is practically invisible from a distance.

The second standing fairy I had to attach to a base since, as you can see here, she kept falling over. I used a small piece of clear plastic so that it wouldn't be too noticeable.

The third standing one I glued onto a pebble.

Finally I added a figure of a photographer to help make the fairy figures the right size along with the tree that I used as a bush.

I think it has worked quite well and am pleased with the result.