Making 1/32 hay bales.

[downtowndeco]

Making hay bales, I started by making some bales out of modeling clay. They measured a scale 18" x 18" x 36" . I used the clay shown, but to be honest, I didn't like it taht much because of the texture. In any case, I used it anyway because it was what I had on hand.





I added detail using a wire brush and a small piece of 22 gauge wire (to emboss teh baling twine). It was hard making them all the same size, but I figure I'll use the good ones up front & on top & the lumpy crappy ones in the back & on the bottom of the stacks.



Next, using the clay master patterns of hay bales I made, I made a silicone rubber mold. Now I can cast 1000 bales if I want to, and won't have to sculpt every single one.

OK, so I cast some hydrocal plaster bales.



When dry, I spray painted them flat tan.



When that was dry I gave them a burnt umber wash.



When that was dry I gave them a dry brushing with a very light flat tan.



Finally, I rubbed some glue on them & rolled them in some sawdust. It wasn't important that every single bit of the bales got covered, but just enough to add some texture.







This was my first attempt at making these & I'm pretty happy with the way most of them turned out. Now, I only have to make about 500 more.

Any questions?

[Beast Lee]

Those look great...

[gt3racerich]

Using sawdust is a great idea!

[TuscoTodd]

Turned out great and dig the idea of the sawdust to give them some organic texture - great tutorial! Thank you for sharing!

[noddaz]

Those do look great!
I just may copy this.
And now I don't have to build a 1/32 hay baler.
Scott

[slothead]

I figure with genetic engineering and all it won't be that much longer till we have miniature trees and plants that are otherwise perfectly real. I have a great spot for a 1:32 scale apple orchard on my road course and could put in a small hay field behind turn 3 on the oval. Then all I'll need is for noddaz to build that scale hay baler.

[Broman62]

EXCELLENT...thanks for sharing DTD!!

[chappyman66]

I agree with the sawdust....that's a nice touch. They pass the 3ft test, and no one looks at hay bales when they are racing.

[HomeRacingWorld]

Hay....this is very well done!

[Bookie]

Not take away from your idea, I used to cut up yellow sponges, coat them with Elmer,s. I would have some straw or hay that I cut up real fine and roll the Elmer's coated sponges in the fines til covered. After they dried I would use a piece of thread and wrap around to imitate twine. I would finish with light mist of hair spray.
Again I don't want to take way from the neat idea that started this thread.

[Historiceng]

These look great, add the finishing touch. Thank you for posting.

BTW probably best not to leave on a kitchen shelf with an ever hungry teenager in the house! ... on second thoughts

[williamg]

nice job
They look perfect, the sawdust was a clincher

[kidvoltage]

Hay bales made using kitchen sponges, white glue and excelsior. Also note real dirt ^TM
glued onto the track and actual scale boulders (well, ok, gravel).

No rabbits were harmed in the making of this image though they may have been frightened.

[downtowndeco]

"Making Straw Bales (The Final Chapter)" After a little experimentation, I found that rather than making each individual bale, one at a time (painting/aging/flocking with sawdust), and then gluing them together in stacks, it was much simpler and faster to just glue the plaster bales together in the shape of stacks first, then age/weather/flock the whole stack at once. Much faster than one at a time, especially since in most cases the bales would be used in stacks vs individual bales anyway. Any questions?

[Pappy]

Neat idea.

The only problem I have is here in Ohio they wouldn't be realistic. In Ohio you are not allowed to bale hay in rectangular bails, you must roll it into those large hay rolls. The authorities determined that bailing hay in rectangular bails is not giving the live stock a well rounded meal.