This is the Portal Tutorial project which is entirely the work of fellow Gauger Shaywen. She designed, built and documented the 2 Portals shown in the following pictures. This tutorial is on our web site and wasn't posted to the Gauge because she didn't think it was that useful. I guess if any one likes it or has questions I'll have to get her to show up here more often. Yes I did get permission to post the tutorial here.
- Plan your portal opening on a piece of foam.
- Cut out the opening with a very sharp knife.
- Rough up surface of portal. This was done with a file. Get rid of the smooth outer layer.
- Attach layers if needed. Hot glue works well, but don't melt the foam.
- Carve the rocks/bricks/designs/ledges/etc.
- Paint base/grout colour (black here). Work the paint into all the cracks so no foam shows.
- Drybrush desired rock/brick colours. Add a sooty area at the top of the portal opening.
- Mix green paint with fake grass bits.
- Ivy/moss ready to apply. It'll dry hard.
- I find it easiest to apply with fingers.
- Time for inspection while the ivy dries.
- Wash darker shadows around the ivy, and drybush lighter green highlights.
- It's a new portal!
- Put it on the layout and run trains through it.
(Edited to resize and compress images for faster loading)
![Portal1.jpg](http://www.hairyotters.com/portaltutorial/Portal1.jpg)
- Plan your portal opening on a piece of foam.
![Portal2.jpg](http://www.hairyotters.com/portaltutorial/Portal2.jpg)
- Cut out the opening with a very sharp knife.
![Portal3.jpg](http://www.hairyotters.com/portaltutorial/Portal3.jpg)
- Rough up surface of portal. This was done with a file. Get rid of the smooth outer layer.
![Portal4.jpg](http://www.hairyotters.com/portaltutorial/Portal4.jpg)
- Attach layers if needed. Hot glue works well, but don't melt the foam.
![Portal5.jpg](http://www.hairyotters.com/portaltutorial/Portal5.jpg)
- Carve the rocks/bricks/designs/ledges/etc.
![Portal6.jpg](http://www.hairyotters.com/portaltutorial/Portal6.jpg)
- Paint base/grout colour (black here). Work the paint into all the cracks so no foam shows.
![Portal7.jpg](http://www.hairyotters.com/portaltutorial/Portal7.jpg)
- Drybrush desired rock/brick colours. Add a sooty area at the top of the portal opening.
![Portal8.jpg](http://www.hairyotters.com/portaltutorial/Portal8.jpg)
- Mix green paint with fake grass bits.
![Portal9.jpg](http://www.hairyotters.com/portaltutorial/Portal9.jpg)
- Ivy/moss ready to apply. It'll dry hard.
![Portal10.jpg](http://www.hairyotters.com/portaltutorial/Portal10.jpg)
- I find it easiest to apply with fingers.
![Portal11.jpg](http://www.hairyotters.com/portaltutorial/Portal11.jpg)
- Time for inspection while the ivy dries.
![Portal_129.sized.jpg](http://www.hairyotters.com/albums/Portal-Progress-1/Portal_129.sized.jpg)
- Wash darker shadows around the ivy, and drybush lighter green highlights.
![Portal12.jpg](http://www.hairyotters.com/portaltutorial/Portal12.jpg)
- It's a new portal!
![PortalInstalledMore_005.sized.jpg](http://www.hairyotters.com/albums/Portal-Progress-1/PortalInstalledMore_005.sized.jpg)
- Put it on the layout and run trains through it.
(Edited to resize and compress images for faster loading)