Zealot

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)