Using someof the techniques from Blockhaus amongst others, I have begun work on a French-type apartment block....

Now the idea is to do the façade with a simulation of dressed stone - and to add a little bit of detail to break up the otherwise plain façade....

I have used Foam Board as the basis, with rectangles of cork to simulate the 'dressed stone' after all this dries it will get a good coat of the material used for artist's canvases (as recommended by our good friend Blockhaus)

Following that, there will be a thin coating of plaster applied.

The building is around 2/3 of its height - I'm going to be adding a store or café on the ground level.

The pics more or less follow the procedure - basic deign and then the applications of cork and strips of corrugated card (the garish yellow stuff :-) )... More soon....Jim

POSTSCRIPT: The bits overhanging are going to be trimmed off later - it just seemed easier to glue them on and then trim later.....

that looks so cool!!! are you going to add window boxes??

I'm going to add Gnomes AND Window boxes :-) ..

I'm doing French windows acually...Jim

Hmmmmm..... how unusual, French windows in a French apartment block. LOL :-)

Jim a good start. When you add a thin layer of plaster will the rough texture of the cork disappear?

Cliff, I was just wondering the same thing about covering it with the artist gesso. Will have to watch this closely.....
anyway.... I'm off to the artist supply house to pick up a few things...... hopefully they will have this strange substance call plasteline......... :-) :-) :-) :-) might as well grab a gesso while I'm there....and some thin cork sheet.

Very cool starting!!

I´m really looking forward to see some more pics!

Especially when you are (or) have supplied the plaster!!

Thanks for sharing

Cheers

Gunnar

Hello Jim.
Congratulations four your first cork work you can see that is easy work with a little training .
In the photos seems that edges of cork is a bit rougth.you can avoid this sanding with a this sandpaper that mechanichs utilice for repair autos (0000 grade). Also the best tool for cut cork is a scalpel, but a normal cutter is O.K. I translate this messaje to spanish for more precission:

Hola Jim, felicidades por tu primer trabajo en corcho, ya habras comrobado que trabajar con este material es facil, solo se necesita un poco de práctica.
En las fotos puede erse que los lados del corcho son un poco rugosos. Esto se puede corregir facilemte lijando con papel de lija del que aqui en España sde llama "papel de agua" es que utilizan los carroceros para reparar los golpes en los coches. Ellos rellenan la parte del vehiculo deteriorada con una pasta y luego la lijan con ese papel. Lo puedes encontrar en cualquier drogueria. La mejor herramienta para cortar corcho es un bisturi medico, sin embargo el cutter normal es tambien perfecto.
Un saludo y espero ver pronto esa pieza
CArlos

Had a sucessful trip to art store...... :-) :-) :-)
and yes.... I spent too much.....
but had the cork, and Plasteline.

Latest update - I haven't had a lot of time today, but I have started planning out the ground floor - bit of a cliché (or should that be Clichy ) but I think i'm going to do a café plus the main entrance door.

I've also sanded down the 'stone panels' and coated everything in white PVA glue - next stage the window frames and surrounds - which i'm going to build a little jig for...

Then onto the plaster of paris....Jim

Congratulations Dave Now is time to start the job
feel free make all questions that you whish
carlos

:-) :-) :-) future project..... I got too many to finish before I can even think of a new one....... so I'll keep watching and learning...... :-) :-) :-)

Nice looking building there Jim Keep us posted as you progress. cheers Kevin

Hi Jim,
Looking good. I don't want to jump to far forward but I was wondering how are you planning on doing the roof? I ask because I am at the same stage as you in building.
TIA