Abbey Ruins? Or, Ruins in general

[PeachBottom]

After visiting a few of the random Abbey ruins in our area (literally. driving down a road and "hey, what's that big stone wall up ahead?"), I decided I'd like to have some ruins of our own.

But how to go about it? We have brick jig-stones, but not the stone ones and it'd be silly to invest in the stone ones for one small project. TommyDodd was suggesting we cut it out of styrofoam, but I'm worried it will blow away, and I also worry about me using a craft knife to do the carving.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks!

[railwaygardener]

How about building it with Jigstones brick moulds, plastering over the surface and carving appropriate stonework on the plaster?

[PeachBottom]

I suggested that to TommyDodd, but I think he thinks it's too much work or defeats the purpose of using the jigstones...

but GMTA!

[PeachBottom]

Erm, what does scribe mean?

[Pendo Pilot]

Erm, what does scribe mean?

Like score I think for your native tongue..

I seem to be great at building ruins, however that is not my intention, I am just terrible at building...errrr... buildings.

[PeachBottom]

Erm, what does scribe mean?

Like score I think for your native tongue..

Yeah, yeah. Make fun of my poor improper English education. I'm learning! I've started putting the u back in words that American English took it out of, and I spell "grey" the proper way! But yes, I do understand what score means!

I seem to be great at building ruins, however that is not my intention, I am just terrible at building...errrr... buildings.

LOL!

[PeachBottom]

A friend of ours has lent us their stone jig-stones, so I think I've figured it out! Just have to MAKE the stones.....

[invicta280]

..........Or you could make them from polystyrene, the ultimate in recycling , like this guy has.

http://youtu.be/qP3hrp7i8wQ

[Mrs F Controller]

We went to visit a lovely little railway last year where all the buildings were made of polystyrene offcuts. they had also been clad with polyfiller and painted so you really couldn't tell they were polystyrene at all. Have a look at these buildings...
http://www.mplr.co.uk/wp-content/upload ... Grapes.jpg

The whole of the railway was done the same way so to make some 'abbey ruins' should be fairly easy. there's some pics in the Archive section August 2011 of the MPLR website...

http://www.mplr.co.uk/2011/08/

[PeachBottom]

Thanks, I'll check it out.

[IrishPeter]

Word of advice from someone born and brought up in Lincolnshire.

DO NOT BUILD ANYTHING THAT WILL BLOW AWAY - because it will!  (Unless, of course, you are looking for an excuse to visit the RTM in Ouddorp, NL)

I well remember driving down the road between Hemswell and Kirton-in-Lindsey on one of those days when the wind was coming off the North Sea like the Valkyries at full charge and watching various debris fly across the road including an almost intact (before it landed) plywood and felt garage roof.

Peter from Lincs in AZ

[PeachBottom]

Peter, that's one of the reasons I was going to use the jigstones. We just lost a tree a few months back in the wind: http://www.blog.beccajanestclair.com/20 ... ree-falls/

We also have lost fence panels in the wind, and in 2010, the wind blew down a signpost with two cast iron signs on it (Beware of Trains and a LNER trespassing sign) Fortunately, the signs didn't have any damage!

[Mrs F Controller]

I know this was posted a long time ago but I meant to mention this before. I was in a garden, tropical fish shop the other day and there for sale amongst all the sunken galleons and plastic palm trees that fish seem so attracted to (or their owners) were some lovely ruins some very Roman in style and some just like old castles or abbey ruins just the right size too! Quite expensive mind about £14 but you'd only need the one! Waterproof, weatherproof and heavy. Was sorely tempted myself.