[kitmen]

I have been trying to devise a quick and not too messy method of making good looking hay bales for our track.

I think I may have hit upon a method that I would like to share and will (hopefully) help others who also want to make some good looking hay bales as well.

With this method, children are able to help make them as no toxic or harful substances are used; but the best part is that the hay bales can be used immediatly as there is no need for curing or drying.

Here we go:

Items needed,

Double sided "gum" which is used for mounting paper to foam core/cardboard. This is not tape, it is just adheasive. Can be purchased at an art supply store and is available in various widths.

A cork. (your choice of beverage.)

Thread.

A fine grater, I used a garlic zester as it is quite fine and works very well.

Styrofoam cubes. (Pre cut to size.)

All of the items needed as described.

Grate the cork into a container.

Wrap the styrofoam cube in the double sided "gum" going around the cube first, then covering the top.

Remove the backing paper from the adheasive.

Wrap thread around one side of the styrofoam and then the other.

Take the cube and press into the grated cork covering all sides. The cork will only stick to the cube and not your fingers as the adheasive is only on the cube.
Lightly dust off any cork that has not adheared to the cube.

Complete and ready for the track.

They look quite good are light and if a car hits them they cause zero damage.

Any and all comments are always welcomed.

Thanks

John

 

[-Sy-]

Well done, very effective, nice tutorial.

 

[FZSsemans®]

cool way to make those! thanks for sharing!

 

[kitmen]

Thanks Sy!

I hope others will give this a try, once you get going they are easy and addicitive!

Thanks

John

 

[Mr. Olufsen]

Hi John,

Very nice work, very, very good looking indeed!!! Thanks for sharing your fine tutorial.

QUOTE ...if a car hits them they cause zero damage.

The cars or the bales?

PS: Just a tip; When applying the flock/cork granulate, you might want to try putting the still naked (!) bales on a pin, paint them with PVA glue (white glue, wood glue) and then apply the flock. Wrap tan or burnt yellow string around them when dry

Either way, you might want to spray the bales lightly with hairspray or a similar thing to sort of 'lock' the cork or flock in place.

Br,
Christian

 

[kitmen]

Thanks Christian!

I'll try the hairspray method and see how it works. For the most part the cork sticks quite well, but I'm sure with time (and impacts) they have the potential of loosing some "hay"

Thanks

John

 

[MICHAEL D]

Very interesting, and realistic looking. I'll be trying that out in the next few days.

 

[kitmen]

Michael, we have a lot of fun with them on our track. When a car de-slots into a barrier of these bales (all races are crash and burn) the flying bales and ensuing "crash" scene gets everyone laughing and makes an "off" that much more interesting.

Can't wait to see your work!

Thanks

John

 

[Chappy]

Absolutely great idea John, thanks for sharing.
I like the looks and the simplistic method.
looks like you have given this some thought and come up with a very good soloution.
I suppose one could buy corks at the Michaels Store ? John
sorry but I'm allergic to alcohol lol
Bob
ps John you might recognise some of the little folks in my avatar lol

 

[masmojo]

Great job on the hay bales; A similar technique which yields great results is foam rubber, spray adhesive and finely cut colored paper for hay. Personally I like the cork you used and since my track is 1/43, I think the cork would work well for my purposes!! When the time come I might blend these two methods! Thanx

 

[Redlines]

Great idea along with other suggestions n ideas,they look brill.Thanks for sharing with us
Cheers
Rick

 

[kitmen]

Chappy, great to see your post!

Yes corks are available at Michael's, be sure to use real versus the "synthetic" corks as the real corks work best.

I love your avatar! The figures look great!

Masmojo, looking forward to seeing the results of your work! A combination of the two materials should look really good!

Rick, my pleasure! The bales are quite easy to make once you get all the materials organized. But once you get started, it is hard to stop!

Thanks

John

 

[Chappy]

Morning John,
I bought the necessary supplies and made my first hay bale.
It was of course a tester, but turned out just as yours did very easy and looks very real.
Bag of 50 corks $4.99
Garlic spetzer $10.00
Tape on the shelf
Thread Mrs basket
Hay bales Priceless
John they look great and are so easy to make.
Cheers
Bob

 

[kitmen]

Bob, thanks so much for the update!

They are fun to make and very inexpensive as well!

I would love to see your finished bales, as I'm sure everyone else would, so please post a photo as soon as you can!

Thanks,

John

 

[Chappy]

Ok will do, but am currently in the UK, until the 15th, so will post after that.
Family business .
Thanks
John

Bob

 

[MICHAEL D]

Quote; John, "I would love to see your finished bales, as I'm sure everyone else would, so please post a photo as soon as you can"!
Quote; Bob, "Ok will do, but a m currently in the UK, until the 15th, so will post after that".

You STILL in the UK Bob ?

Michael.

 

[Oldbaldgit]

Amazing!

 

[Chappy]

Man there's just no hiding from you guys lol.
Well your right its about time I lived up to my word to John.
An inconsolable race driver sitting on a bale built as per John
And a bunch of Johns pit crews which I also promised to post pictures of for John.
And Michael since your holding my feet to the fire, ill include the new whirly bird lol.
Cheers
Bob

 

[1 32 slotter]

Very good work John. I too will have to give it a go.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Singer]

Yesss, I REALLY have to get my track to a standard where I can ad these!
Good work and grate tutorial...