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What you will need: (for 2 3-sided columns) 3 sheets of 3/8" plywood (4 for all 4 sides) |
The first thing you'll need to build is a frame. We chose a 18" square
in frame which extends to 25" and has height of 8'. Once your frame is
complete, you can add your plywood to the sides. Make sure the edges line up
as well as the bottom, to prevent wobble as well as construction problems. Once
your frame is covered in 3/8" plywood you are ready to add the pillars
top and bottom. We made ours by framing in 2x4's and covered them with the 6"
wide pine. Our prop book has complete instructions
as well as step by step pictures that can aid you in the construction of this
as well as the rest of our props.
Once you have this part done, you can start adding the edge pine. Run all 6
pieces so they touch the bottom as well as the top pillar ends. Now add the
center pieces in. Remember to measure out how far the crown molding extends.
We dropped our pine centers down 1.5" so that it would keep the same look
throughout the project. Now is a good time to router out the inside of the pine.
(You can router the entire thing if you'd like. Its entirely up to you. You
should router the inside before you add the crown molding, so that just in case
it splits, you don't have to rip the molding off. Once you are done routing
the pine, you are ready to add the crown molding. Cut the molding so that it
is sitting on the miter saw(or box) the same way it will be laid on the pillars.
Once the crown molding is done, your ready to paint. I chose a 2 tone, but this
part is entirely up to you. Your pillars are done. Add a wall
plaque for some extra detail and your ready to roll.
For a good false cemetery ground
we use burlap that has been coated in fiberglass resin. To build one of these
false floors the first thing you will need to do is build a frame of the size
of area you would like to create. We used 2x4's and framed in a recreation of
the area we needed to resemble ground. Once that was done, we began creating
a false ground using chickenwire and other pieces of scrap wood. When your done
and you are happy with how your ground looks, cover the chickenwire with plastic,
then burlap or fiberglass cloth. You are now ready to begin applying the fiberglass
resin. Apply the resin in thin coats and only make as much resin as you will
be able to apply in approx. 5 minutes. Once you have finished applying the main
structural resin, apply one more thin coat of resin to the entire project and
sprinkle dry compost into the wet resin. This will give the illusion of a dirt
mound. Once the resin is dry your ready to paint in some detail and spray glue
some modeling moss onto the entire project. You should now have a pretty sturdy
fake dirt mound.
Iron Cemetery Gate
Since the inception of the DC Cemetery, a iron cemetery gate, sign and fence
was always in the vision. In 2003 after learning how to weld as well as obtaining
suppliers for a number of necessary parts, we were able to complete this dream
which was a huge addition to the cemetery as well as the level of realism it
added. Below are some pics of the gate, sign and fence.