Houseboat: Base
Entry posted by KathieB
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October 8, 2007
Worked on the shoreline today. The shore was sprayed with stone-textured spray paint and looks very much like half-inch scale rough sand. Plants, rocks, and shells added, along with some green model train turf in nooks and crannies. Not quite sure what the sides and back edges will look like, but definitely not as detailed as the "front". I put the boat in place so I could see how the plantings looked in context. The "water" is still covered with plastic and over spray from the textured paint. It will be clear, eventually. Notice the addition of fenders ... they're empty eye drop capsules that I filled with white gesso and added a red paint stripe.
October 7, 2007
Have decided to amend this entry until the base is finished. There's not that much more to do. 
The following 3 photos show the beginning of the decoration, adding rocks and lycopodium to the bottom of the slip, then layering with the Plexiglas. In this shot, the Plexi still has pale blue protective plastic on both sides. When construction is finished, the blue plastic will come off to make the water clear. The red on the pontoons is craft foam. It will help cushion the Plexiglas and will appear to be a red water-line painted on the pontoon when the boat is in place.
October 5, 2007
The base is made from half-inch contractor's foam board. A solid piece for the bottom, then two outer layers to build it up. Could probably have done this with wood as well, but this is lighter. A piece of Plexiglas will lie on top of the 3rd layer, and a 4th layer will sit on top of the Plexiglas to finish it off. The bit in the middle will be hidden under the boat. It's there to keep the Plexiglas from bowing.
How can the boat "float" in Plexiglas? Easy ... I've taken off the lower half of the pontoons, which will be attached to the base. The Plexi will rest on top of them, and the boat itself will rest on top of the Plexiglas. I did a little test, and I think the effect will be awesome. 
Unfortunately, I didn't get a photo, but have patience, one will come.
I covered the base with wallboard mud. The sides slope a bit to enhance the idea of looking into a pond. The mud cracked a bit while it dried, but I spread a generous layer of gesso over all, which filled in the little cracks and made a good surface for painting.
The base is painted a basic sandy color with darker shadings in the water. This will be enhanced with some underwater items yet to be made.
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