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Old 03-08-2008, 11:15 AM   #1
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Default Artificial Rock Course

Here are some shots of my modular, stack-able indoor rock course.


The ability to turn each crate 4 ways and stack them allows for infinite arrangement possibilities.
























Last edited by tooslickforyou; 03-08-2008 at 11:21 AM. Reason: re-title
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Old 03-08-2008, 12:11 PM   #2
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WOW thats very nice I hope you'll share how they are made and of what
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Old 03-08-2008, 12:40 PM   #3
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I will say it again George...great job, those things are a blast to crawl on and very versitale.

Devlin
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Old 03-08-2008, 12:57 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stormin2u View Post
WOW thats very nice I hope you'll share how they are made and of what
^ X2 - A "How to" guide would be very nice! Those look Great!

-Tim
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Old 03-08-2008, 01:24 PM   #5
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This is the kind of post I've been waiting to see. Someone actually doing it rather than asking everyone else how to do it. Great job! Those are way cool, and just looking at them gives me some great ideas. Thanks
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Old 03-08-2008, 01:31 PM   #6
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The crates are cut as desired and the forms are made from cardboard and or paper. (mostly TV dinner boxes)






Then they are covered with plaster cloth. (bought in bulk LHS is too expensive)











Finally they are coated with Extreme Wear Dental Plaster (7500 p.s.i.) mixed with paver sand.














Zip tie the crates together as you stack em' up and screw them down.








I am going to experiment with Zebra colored High Strength Plaster that should come out slate gray with black streaks through it like granite.

Last edited by tooslickforyou; 03-08-2008 at 01:36 PM. Reason: layout change
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Old 03-08-2008, 04:16 PM   #7
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Great idea using the crates - lightweight, and stackable. Looks good, but I have some constructive criticism, if you don't mind -

It looks like a lot of your peices are a square with sitting in the middle. I would try and fill out the area more, while still keeping the sides flat (so you can still place them right next to each other). Think of it this way - instead of taking a square and putting a smaller rock in the middle, it would be like taking a bigger rock, and shaving the sides off to make it fit the square. It would help fill some of the gaps inbetween the individual rocks, and blend one peice into the next better.

Or another idea - you could make some loose rocks and boulders to put in the gaps. That may add another level of challenge, too - the rocks may shift when you try and crawl over them.
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Old 03-08-2008, 05:08 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by Mad Scientist View Post
Great idea using the crates - lightweight, and stackable. Looks good, but I have some constructive criticism, if you don't mind -

It looks like a lot of your peices are a square with sitting in the middle. I would try and fill out the area more, while still keeping the sides flat (so you can still place them right next to each other). Think of it this way - instead of taking a square and putting a smaller rock in the middle, it would be like taking a bigger rock, and shaving the sides off to make it fit the square. It would help fill some of the gaps inbetween the individual rocks, and blend one peice into the next better.

Done: Both in full and half crates but you have you mix in some chunky ones or it's too easy.







Or another idea - you could make some loose rocks and boulders to put in the gaps. That may add another level of challenge, too - the rocks may shift when you try and crawl over them.

Done: I call them rocks. (actually I made small filler stones but they were too light and I thought "What am I doing grab a rock".)








Notes are made in red in your quote.

How bout' some bowls? Also cut corner and half pieces.




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Old 03-08-2008, 05:08 PM   #9
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Now that is just too slick there tooslickforyou. That would fit anywhere. Infinite posibilities, nice.
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Old 03-08-2008, 05:32 PM   #10
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Thanks for the "how to". I was just wondering about it because it looks like something I could build to get the crawler scene some attention where I'm at. I know there are alot of other crawlers in this state but somtimes it would be nice to bring them to me instead of me venturing out to them in the future..lol. Great Write Up, I love the idea Now I found something to do with all these pepsi crates outside the store that closed down 3 months ago instead of having them pile over in the drvieway.

Thanks again!
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Old 03-08-2008, 07:03 PM   #11
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Well then, good thinking! I especially like the peices in that last pic you posted.

How much were those crates? I've got a bunch of milk crates I got for free from a buddy of mine.
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Old 03-08-2008, 07:50 PM   #12
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The crates were $3.99 each. I opted to go that rout so it wouldn't look stolen.

A 20 lb. bag of dental plaster covers 3 crates.

2-3 small rolls of plaster cloth each.

A couple hand fulls of sand.

Cost for each finished cube $15-$20.

A 4'X8' piece of plywood will hold 18-21 of em'. (I have 3 sheets)

Last edited by tooslickforyou; 03-08-2008 at 07:53 PM. Reason: addition
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Old 03-08-2008, 08:20 PM   #13
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Damn thats pretty slick, awesome idea and they look great, hows the traction? Imade some false rock out of the expanding foam and foam filler pieces, used 3m adhesive for the sand surface, but after was all done came out pretty expensive. This is a great idea, thank you for sharing!
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Old 03-08-2008, 09:17 PM   #14
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The traction is great. After the plaster sets up (5 min.) I gently rub the surface to expose the sand grit.
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Old 03-08-2008, 09:30 PM   #15
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Ok so im planning on making a little course in my room becuase there a little unused area that i can use but i need to know what would be the best stuff to use and cheapest like plaster or whatever that stuff is called.
Thanks
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Old 03-08-2008, 09:35 PM   #16
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Necessity is the mother of invention! Only thing i will need to do now is build one of these cubes to take to local hobby shop and hopefully they'll get the idea that can build our club a course and it wont have to take up to much space or money!
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Old 03-08-2008, 09:39 PM   #17
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Ok so im planning on making a little course in my room becuase there a little unused area that i can use but i need to know what would be the best stuff to use and cheapest like plaster or whatever that stuff is called.
Thanks

This is the plaster: Tell Bob it's for Rock Crawling and he'll give a bulk discount.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Dental-Buff-Ston...742.m153.l1262



This is the plaster cloth:
http://cgi.ebay.com/64-Rolls-Hobby-P...QQcmdZViewItem

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Old 03-08-2008, 09:45 PM   #18
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Thanks george I have been waiting on your how to on these.
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Old 03-08-2008, 10:26 PM   #19
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Looks nice. The cracks inbetween are good sometimes to make it more difficult, but using small real rocks to fill in is nice too and helps vary the course and add realism.
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Old 03-09-2008, 01:07 PM   #20
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Thanks for the how to and the products you used best I've seen todate.
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