03-08-2008, 11:15 AM | #1 |
Rock Stacker Join Date: May 2007 Location: I don't even know how I got here.
Posts: 68
| 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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03-08-2008, 12:11 PM | #2 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: May 2007 Location: Taylors Falls just hanging with the MNRCRC crew.
Posts: 7,843
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WOW thats very nice I hope you'll share how they are made and of what |
03-08-2008, 12:40 PM | #3 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: under a rock and a hard place
Posts: 5,443
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I will say it again George...great job, those things are a blast to crawl on and very versitale. Devlin |
03-08-2008, 12:57 PM | #4 |
Quarry Creeper Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Liberty
Posts: 255
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03-08-2008, 01:24 PM | #5 |
RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Medford, Oregon
Posts: 1,261
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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 |
03-08-2008, 01:31 PM | #6 |
Rock Stacker Join Date: May 2007 Location: I don't even know how I got here.
Posts: 68
| 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 |
03-08-2008, 04:16 PM | #7 |
RCC Addict Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Saginaw
Posts: 1,721
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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. |
03-08-2008, 05:08 PM | #8 | |
Rock Stacker Join Date: May 2007 Location: I don't even know how I got here.
Posts: 68
| Quote:
Notes are made in red in your quote. How bout' some bowls? Also cut corner and half pieces. | |
03-08-2008, 05:08 PM | #9 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Iowa, the antirecreation state!
Posts: 2,227
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Now that is just too slick there tooslickforyou. That would fit anywhere. Infinite posibilities, nice.
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03-08-2008, 05:32 PM | #10 |
Quarry Creeper Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Liberty
Posts: 255
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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! -Tim |
03-08-2008, 07:03 PM | #11 |
RCC Addict Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Saginaw
Posts: 1,721
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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. |
03-08-2008, 07:50 PM | #12 |
Rock Stacker Join Date: May 2007 Location: I don't even know how I got here.
Posts: 68
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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 |
03-08-2008, 08:20 PM | #13 |
Quarry Creeper Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Jamestown
Posts: 230
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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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03-08-2008, 09:17 PM | #14 |
Rock Stacker Join Date: May 2007 Location: I don't even know how I got here.
Posts: 68
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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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03-08-2008, 09:30 PM | #15 |
Rock Stacker Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: reno
Posts: 58
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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 |
03-08-2008, 09:35 PM | #16 |
Quarry Creeper Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: detroit
Posts: 383
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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! |
03-08-2008, 09:39 PM | #17 | |
Rock Stacker Join Date: May 2007 Location: I don't even know how I got here.
Posts: 68
| Quote:
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 Last edited by tooslickforyou; 03-08-2008 at 10:00 PM. | |
03-08-2008, 09:45 PM | #18 |
Trying to have Fun Again Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: In your fridge stealing a beer
Posts: 2,923
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Thanks george I have been waiting on your how to on these.
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03-08-2008, 10:26 PM | #19 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Corruptifornia
Posts: 12,107
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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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03-09-2008, 01:07 PM | #20 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: May 2007 Location: Taylors Falls just hanging with the MNRCRC crew.
Posts: 7,843
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Thanks for the how to and the products you used best I've seen todate. |
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