Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: building fake snow drifts & Mts

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USAFAMom
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Topic: building fake snow drifts & Mts
Posted: 1/31/08 at 1:12pm

Hi ,

I am new to this discussion board, just stumbled onto it while doing a search.

I work for a lighting and sound company and we have a Corp. Client who likes us to build "things" for the shows we do.

The new client wants Mountains and snow drifts.

We made Mts previously with plywood, 1x2's, chicken wire and then had fiberglass blown on them. After we got them back we hired an artist to paint them. They looked very realistic.

BUT

Weight is an issue and these things are HEAVY. So I wondered if any of you have had to build anything like this. Keep in mind some of the "mts" have to be 7 to 10 ft high for the VIP area. We want to make them in 4 sections so we can get them in and out of trucks and doorways.

Durability is also an issue because there will be people who try to climb up on them and also the fact that they are going to be hauled around in a truck from city to city without benefit of a road case. And they have to be fireproof/flame retardant.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

A.
LA Light & Sound
Ohio

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Linda S
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Posted: 1/31/08 at 4:01pm

We are working on an idea for snow banks for my next show. We are going to try a combination of chicken wire and wood frames with blown in insulation. I have no idea if it will work or not. The frames are being built on Thursday and the insulation truck is coming next week. I'll let you know if it works and how sturdy it is.

Linda

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USAFAMom
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Posted: 1/31/08 at 7:05pm

Thank you very much I appreciate it!

We were looking at hard foam insulation at the home show last weekend.

Boss says it doesn't think it will work, I say I think it will. He said it would have to be sprayed on way to thick to get depth. I say you can get depth shadowing the paint.

If it is possible I would love to see photos of your forms before and after??

Not sure if you can post photos but you could email them to my addy.

Thanks again

A.
LA Light & Sound
Ohio

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Linda S
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Posted: 2/01/08 at 7:55am

If it works, I'll be happy to send photos.

Linda

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Posted: 2/01/08 at 9:01am

Originally posted by Linda S

We are working on an idea for snow banks for my next show. We are going to try a combination of chicken wire and wood frames with blown in insulation.

Linda, please clarify -- when you say "blown in" insulation, are you referring to the cellulose-based, flaky paper product? If so, how do you plan to adhere it to the frames?

Or do you mean "spray on" insulation which is an open cell foam (like Icynene) that sticks to everything, expands and hardens as it dries?

It's a great concept and I assume either would work if properly sealed & painted. Isn't the cost prohibitive?

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

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Linda S
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Posted: 2/01/08 at 9:53am

Sorry, I mean the "spray on" that expands and hardens as it dries. In order to cut the cost we are doing some bartering. Last night the TD and set designer were working on some other ideas. I think cost is a factor even with the bartering. I am hoping it works because it does sound like it would be really interesting. The difference is ours would be purely for looks, so it doesn't have to be as strong enough for people to climb on. I'll keep you posted.

Linda

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USAFAMom
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Posted: 2/02/08 at 12:41pm

Linda,

When we were at this company's display they had at least 3 different types of foam insulation. One type was very hard and durable. Perhaps the company you are working with has several types??

Anna

A.
LA Light & Sound
Ohio

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USAFAMom
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Posted: 2/07/08 at 9:57am

Hi Linda ,

Just wondered if you did your Mts yet and if so how they turned out??

Thanks

Annie

A.
LA Light & Sound
Ohio

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Linda S
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Posted: 2/07/08 at 11:59am

Hi Annie,

Sorry, but even with bartering the foam insulation became cost prohibitive. We are working on a combination of a wood and wire framework and covered in a thin fiber batting soaked in glue and formed over the structure. Then a good faux paint job followed by artificial snow dusted on for texture. We plan to use small amounts of foam insulation to give it more depth. So far they look good, and should be sturdy enough for our purposes.

Good luck with your mountains. I think the foam insulation will work. Let me know if you decide to try it.

Linda

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USAFAMom
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Posted: 2/26/08 at 3:01am

Hi,

Thanks for the info.

We are leaving for NC tomorrow and will be using our snow drifts.

I have several photos on my camera that I will download and post.

They turned out great but we used spray fiberglass. Works great and is very hard.

Anna

A.
LA Light & Sound
Ohio

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