Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: 1950’s train car

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moonmaiden
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Joined: 10/07/05
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Topic: 1950’s train car
Posted: 10/07/05 at 11:09am

Any ideas on how I can construct the last few feet of a 1950's (rounded, bullet type) era train car? It will be on wheels and arrive at "the station" for just a minute or two - allowing the actors to "board" (they will really walk behind it) and have it retreat again.

It has to be somewhat dimensional as it will be on the audiences level. I was thinking of starting with a large cardboard refrigerator box or two - but I need to get that "rounded" feel. Thanks.

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dboris
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Joined: 2/10/04
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Posts: 124

Posted: 10/07/05 at 1:24pm

That type of cardboard is great to work with, but hard to do clean cureves with. It might work it have the bend go "against the grain". If you bend parallel to the corragations it will tend to crease, but if you bend perpendicualr it might work.

If you wanted to go with wood, I would recommend masonite (also called tempered hardboard), it bends very easily without breaking and you can get a pretty tight curve out of it, even more so if you wet it. Another option in 1/8" Luan, it can be hard to find and it's a little pricey but it bends very nicely.

Another option is 1/4" fanfold syrofome insulation. You can get a pretty good curve out of it, and it's light and cheap.

Dan

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Gaafa
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Joined: 3/21/04
Location: Australia
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Posted: 10/07/05 at 10:54pm

Check out the Cardboard King, who makes sets for theatre from cardboard;-
http://www.geocities.com/cbking43/cardboardkingpage1.html
I found shaping cardboard can be easily done, by spraying it lightly with water, on the front & back of the area where the bend/curve is needed. Use one of those plastic sprayer dispenser bottles. When it is wet, but not soaked, carefully curve it over a round barrel or other shape. Then allowing to dry with a hair dyer or naturally, holding it place with weight objects or tape..
I get worried using cardboard unless it has been treated with a fire retardant.
On the other hand ?bendy? MDF board is cheap enough & you can get the fire proofed type.
Joe

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

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Spectrum
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Joined: 4/16/04
Location: United States
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Posts: 176

Posted: 10/08/05 at 10:51am

If you want real "curvability" The Home Depot carries a line of super cheap wall paneling. In fact it's the cheapest stuff they carry. It is horrible, ugly stuff on the facing surface, but the back side, the side that is SUPPOSED to go against the wall is smooth and very paintable. This paneling is made from what looks like plastic impregnated paper, but it is very bendable and easy to work with. Almost every set I design and build has curves somewhere in it (Arched doorways or window seats, curved platforms, counters, etc. - my signature) and this paneling makes it real easy to do. The fact that it is cheaper than 1/8th inch luan and way more flexible (it can bend into an 16 inch radius!) is just a bonus. I have no doubt you could build a credible "Silver Bullet" car from it.

Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.

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Author	Message
moonmaiden Walk-On Joined: 10/07/05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: 1950’s train car Posted: 10/07/05 at 11:09am
	Any ideas on how I can construct the last few feet of a 1950's (rounded, bullet type) era train car? It will be on wheels and arrive at "the station" for just a minute or two - allowing the actors to "board" (they will really walk behind it) and have it retreat again. It has to be somewhat dimensional as it will be on the audiences level. I was thinking of starting with a large cardboard refrigerator box or two - but I need to get that "rounded" feel. Thanks.

	IP Logged

dboris Celebrity Joined: 2/10/04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 124	Posted: 10/07/05 at 1:24pm
	That type of cardboard is great to work with, but hard to do clean cureves with. It might work it have the bend go "against the grain". If you bend parallel to the corragations it will tend to crease, but if you bend perpendicualr it might work. If you wanted to go with wood, I would recommend masonite (also called tempered hardboard), it bends very easily without breaking and you can get a pretty tight curve out of it, even more so if you wet it. Another option in 1/8" Luan, it can be hard to find and it's a little pricey but it bends very nicely. Another option is 1/4" fanfold syrofome insulation. You can get a pretty good curve out of it, and it's light and cheap. Dan
	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 10/07/05 at 10:54pm
	Check out the Cardboard King, who makes sets for theatre from cardboard;- http://www.geocities.com/cbking43/cardboardkingpage1.html I found shaping cardboard can be easily done, by spraying it lightly with water, on the front & back of the area where the bend/curve is needed. Use one of those plastic sprayer dispenser bottles. When it is wet, but not soaked, carefully curve it over a round barrel or other shape. Then allowing to dry with a hair dyer or naturally, holding it place with weight objects or tape.. I get worried using cardboard unless it has been treated with a fire retardant. On the other hand ?bendy? MDF board is cheap enough & you can get the fire proofed type. Joe
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
	IP Logged

Spectrum Celebrity Joined: 4/16/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 176	Posted: 10/08/05 at 10:51am
	If you want real "curvability" The Home Depot carries a line of super cheap wall paneling. In fact it's the cheapest stuff they carry. It is horrible, ugly stuff on the facing surface, but the back side, the side that is SUPPOSED to go against the wall is smooth and very paintable. This paneling is made from what looks like plastic impregnated paper, but it is very bendable and easy to work with. Almost every set I design and build has curves somewhere in it (Arched doorways or window seats, curved platforms, counters, etc. - my signature) and this paneling makes it real easy to do. The fact that it is cheaper than 1/8th inch luan and way more flexible (it can bend into an 16 inch radius!) is just a bonus. I have no doubt you could build a credible "Silver Bullet" car from it.
	Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.
	IP Logged

Topic: 1950’s train car( Topic Closed)