A while ago, I wanted a cheap prop Gate to use in a game of
Stargate d20 RPG (sadly discontinued by AEG).
So I hit the web and found several paper models, including a good looking one from
Marco Scheloske. Now I know that the symbols around the ring are not accurate and all, but it had potential and I liked it. To simplify things a bit, I printed the two faces of the Gate and glued them on foam core. Carefully cut out, it's nice and sturdy.
Now for the Stand I wanted something a bit more durable than the paper one from Marco. Then I remembered an article I read on the Reaper Miniatures website,
The Craft - How to make a Field Stone Wall. Here's my adaptation of this technique to a stonework Stargate Stand.
First, I drew a plan of what I wanted. d20 is played on a 1 inch grid, and it is reflected in my layout.
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kyzilGNQopk/TU40Kw-fDaI/AAAAAAAACPs/kWSyq9237zI/s320/IMG_0255.JPG) |
Stand template, incorporating a 1" grid. |
Then using a large kitchen knife and an exacto blade, I cut the shape into a 2" blue foam insulation block.
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-10kVioqMbXY/TU40L9fQttI/AAAAAAAACPw/1q6-surlEvY/s320/IMG_0259.JPG) |
Basic shape of the stand in 2" insulation foam. |
Next came the drawing of the stones. I drew at the top of the sides flatter stones that continued on the top of the stand to simulate large flagstones.
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-04aUSX5loFc/TU40NIKsRgI/AAAAAAAACP0/yMmIG744kHw/s320/IMG_0263.JPG) |
Outlining the field stones |
Then came the cutting. Each stone was contoured with a fresh exacto blade, in a rough V-channel. Once this was all done, I used a small stone with sharp edges to texture the whole thing.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xe4uPApmfH8/TU40POWpaQI/AAAAAAAACP8/3l6I2N0F6PM/s320/IMG_0280.JPG) |
Stones contoured and textured. |
After that, I painted the everything with DecoArt "Antique White" and then painted each stone black,
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-buMqELK4UWc/TU40QT2j0AI/AAAAAAAACQA/nNSCcS-IBCo/s320/IMG_0326.JPG) |
Stones pained black over "Antique white" |
and drybrushed grey, with a black "magic wash". I added a brown wash here and there at the base of stand. I also added some static grass, which is shown in the last pic.
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B1rCXpDQhR0/Sie-SzsM-AI/AAAAAAAABAI/dzJiIhJUNwc/s320/IMG_0623.jpg) |
Grey drybrush, black wash and brown wash. |
Here is the final stand, with the Gate and a force of Jaffas coming through, lead (from behind of course) by Apophis in his golden armour...
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k2x7XrnGimw/Su-9MaZZWII/AAAAAAAABU0/CPo1PuqDhgc/s320/IMG_4723b+2009-11-03+00-38-27.JPG) |
The completed stand with Gate and Jaffas | |
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Finally, we never played that game of SG RPG, but it was of fun project and it makes a nice display stand for my Jaffas. I guess "build it and they will come" is not always true.