Carving Bricks And Stones From A Block Of Styrofoam

My friends, tonight we'll scribe bricks and stones directly into a piece of styrofoam. I find this technique better than gluing individual pieces together as the process is faster, more accurate, and simply more fun.
Patreon: / nightshiftmodeller
Instagram: / nightshiftscalemodeller
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Disclaimer: Most of the weathering products I use in my videos such as Ammo by Mig Jimenez, AK-Interactive, Wilder and VMS were sent to me for free, but with no obligations to promote them. I received a lot of them a long time ago, even before I started this channel. VMS is also one of my Patreon supporters. Being independent from big and exclusive sponsorship deals and showing you a wide variety of different brands and products was one of the founding ideas of this channel and I will always stand by this.
Music: Quincas Moreira - Scratch the Itch - KZbin Audio Library

[@virenor]

Since it's not clear, I did some research on the styrofoam and here is what I found: technically it's called extruded polystyrene (XPS). Keep in mind that styrofoam is colloquially used to refer to another material that is usually white in color and made of expanded (not extruded) polystyrene foam (EPS). Styrodur is a registered trademark of BASF, however this name is commonly used by other companies. Styrodur 3035 (as well as 2800) is a BASF's product code used in Europe and there are at least two types: 3035 CN and 3035 CS. The first has density of 0.0300 g/cc, the second 0.0330 g/cc (Imperial: 0.00108 lb/in³ and 0.00119 lb/in³). There are even more dense products: Styrodur 4000 (0.0350 g/cc) and 5000 (0.0450 g/cc). It seems all BASF's XPS foams are green.

[@mcdrippyyt562]

Ok

[@Andries1963]

I’d just like to say I’ve watched thousands of KZbin videos as I’m disabled and housebound and heavily in to modelling and you are the absolute best at realism - your walls and brickwork are the absolute best, thank you for sharing your talent - your videos really inspire me 👍

[@recurvestickerdragon]

I am utterly blown away by how amazing those results look after such a... Well, not low-effort process. But certainly a lot easier than I expected.

[@paulcharters5933]

Best brick wall build guide on the internet, and I have watched LOTS of them.

[@jaanikaapa6925]

For texture: scrunch up aluminium foil into a ball, roll it over the surface.

[@84erElessar]

Looks ultrarealistic!

[@NightShiftScaleModels]

Gotta use that on my next attempt, thanks!

[@keithw4920]

@@NightShiftScaleModels You can also put them on a flattish surface and just pound/roll them with your own forehead.

[@p4inmaker]

@@keithw4920 Yeah, but what if you use your sack for EXTREME TEXTURE?

[@tipi5586]

@@p4inmaker Lt: Private, cover this wall with tarpaulin and mark it for Army Intel capture. Pvt: But why sir? Lt: Upon close inspection, it appears to be made of elbow skin. Might be some new bomb proof material. It is still standing, after all.

[@ericswain70]

Best part of your videos is the positivity you bring to the hobby. It is most welcome. Thank you for it and the tips.

[@badopinionsrighthere]

I've been trying to make a stone gate that is iconic to the town I grew up in, I made a 3D printed model and it looks okay but doesn't look real. I'm going to have to get some styrofoam and try your techniques, because your stone work looks more real than the stones I've been using on my model

[@NightShiftScaleModels]

These were my first styrofoam stones and they leave a lot to be desired, but making something as big as a stone gate is definitely going to be faster and easier if you use styrofoam :)

[@ginwilcox9555]

I wish I would have seen this years ago. I've watched hours... and hours of tutorials for brick/rock surfaces and this has to be the best one I've seen. Simple straight forward and friendly. Thank you.

[@cre8iveone699]

Thank you for actually talking in you instructional video unlike other videos on KZbin.

[@icecrack4579]

The "mah friends" really makes my day.

[@leopitrelli]

Indeed

[@crucialcustard7668]

the whole thing makes my day :)

[@Professional_Foaming]

Same

[@cliffherring7006]

Every f*****g Friday

[@s.gaflytying3115]

Yes

[@scootergem]

This is an example of a video where you can enjoy just watching. This is a video where you can learn something about things, things that open up new ideas. I am really glad that I watched this. Count me as a new subscriber. Looking forward to seeing more! 😃

[@Modkits131]

Watching Uncle Nightshift carve and cut styrofoam is just so satisfying.👌

[@a.t.4634]

The "test piece". Fully rendered, painted and realistic. Incredible work!

[@Youcanbuildmodels]

one of the best foam sealers that i have come across is mod podge mixed with paint to add a darker color. this helps protect the foam from more erosive/damaging chemicals.

[@NightShiftScaleModels]

And mod podge is basically white PVA glue, or is it something fancier? Plaster also seals the foam really well. I smeared it all over my previous brick work and I could flood the surface with enamel thinners without them causing any damage.

[@arizonaranger298]

I love your model videos! I’m relatively new to modeling and your teaching me so much! I’m 15 and modeling is my new favorite hobby.

[@ashtoncruz2463]

I ve used this video more than once as a guide when Im sculpting fondant for one of my cakes. Youre brilliant.

[@dionx9185]

It might sound weird but i snipped some foam-board in a blender and textured it by putting some rocks in a can with the snipped foam. Then rolled the can with a accu drill. Used it for those normandy houses where they use natural stones as bricks and it looks pretty great!

[@etgha]

Not sure if you do this now, but a (in my experience slightly easier) way to get the more rounded brick edges is just running a pencil along through the cuts. Since it's got a gradually wider tip you don't end up having to pry the bricks to get the edge you want and you can determine how deep you wanna press it Love your videos, learning all sorts of techniques from you:)

[@bugler75]

Just rewatching this video and found your comment. Great idea that I’ll be using this weekend 👍🏼 Thanks

[@nascarvintage17]

I want to thank you. Your tutorial is amazing for so many things. Not only have I made several brick wall dioramas since watching your video, but thanks to you, it's become much easier to create a wall with an 8/10 on the realism scale. Thank you so much, and God bless you.

[@FredCarver-x3g]

In model railroading we use a simple touch for vines. Buy some "grass" from the train store. It come in a fine textured ground foam. Take your wall and using dilute white glue, trace the pattern of vines up your wall. Sprinkle the grass mixture and allow to dry. I add some more glue to make sure all the grass stays in place.

[@volkerjanssen7905]

Since I was a kid (and that is very long ago) I wanted to create realistic scenarios. I was never happy with clean and shiny model kits. They needed to look a bit weathered and sit in a diorama. Your tips are absolute gold. Thanks heaps, for sharing your skills so generously...

[@jamielavin1808]

I really relate well to diorama builders, and as a visual artist, who paints in oil and acrylic for a living,, I REALLY enjoyed the quality and creative workmanship. Those things never get old!

[@cptalbator9547]

Density: Not great, not terrible.. I see you are a man of culture

[@graarchen9357]

I got to work and all I could think was its friday, it's nearly time for night shift... and here we are, highlight of my week

[@Nitro9931]

Night shift I cannot thank you enough for your tutorials on weathering with pigments and oil washes, I’m a miniature war gamer painter , (focusing more on painting ) your projects are nothing short of inspiration

[@polygonalmasonary]

Bricks are very rarely laid perfectly in real life. You can see where an apprentice has been allowed to lay a few courses of bricks on our house. Really nice job, great tutorial video, also great advert for Proxxon, they are the best cutters.

[@GanjaClaus]

I used to build all kind of stuff, from ships to planes and tiny landscapes for tabletop photography.. It's all history now and I got rid of it. I won't pick it up but switched to UE and VR and it's amzingly EXACTLY what I was looking for back in the "modelling" days.

[@p.bckman2997]

You are amazingly talented! One note on bricks though: In such brick constructions, the wall is usually one brick length wide and every other layer of bricks are laid transverse, so that the outer aspect will show alternating rows of long and short brick faces. A surface with all bricks laid with the long side out is usually found only when bricks are used to beauty up a concrete façade.

[@stefanfischbach3343]

Unfassbar genial wie Sie die Mauer gemacht haben. Danke für die tolle Idee, Sie sind ein großes Vorbild für mich.

[@dadoogie]

The white washing of the brick walls with the plaster is brilliant. brick walls naturally leak salts and the damper/older a walk the more mineral salts get pushed out so you can end up with actual salt deposits on a wall.

[@bruhbird4501]

What a welcoming way to end Friday

[@Duececoupe]

Agree, super fun on a Friday while listening/watching Night Shift! 👍🏻👌🏻👏🏻😉

[@daveburrows9876]

The type of foam is pretty important in communicating. It's part of the description of any of them when purchased new. On most, it's printed on one face of the foam sheet.

[@Selnatal]

Good heavens, what a voice. Awesome work, Beautiful both. Thanks! Greetings from Switzerland.

[@donhendricks3190]

Brilliant! I thoroughly enjoyed this and learned a LOT! Thank you! With love from Atlanta.

[@Thoron_of_Neto]

Had you started the video with the camera up close and told me "isn't this real life brick wall a great inspiration for a diorama piece?" I would have believed it was an actual wall! This was awesome! Thanks for showing the process

[@diracsea4590]

I have zero skill to do anything like this, but I like watching people make these kind of things. Looks so good. So cool.

[@nelsonmay]

I am USA based and so far I only see this Styrodur 3035 on Etsy in sheets of 25cm x5mm. I am reaching out on this page, because this is such a niche item. Anyone in the US know of a distributor? It also looks like that green floral foam from the dollar stores, but I think that comes in small blocks. I need something a lot larger. At least 2ft (60) cm and about 30 cm deep. Really, these are awesome videos. I didn't know you could do so much with this foam. Way to go Night Shift Guy!

[@artKJ]

It's just a popular European brand of XPS boards used for floor insulation. I bet you can buy identical product made in USA. It's cheap, don't get scammed by "distirbutors".

[@patriciaolsen7816]

Am watching your videos and I am leaning some thing new think you for showing how to get bricks wall you did a great job on your wall and stones to you have a nice day be safe

[@appleofmyeye1786]

Thank you, I was wanting to add a brick base around a house model, with no idea on how to do it. You've opened my eyes!

[@cratecruncher4974]

Excellent tutorial. It just occurred to me rural Italian cobblestones would look amazing under a Gleaming Red Barchetta. Cheers.

[@terrarioschorusangelorum118]

Your work is incredible... perplexing and at the same time enchanted by the playful way in which you present the dynamics of carrying out work... it encourages in us the desire to do something, overcoming the barrier of the limit of knowledge... by leveraging in we enjoy art. In fact, oconcour. congratulations!!

[@michaela3274]

When a the first spoken words in a video is 'Mah friends...' you know it will be fun and educational

[@travelrun7823]

if you mix the white plaster with sienous earth (with what was done before the dye) or any effect of what they sell on land the joint is almost finished. great work !!!! a hug

[@DerkBhern]

I've been struggling with how to handle adding a wall or two to my HO layout. Then I came across this video. Absolutely brilliant. Never would have thought of this method. Can't wait to try it.

[@CyPhi68]

You can also use plaster of Paris, cast in sheets, sliced into strip.and crosscut into stone blocks. Different spaces create sheets of different thickness for different sized stones. The plaster of Paris is tinted with dry earth pigments so even if chipped, the color stays the same. No need to paint anything.

[@Cat40kkk]

I would really recommend Night Shift for beginners. He really makes building models fun and not stressful 😂

[@Simon.23.yyyyyy]

This is so perfect, I build a brick structure yesterday and didn’t know how to apply plaster and paint in the right way, thanks Uncle Nightshift!

[@daveyJ213]

Wow! That wall was beautiful! I have to make about 150 yards to N scale brick wall, and your video just moved my outlook from "impossible" to "okay maybe I can do this". Very cool. Thanks for posting.

[@fabgac4071]

Simple, very efficient and so satisfying, after so many time i have surching for a way to do fine brick walls, bravo and thank you.

[@georgetaylor5482]

That is an awesome wall, looking forward to see the finished piece.

[@peterc2248]

That was absolutely awesome! Can't wait for the diorama

[@plixplop]

The embossing and the dry plaster are both really genius techniques! The result is excellent!

[@AnhellXI]

El repujado es con agua? Y el yeso es del normal no?

[@dominiccruz1201]

Your video helped answer a lot of questions regarding life like features for miniature construction. I am looking forward to creating a version of your brick wall. Thank you for sharing your techniques and time in making this video. I look forward to seeing more videos. Thanks

[@benward5732]

Yeah my weekend is now officially awesome! Thanks for the Vid Unky N' :)

[@Vlka_Fenryka]

A great change of pace video, I hope healing is going well.

[@rogerdickson5462]

That's absolutely brilliant. I really enjoyed watching the build

[@thomasbaker1961]

A model of Carpenters Hall under construction in Carpenters Hall was cast plaster slabs with a hand scribed Flemish bond Pattern. Proud to have a credit on it.

[@grantderue]

Uncle Night Shift is great for lessening the learning curve. Thank you for these videos. I'm seeing an improvement in my models already.

[@jaanikaapa6925]

Another tool for you, by the way. Rollers. Since you have a 3D printer you can make them yourself. Either get an STL or model it in Fusion 360 or Blender. Basically a roll with a continuous pattern. You then just roll it over the surface you want to texture. Cobblestones, tiles, whatever.

[@NightShiftScaleModels]

I've seen those being used on large pieces of stone walls, pretty cool tools!

[@jaanikaapa6925]

@@NightShiftScaleModels I've a couple of them for rocky/magmaish terrain for my armies.

[@cindywilson6520]

This looks absolutely fantastic! I think this is where I find it hardest when I'm trying to do something I'm not a visionalist and I'm impatient I can see myself trying to do this but the minute I'd be painting The bricks I'd be like ah this isn't going to look right but yours , your work is absolutely phenomenal! Thank you for sharing your talent and your inspiration.

[@lostsailor76]

This was a great rabbit hole I found myself in. Beautiful.

[@andrewschanck3363]

MAARTIN!!!! Bro. That wall looks real. Like real real. Really!

[@chrissharp5073]

Your talent and artistic skills have taken model making to a new level. You have certainly given not only me but other model makers a new way of achieving such a brilliant finish from a simple product -- foam!!

[@kennethjanczak4900]

Nice build. Thanks for taking the time to make the video and share it

[@element4studios]

Even the spot where you say "this doesn't look realistic at all..." Looks great! I love the clean look you got there. I know the real world is dirtier, and dustier, and crappier, but that clean little wall section looks awesome!

[@NightShiftScaleModels]

Maybe it'll get dirtier after it's properly "integrated" into the diorama :)))

[@element4studios]

@@NightShiftScaleModels lol! I would love to see you build something clean. (I know, a much harder challenge than dirty military stuff..) But, it would be interesting to see how you'd tackle it!

[@lanceschaerer6875]

Great video, boss. As for the varying color of bricks, that is due to the clays used by the individual brick factories. Before modern bricks with pigments to color, whatever color is required, there were brick factories pretty much everywhere. Most of the reddish bricks are from clays found in old riverbeds grayish bricks from rocky areas etc.

[@larryscarafile7309]

Great tutorial .Learned some new tricks

[@diddlethepoodle4812]

Sheetrock and an exacto knife work good also. Little more carving but it makes good looking quarry stone and brick wall looks.

[@TheFingerman77]

Hello Uncle, I've been working with bricks and stone at a hardware store for the last several months and I can say that, especially in the natural stone, yours look great; especially the wall cap blocks' shape and texture. The white veining and mossy grime tones spot on. One style I enjoy is Pavestone brand "Yukon" stone which blends brown and grey tones together in a nice way. Bricks can be fairly uniform, but the composition and source of the brick can dramatically change its appearance. We carry several kinds of trapezoidal wall blocks, but one or two products say that they are the same and yet look drastically different. One is a pale tan color, and the other is a very saturated gold-brown with very visible flakes of white inside of the material; it is dark as if it was wet. Both insist they are the same product. This is due to the different composition used by two different manufacturers.

[@crystalratclffe3258]

That is the most impressive brick wall I have EVER seen!

[@christianaranda976]

Wooow! Yo usaba otra tecica pero esta esta perfecta gracias por compartir 😃👌I used another technique but this one is perfect. I will apply it! Thanks for sharing and it helps me to learn English two in one. 😀👏👏👍 very nice diorama!

[@paulparker2571]

I figure I take a few and watch something different but your wall caught my eye since I am a mason of 30 years so I was amazed how well it look. Incredible work in witch your having fun and to me that makes the work so much better. I look forwar to watching more videos now

[@sylvainplante9882]

Always going farther! You’re the king of uncles! See you next week 👍

[@kermitttt]

Dunno why im watching this, but you sir, are a true artist!

[@lesthiele4921]

Good morning Uncle, that was a fantastic tutorial, you come up with some great diorama building techniques, you are a true inspiration to basic mode.llers like myself, take care and keep safe and well, best regards to you and your family from Australia.

[@darkbearlab7326]

This is exactly what I need right now for my wargaming board project… thanks a ton!

[@tonygoodwinjr9293]

The glue on the grout between the bricks & the grit is what REALLY made it start to look realistic

[@josephjacques1960]

I just bought my first model it’s a tamyia m1a1 abrams with a mine plower im still saving for the material to build but i want just want to say thanks for helping me find a new hobby

[@robertdouble559]

That dry plaster technique is great!

[@guytero8812]

Wow. Your English is perfect!!!! It's actually better than most English people. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@themechaniacal1558]

A flathead screwdriver can also work to define edges. I put the grinder on the flathead end to narrow it a bit, but it works good.

[@bkvdpw]

Photo-etch bending plastic thingy!! That's what it's called!! I tried to buy one the other day and couldn't remember the name!! Thanks for that. And LOVE your work!

[@robertagnarp7502]

I am soooo greatful i found you on KZbin! Your personality is just golden and your work also. Couldent ask for better guy to watch model stuff with.

[@lucasszymanski114]

Awesome video! I saw another technique on Black Magic Craft and Luke Alps channels to round off the corners. They throw some small rocks into a coffee can and rattle all the mini foam cut bricks.

[@beck645]

Fantastic video. Thank you for teaching. Please make many more. You teach extremely well.

[@supercededman]

Fascinating. Just wow. This is very zen, almost hypnotising. You are a genius!

[@oktoberbabyfee]

The result looks astonishingly realistic. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@toddshaffer1405]

Alright, you convinced me. I'm gonna have to try this myself.

[@NightShiftScaleModels]

Styrofoam architecture is the next best thing right after armor models! :))

[@wafflyfox7550]

Awesome! This is really helpful when you talk about the difference in foams! I remember I used to use your simple “bobbly” foam 🙃

[@texasflysuperstar]

These are my favorite videos of yours Uncle Marty

[@stefanrobinson3819]

Really like the white deposits on the brick, very realistic as even new brick the salt leeches out of the brick onto the surface

[@CasualClinkz]

For the scribing I would use carving tools for doing pylomer sculptures

[@NightShiftScaleModels]

There are more appropriate tools for the job, I'll have to look for some :)

[@russ5838]

A1 work, love the realism of the wall, will defiantly be trying this technique out "my friend", I love you work.

[@hlmoore8042]

That looks really cool and I LOVED listening to your narration.

[@Grimlock-y6l]

It's very hard in Ireland to buy that kinda foam but I did discover that yoga blocks are perfect

[@jbasproductionseditorial1287]

Wonderful! Some great tips and tricks - and more realism than I could imagine! Aah, now for my set - rock slabs creating the entrance to a cave. PLEASE, Sir, I want more!

[@DJE2025]

So cool, realistic look, very affordable especially that I have 2- 4'x8' of left over foam.

[@captaintaylor8265]

Both you and the community in the comments is amazing!!!

[@Karlmakesstuff]

You really knocked it out of the park with this one, it looks amazing! One point about using solvents on foam - if you prime with a 20/20/60 mixture of pva, paint and water you get a barrier which protects the foam with very little loss of detail. I also like to add a drop of dish soap to help with the flow. Might allow you to use all your effects, but definitely test it on some scrap first!