Carving An Old French House From A Block Of Styrofoam

My friends, styrofoam is the best kit on the market because you can create anything from it! Tonight we'll use this material to build a large French-style two-story brick house in 1/35th scale.
Patreon: / nightshiftmodeller
Instagram: / nightshiftscalemodeller
Painting: • Painting A Miniature F...
Building a styrofoam barn: • Let's Build A Barn Fro...
Painting the barn: • Painting A Miniature B...
Carving a brick wall from styrofoam: • Carving Bricks And Sto...
Enjoying this type of content? Well, if you're new here, then don't be shy to subscribe and maybe even turn on notifications because I keep posting stuff like this every week!
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

[@ironspike171]

Dear Martin: At first i thought „man, this HUGE building ist going to block half of the view of the tank.“ And now im thinking „man, this tank is going to block some parts of the building“. Very well done!

[@NightShiftScaleModels]

I wanted to make it extra tall because in the T29 diorama, the whole barn got hidden behind the tank :D

[@jameslawrie3807]

Just a note on bricks, like everything in history they vary with time and place. A rough rule of thumb is that the earlier the brick the longer it is and a late 1700s brick would be about 10% longer than a modern brick. Yeah, I know this is rivet-counting but it's something I picked up in architectural history and it's here to be used or ignored.

[@mpk6664]

Interesting. Why would this be if you know?

[@jameslawrie3807]

@@mpk6664 Honestly I'm not sure. I think it was firing techniques may have been different. I think also modern brick sizing which seems to have stabilised around the late 1800s is more robust, there seems to be less cracking of the bricks. But then again I look at the amazing Flemish brick castles and they're standing up just fine :)

[@memkiii]

@@mpk6664 The width is determined by the fact that it is necessary to hold it easily with one hand The height & length less so important & seemed to be very similar from roman times up until the late 1700s. These were all hand made, so the weight may have been a factor. The main initial reason for the size change in England at least was (according to the Architects Journal), how a new property tax was based on the number of bricks used in a building. Therefore bricks got bigger - so fewer were used. Then parliament taxed larger bricks more, and bricks got smaller again. Eventually the tax was scrapped, and brick size was regulated to 3 or 4 courses per foot depending on location. It remained much the same from 1851 when mass production was started until the metric system was introduced.

[@321357w]

Common house bricks in Australia using the metric measurement like most bricks of a similar dimension use a common height (Guage) where they are based off a 2.4m ceiling height. A brick is 76mm + 10mm for a mortar joint (86mm guage) multiply by 7 = 602mm, rounded down to 600mm multiply by 4 = 2.4m . A brick is 230mm in length, divided by 2 = 115mm, half a brick is 110mm. the missing 10mm, 110 + 110 = 220 + 10mm = 230mm is the mortar joint for the perpend (vertical joint). Ergo, a brick is 110 x 76 x 230mm, this is to allow for bonding of the bricks to maintain correct load bearing (half bond) and to enable the half bond to transition a corner. Regardless of bricks being dry pressed (solid, with the indentation called a frog, or extruded, known as wire cut with the holes), bricks can vary up to 10mm in any dimension due to the manufacturing process and how long they are fired for. Hope this helps to understand common brick sizes and dimensions. In bricklaying, we can use a template called a Brick Rod, a length of timber 25x25x2400mm and marked at the appropriate guage, be this bricks, block work etc so to recap, a brick is 230mm + joint 10mm = 240mm, an opening is 240mm + 10mm (the mortar joint at the other end of the brick) = 250mm. The same in the vertical dimension, 10 + 76 + 10mm (the brick and two mortar beds). Again hopefully this helps, especially when you are calculating the size of openings (3D printed windows etc) when working to your scale.

[@mpetersen6]

When I looked up common brick sizes in the US there are about 8 common sizes based on 3 or 4 per foot of height. Hey metric is legal here. So no metric jokes. With a 3/8ths allowance for mortar height is 2-5/8 or 3-5/8. Length and widths vary from Econo, 3-5/8 x 3-5/8 x 7-5/8 to widths pretty standard at 3-5/5 and lengths up to 11-5/8. I've been messing with laser engraving brick patterns in HO scale*. The Econo sized bricks are easy to plan out. Best for industrial walls. Residential or business walls are better with longer bricks. One issue with longer bricks is the corners. I can actually cut the brick courses on the ends of the walls and then match fit them on corners. 1mm thick material is pretty close to the scale 3-5/8 plus mortar. Only using illustration board leaves a surface that is very fragile that needs to be re-enforced with some sort of binder. The first ones I actually started with was cinder block embossed into illustration board or 3/32 Basswood. 3/32 comes almost dead on for the 8" height and width. *inspired by ITLA wall modules.

[@certifiedidiot9625]

I can’t wait to see it paint with the jagdpanther, great job!

[@NightShiftScaleModels]

Thanks, painting it was soooo much fun!

[@PaveWayMA]

This is my favourite series, and it just gets better! Can we have a KV-85 next?

[@coupergiuliano7486]

I'm thinking of having to make a railroad for my Pershing, this'll be both helpful and fun.

[@NightShiftScaleModels]

Brick train station, yummy

[@coupergiuliano7486]

@@NightShiftScaleModels small switch house, definitely a troubling task

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Amazing, just amazing, in the bonsai world, we get rid of the wood fuzzies by lightly burning it with a butane torch, it might work for the balsa wood too?

[@remcovanvliet3018]

Balsa is approximately 50% wood fibers /50% air. It burns like nothing else.

[@NightShiftScaleModels]

That's a cool trick, might work for the harder veneer wood!

[@ep9415]

@@NightShiftScaleModels don’t night shift. Balsa wood is the type of wood that is most flammable, I don’t recommend it

[@williamaitken7533]

Wow seeing Nigel Saunders on a Night Shift video... What a fantastic crossover :D

[@garyfairbrother5532]

The mild torching works well for “singeing” chickens too. Gets rid of the pin feather fuzzies, lol.

[@kaneworsnop1007]

A good tip for keeping stone walls looking random is to randomly carve some large stones in random places on the wall before carving the rest of the stones. The initially random placement means if you start getting uniform, when you hit the randomly carved stone it will throw off your uniform pattern as it won't match up with it.

[@Johnny-tt8zc]

This is looking incredible. Can’t wait to see the next episode. Stay safe.

[@pisstachio918]

bricks from styrofoam, you are a wonderful person

[@NightShiftScaleModels]

One of the most therapeutic modeling techniques :)

[@negotiableaffections]

"The Proxxon isn't tall enough for a two storey building." My surreal imagination backflipped at this statement! The build is just incredible but anything less would look rediculous next to that tank. So excited for the painting stage. Don't go near the foam with a butane lighter!...unless you're making bomb-craters - but a heat gun if used with EXTREME care can texture the stuff, but its SOOO risky. Brilliant work Martin, you're an inspiration to all of us makers and not just the plastic kit modellers.

[@jacobakana5649]

Love it! I’m planning to make a 2-story Belgian storefront for my future M8 Greyhound diorama. I’ve created a mock-up in CAD, so soon I can print out sheet drawings and cut it out in some foam. Once again, beautiful job! It always amazes me when you transform a block of foam into this very pretty building!

[@NightShiftScaleModels]

You've got the most important part done, and the rest should be heaps of fun! It's so important to have a sketch in front of you, it makes everything much easier

[@edwardkrott2394]

In all of my modeling years,40 of them.I have learned more in the last 6 months watching your videos every Friday.Well done.

[@MatrixTheme]

Forgot to add how I admire your skill and attention to details! Absolute elite player!

[@darkwood777]

I'm looking forward to seeing how this turns out after painting and weathering. You have a good eye for details.

[@Spiffer]

This is a good reason for why KZbin is a great place! When I was a kid I enjoyed doing things like this but I didn't knew anyone who liked it, I would have loved to find and connect with other likeminded people.

[@rafarazniewski6154]

It is always a pleasure to watch Your work. This episode was even better because You made a model without a kit, just by Yourself. It was a plessure to watch what have You done with simple materials that are very common to find, imagination, simple tools, and skilfull hands. Simple but brilliant. Once again you have prooven that: "where there's a will there's a way". Thank You.

[@paulcharters5933]

Absolutely amazing. The quality of your tutorials are the best on KZbin. I have struggled with this technique for a long time, don't know why as you make it look so easy. I am looking forward to follow this series.

[@karlchen500]

Wow! Not only a wounderful good loocking house… The tutorial is World-class! Every single step is explained in a slow (but not too slow) easy to understand English! Perfect(!!!) Thank you!

[@claudiomoncada4763]

Awesone, as allways! 👏👏👏

[@JanKoneczny]

Yep. This is it. I love Styrofoam building. 10 years ago i see this from Jakub Skolil diorama and isn't simplest solution for me and with best resolution. Great job uncle NS! Btw. I love your stamps and another DIY tools for better work.

[@fontactio]

real cool

[@MatrixTheme]

Man. I am watching your videos, watching more and more. Hands begin to itch to build models again over few years. You really are inspiration of where you can reach your level if you have patience, time and love for the hobby. I wish you the very best in your life and in everything you do! Thank you for your effort and good luck!

[@RayanBear]

For the stone textures roll a very small ball of tin (aluminium) foil and glue it to the end of a paintbrush :) Love the look of the diorama, can't wait to see it take shape!

[@Ammonitemare1711]

Found this channel a few weeks ago and binged all the diorama videos, I'm really enjoying seeing this one come together.

[@dbenci2071]

Some times I think you sell your self short, your quality of work is outstanding and your channel is one of my favorite shows

[@jimaltergott9326]

Awesome work Martin! I love the optical variety you added with the various types of stone and brick. Look forward to next week, CHEEEERS!!

[@shock1017]

My boyfriend builds plane models and is always showing me your videos. He’s got me hooked even though i’d never have the patience to build them myself.

[@apocraphontripp4728]

This must be the single zen-ist thing to do. I'm definitely giving this a shot.great job BTW. Just subscribed.

[@darrenkent8502]

Absolutely incredible to watch

[@VicRs]

This looks amazing and promising. I'm just finished a tiny french facade with a boulangerie in 1/72, this could have worked for inspiration. I can't wait to see it painted!

[@NightShiftScaleModels]

That must look sweet!

[@josebravo6219]

You are a great master man ! Decades into this hobby and still learning with your videos.

[@wellardme]

Best modelling teacher on KZbin!

[@patrickmasse7159]

Magnifique travail de précision pour cette maison française

[@BrewPub]

This is the best foam brick work video I have seen.

[@hardcoremedic]

hint for nightshift, try making a punch from an old brush, remove hairs and bend iron part into form of brick, one the size of a brick, other half a brick, makes it easier to make wall faster. ;)

[@deadraque]

jesus that roof.... just wow I love it

[@JedenSiedemDwa]

That was one of the most amazing scalemodelling KZbin materials I've ever watched. All the best for You! ;)

[@Panzerfoust]

His work is truly amazing great work keep it up

[@georgesiere161]

The world is on fire and this channel is my zen! Look forward to kicking back and relaxing with an episode of night shift all week.

[@St-lb8yy]

Simply stunning! I'm one of those that look forward to Fridays for your videos, keep them coming

[@darkstormww7479]

something I learned is to put your scribing tool (Whatever you're using) down and then slide the ruler up to it, it can also be used for pencils because its really annoying when you line up the ruler and start drawing the line then realising its not on the marker you put on the side.

[@hobbyrobby]

Very enjoyable Martin! Just love it how a piece of insulation comes to life. I loved the tile/typewriter sequence very much 👌 I am definitely gonna use this styrofoam method on a next build. Starting small of course 👌😄

[@abbasid]

That looks absolutely fantastic. Can't wait to see it painted!

[@houdinithehamster389]

Thanks for showing how you made that house!

[@fredrikvanlienden6749]

Mah friend! It's a joy seeing your skills grow like this! Keep them coming!

[@ndewingful]

Just a thought but for bricks and "projecting" sketches/images into foam, what about that stencil paper tattooists use? It can bend to any shape and transfers well!

[@gundamleader]

Real masterpiece.

[@denniskaczoruk9709]

Incredible, just incredible, I am learning a lot and enjoying twice as much. Thank you Martin.

[@nunomcs]

Brilliant! This is better than Netflix!

[@TeoAnimations]

One week = 18 minutes! You are amazing, keep it up! Once it finished, I will want this diorama! 😁

[@Darth_Barnaby]

I just wanted to say that your weekly friday uploads always helps me get through the week

[@lesthiele4921]

Hi Martin, that was a absolutely fantastic tutorial, I am looking forward to when it is finished.

[@christianrudolph1138]

Good Day Modelcomrade. The Building is the Burner.. I hope too see soon the painting work 😎😃😃💪nice weekend

[@tonybrown4565]

Hey Uncle, how about you building and painting a WW1 tank? Think about all that mud, rust and dirt! And the rivetted metal plates rather than welds - a real challenge.

[@TR_TenSeven]

Awesome looking model so far, you make it look so easy when in reality it is not. Looking forward to the paint!

[@fabricedevos4273]

Well done foam master ! 👍🏻😊 Take your time, not having a strict weekly new video is not a problem, obviously. We are model kit makers, we are patient 😁

[@hugomuller2339]

Hi 😉 For a beginner like me this Video is pure Gold 👍 Thanks a lot Greetings from Germany 😉👍

[@realityinscale19]

you are the best ..and please make more diorama ..specially buildings

[@schweikces]

Absolutely incredible, thanks for this great tutorial

[@InterstellarModeler]

Absolutely incredible.

[@danstein9247]

another friday and another awesome video

[@mattashby3305]

Hi Martin, this has been great to watch and has answered so may questions I would have had otherwise. You break it down in a simple way which certainly makes it easier to follow for those of us that are just starting a first diorama.👍

[@GrizzPerchaluk2265]

Wow, thanks for all the advice! This is amazing

[@joshgibbs3337]

My weeks arnt complete without hearing “Muh Friends” this video hat really encourage me to do this with my Soviet projects

[@AddamsPlayground]

It came out very nice and I am looking forward to the next one to see it all painted and weathered and I am sure it will look amazing!!

[@nikki5399]

Holy crap that looks amazing

[@larrymanns364]

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE these building videos, maybe even more than the tanks?

[@MacXimus2009]

That is AMAZING! You've outdone yourself.

[@scottmccloud9029]

Incredible work, young man. Very impressive.

[@area1084]

This is so next level! I built a full size brick wall for my Dr Who Tardis installation and thought I did pretty well. This detail in this work is just so far out near Pluto! Awesome modelling techniques and tips. I'll definitely be watching this and the follow up vid several times! Thank you!

[@michaela3274]

A treat as always

[@danhudson4614]

The time, effort and final result..Absolutely stunning 😍 thumbs 👍👌👏

[@ywin28]

Wow, Man you did it again!

[@niccolealdrich4890]

For texturing the bricks/rocks, try tapping the foam with the edge of a slightly jagged rock.

[@sylvainplante9882]

Don’t even know what to say!!! I’m like 😮 Your such of a genius modeller … I want more!! 😍

[@SimonGardiner-bj3pq]

I lived in France and did a 'real' one - this model is VERY ACCURATE!

[@nickbutler7935]

So glad I found time to watch this Martin. Looking very good. Looking forward to painting and weathering.

[@Pers0n97]

Your building making video just show that you aren't just good at armor making, you are a true renaissance man.

[@Justwayne88]

Brilliant work, you make carving the foam look so easy, i think it is with your planning, i seem to just go right in, think i need to start planning a little more cant wait for part 2

[@michelrigaud9552]

OOOHHH WAOW ! excellent work as usual. BRAVO for this old french house. You're my favorite channel

[@forestghost73]

this is so satisfying dude. great job

[@KimHarderFog]

Can't wait to see this painted up. Great work!

[@giuseppe4909]

This will be very useful in my Targa Florio diorama in 1/43 scale …. Nice to see these methods.

[@ariochiv]

It already looks amazing.

[@MrFrackme123]

THAT'S AMAZING!!!

[@pedromendonca5964]

Easily the best thing I ever seen

[@ghl3488]

Brilliant, simply brilliant. Looking forward to your next video. Thank you very much

[@trafficface]

This is why I subscribed 👍

[@gearhead3533]

I just wanted to let you know that Takom is coming out with a pair of flak towers, if you didn’t know already. I’d love to see what a master could do with one of them. Love the work man. 👍👍

[@tpbbuzzelli1327]

Fantastic Craftsmanship

[@manofthehour6856]

Thank you so much, Martin, for sharing your skills in modelling from styrofoam. I only recently shifted away from modeling in plastic / styrene only to paper products and wood, but the use of styrofoam in modelling stone structures is fantastic! Thank you for the well-presented explanations, tips, and step-by-step demonstration recorded of your masterpieces becoming reality!

[@gorkamorka999]

Check out the tools from shifting lands for the proxxon, if you think you'll work more with foam in the future.

[@johnnycooper7019]

Dear Martin, Outstanding! Best Wishes Johnny

[@slougo5909]

Hey Fella, you forgot the mortar mix between those bricks. Little joke. It looks Awesome!

[@jonL88]

Looks homely!

[@rwseemore1]

Dude, you are on another level, I'm impressed

[@Lidsville]

Wow that is some talent you have there mate

[@harlech2]

"MA-FRENS!" Best greeting I can get on Black Friday.

[@Gothmetalhead13]

I cannot help but envy your skill. Amazing work!

[@the-primered-thumb]

Blimey, that's brilliant mate 😉👌