First project using Hirst Arts Molds

We got our first bag of Hydrostone from Plaster Shak Thursday.  I have been surprised about the mixing being so different from the hydrocal.  The hydrocal I am 130g water / 200g hydrocal.  Last night as I was working out the amounts for the Hydrostone I finally got a good mix at 70g water / 200g hydrostone.  I use almost half as much water, which means I also am short on my pours too.  So tonight I am going to up my hydrostone amounts to get the proper amount of mix so I can fill my molds like normal.  I was surprised that I used almost 1/2 as much water.

The test runs using hydrostone last night looked pretty good.  I seemed to have better luck with bubbles on the smooth pieces which was nice, but I could still get some.  I need to complete my shaker board and quit doing the back massager by hand, I think that will help also.

I have almost finished the Gothic Church, I just need a few more casts for the roof.  I have the small roof done.  I was surprised how difficult it was to line things up and get the building square, etc.  I am glad I am calling the Church a "test build" because when you look close there are all kinds of issues.

I tried and tried to use the Earth Tone Painting Instructions that Hirst Arts suggested, but I could never get it to look right.  I felt the over all look was WAY to dark, and the light color was WAY to light.

I do like the roof though, so I decided to keep that color, and re-paint the entire Church using Hirst Arts Castle Gray Color Scheme.  I really like how the Castle Gray Color Scheme turned out and I am calling this project DONE!

My first Hirst Arts model from powder to painted!  Yeah!  Next up is the Gothic Bell Tower.  Someday I will get to the Cathedral!



Here's a link to some of the pictures as I progressed:
https://picasaweb.google.com/113001256212734810954/HirstArts








Hirst Arts - http://www.hirstarts.com
Gothic Church - http://www.hirstarts.com/church/church.html