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By BOSSMAN - Dec. 31, 1969 DescriptionFar below the white spumes of the storm ravaged sea, deep in the inky depths of the oceans vast domain, lie fantastic cities and civilisations undreamt of by surface dwellers. Strange flotsam and jetsam sometimes are found amongst the driftwood and weed left by the falling tide, and these, along with claims of encounters with those that dwell below, spawn the wild tales that our bantered in coastal taverns of vast sunken treasures and shadowed legends of the creatures of the deep. Amongst the seafaring folk these tales are known to hold the grim kernel of truth, for it is these sailors that see the leaping forms of mermen at play and who know of lost mates taken over the rail by the loathed sea devils. In the deeps on an abyssal plain, nestled within a rich kelp forest, stands King Neptune’s Court. This is a meeting place for the Merman community where the Merman king holds commune with his subjects, enacts laws, and meets out justice to those who have incurred the wrath of the king. Built as an auditorium the Mermen gather in it’s tiered benches whilst the king sits on his shell fan throne, whilst his personal guard swim overhead to keep away unwanted intruders. Soft light emanates from the giant luminescent pearls making this place a beacon of light and civilisation in the otherwise dark deeps of the wild treacherous ocean. Construction King Neptune’s Court is made of two rings, the larger been the tiered seating area and the smaller been the throne dais. The main ring has a semicircular series of tiered seating and is ensconced in a colonnade. The seating area is made up from 4”, 5”, 6” and 7” diameter fieldstone bricks. The 8” diameter arch supporting the last tier of the benches was slightly sanded to force it to fit the 7” radius. The top of the colonnade is the 8” diameter tower with the large arch sections. Small 8” diameter arches are reversed to curve up to the underside of the turret mould turret underside sections on which are mounted the sea shell spires. The main pillars supporting the colonnade and flanking the dais bear resemblances to a King of the Sea. Twin-pillar sections support the seashell spires and the dais dome. Mounted on 4 of the pillars are giant the giant luminescent pearls that illuminate the court. The dais section is a 4” diameter fieldstone tower that is supported by fieldstone buttresses. The tower is capped by a dome turned on its side. The floor of the dais section is made of custom smoothed floor tiles from the 4” circular tower mould. Under the dais is a gated chamber that can be used to hold prisoners waiting trial or alternatively to house treasure or trained sea creatures. The throne is made by the roman temple capital, capped with a bench seat and flanked by bench arms. The back is a dungeon door with the supportive base cut off. Sandwiched between two door section is a 1”x1”x1/4” smooth block flanked with twisted small pillars. The tops of these pillars hold pearls and between the doors is mounted a giant fan shell that frames the throne. Moulds Used Mould #41: Gothic Dungeon Accessories (door) Mould #43: Gothic Panel Accessories (bench arms) Mould #44: Gothic Additional Accessories (pillar, pillar cap) Mould #45: Gothic Dungeon Builder (gate) Mould #52: 4” Circular Tower Mould (4” diameter small brick section) Mould #56: Tomb Mould (twin pillar, pillar cap, window trim piece) Mould #61: Turret Mould (dome, capping, turret underside) Mould #62: Roman Temple Mould (pillar capitols) Mould #65: Ruined Tower Mould (large 8” diameter arch, small 8” diameter arch, 8” diameter brick, short 8” diameter brick) Mould#70: Fieldstone Wall Mould (1” and 2” fieldstone bricks, 1”x½”x¼” flat bricks, ½” diameter arch, 1.5” diameter arch) Mould #71: Fieldstone Accessories Mould (flat capping, recessed ½”x½”x ½” block) Mould #74: 4” Round Fieldstone Mould (floor sections, 4” and 5” diameter blocks) Mould #73: 6” Round Fieldstone Mould (floor sections, 6” and 7” diameter blocks) Mould #80: Dragon’s Teeth Accessory Mould (small twisted pillars) The block count on this project is approximately 280 bricks. Customising Floor of the dais and the dais step are floor sections from the turret mould and 4” circular tower mould that have been smoothed using wall filler. The 8” diameter tower large arches have been sanded to fit into the 7” diameter position. Extras Seashells – the spires are from a craft store, the fans I collected on a river shore whilst kayaking. The spire shells were mounted by drilling a small hole in the top of the pillars and inserting a small metal rod. The interior of the shells were packed with wall filler into which the metal rod was stuck. Pearls – plastic jewellery beads. Giant Luminous Pearls – marble sizes glass balls. Vegetation: Lichen, plastic Christmas tree foliage (found a great tree in someone’s garbage), and aquarium plants from a fake plant shop. Painting All the castings were coloured with a black oxide cement die. The model was then sealed in concrete sealant. The shells were masked up and the whole construction was sprayed with a cheap teal coloured spray pack. The areas around where the luminous pearls were to sit were given a quick spray with a white undercoat spray pack. The whole model was then washed in black (diluted house paint). Drybrushing was then done selectively in two differing shades of green as follows; British Paints #165 “Blue Gum Park” then Folkart #647 “Emerald Isle”. Where the luminous pearls are a further drybrush was done in British Paints #199 “Chilled”.
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