(The images with the cards is of the real lifesize item)
With the advent of photography came the development of the 3d image! The viewer would place a card at the end of the stereoscope. The card would have two almost identical images. When viewed through the lens of the scope these images jumped out at the viewer and appeared 3D. I saw a wonderful example in an auction in Perthshire. It was being sold with a large box of images from around the world. The first one I looked at were of a family who were suffering from Leprosy. They appeared 3D in all their sadness and pain. An image I will never forget. Alas I did not win the set at auction.
The 12th scale version is a replica but does not work! It can be painted in many different ways; fake wood finish, metal, iron, wood and metal. The steroscopes were made of various materials, some being highly decorated.
NOTES
As with all my metal designs the pieces will require a little cleaning using a file and/or sandpaper. The metal is very soft so this is a simple and satifying part of the build process.
I tend to use superglue (Hafixx being my favoured choice) with a super glue activator to speed things up.
To paint the item I strongly recommend a metal primer. Spray primers are the easiest and just a light coat with give the paint something to 'key' with......then the choice is yours. I use all types of paints from acrylics to cellulose spray paints. All have their own merits and so I choose according to the finish I wish to create.
After applying my coats of paint I will always add an aging layer of raw umber acrylic (water it down and then paint and wipe off to leave the dark paint in the recesses). Aging can be very rewarding and there are many options for this. One little recommendation is to use rotten stone/pumice stone powder to add what I like to describe as "dust" to the piece. It is a powder and will always be a powder unless mixed with a binder such as glue. The powder is a soft grey and if it is brished on then off it will leave a slight dusting in the recesses of the design.
A final flourish of splatter (very subtle brown/grey applied with by splattering the paint from a bristled brush such as a toothbrush) adds a little more interest.
