Caravaning in Wales

Status: completed Completed: July 2025

Explore the Build Process Step-by-step documentation with photos and techniques

Project Inspiration

“Can you build our new caravan and car on a campsite next to a river?”

With the English Country Garden completed in November 2024, I was looking for inspiration for my next project. One relaxing evening with my son and his family, I jokingly asked, “So do you have anything that I can build for you?” - being overconfident from my newly discovered skills with the garden build.

“Yes!” they responded without hesitation. “Can you build our new caravan and car on a campsite next to a river?”

And that was it. The commission was set.

This meant I needed to figure out how to make a model of an Eriba Triton caravan and a VW Golf estate - in red. It must feature my son, daughter-in-law, and Tilly, their beloved dog. Obviously on a campsite next to a river in Wales.

The challenges were immediate and daunting:

My previous attempts at modeling figures were not very successful, especially making them resemble specific people
I had never modeled miniature animals
I had never attempted to model any type of vehicle
The first river I made in the log cabin was not nearly realistic enough

There was lots to learn, lots to discover, and perhaps it was too ambitious. But the planning phase started anyway.

Project Overview

Build Type: Commissioned scratch build
Scale: 1:42
Base Dimensions: 25cm × 25cm (dictated by available shelf space)
Project Timeline: December 15, 2024 - July 24, 2025 (7 months)
Total Build Time: Approximately 80 hours
Status: Completed and delivered
Commission Brief: Recreate family’s camping setup with accurate caravan and vehicle models

Project Goals

The key requirements for this commissioned piece:

Must fit on a 25cm × 25cm base (shelf space constraint)
Feature a realistic Eriba Triton caravan
VW Golf estate in red
2 realistic figures and a dog (resembling the actual family and Tilly)
Camping on a grassed campsite
Located near a river in the backdrop
Vegetation and plants from a Welsh rural area

Personal Challenges:

First attempt at vehicle modeling (both caravan and car)
Creating recognizable portrait figures
Sculpting a realistic dog
Improving water/river techniques from previous attempts
Working to client specifications rather than personal design choices

Chapter 1: Planning and Scale Calculations

Determining the Scale

I managed to find key measurements of the Eriba Triton caravan from the internet and converted them to a detailed scale worksheet. Working within the 25cm × 25cm base constraint, everything calculated to a scale of 1:42.

Caravan Conversion Table (in mm):

Dimension	Model Scale	Actual Size
Body Length	100mm	4210mm
Overall Length	125mm	5280mm
Width	48mm	2000mm
Height	54mm	2260mm

Related Elements at 1:42 Scale:

Item	Model Dimension	Actual Size
Base board length	250mm	10,525mm
Man	48mm	2000mm
Woman	40mm	1700mm
Dog (Tilly)	12mm	500mm
Car	90mm	3800mm
Tree height	143mm	6000mm
River width	71mm	3000mm
Paddle board	59mm	2500mm
Small plant	24mm	1000mm
Large plant	48mm	2000mm
Flower head	1mm	40mm

This mathematical foundation gave me confidence to proceed, knowing everything would be proportionally correct.

Research and Reference Gathering

Eriba research photos — Research images showing different views of the Eriba Triton

Side view with angles — Side view used to calculate angles for front and rear

Fortunately, there were lots of photos on the internet of the Eriba, although I couldn’t find many other model examples. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any model building plans or kit models. However, I did find one picture of a model that someone had built, which gave me hope it was possible.

Inspiration model — Another builder's Eriba model - proof it could be done!

Detail measurements — Finding detailed measurements was invaluable

I also visited my children’s actual campsite to get a better understanding of the caravan and car in situ, taking my own reference photos.

Site visit photos — Site visit to see the actual caravan and car on location

Creating Working Plans

With all the information at hand, I created a rough cutting sheet drawing. This would be my blueprint for tackling the most daunting component first: the caravan itself.

Chapter 2: Building the Eriba Triton Caravan

The Make-or-Break Component

Building a replica of an actual caravan turned out to be a daunting task, and I decided to tackle this first. My reasoning: if this failed, I would not attempt the rest of the challenge. The caravan was the centerpiece - if I couldn’t get it right, the whole commission would fall apart.

Body Construction - Balsa and Epoxy Putty

Windows and wheels — Windows cut from hardwood as templates for wire frames; wheels from layered bamboo

Construction Process:

Base Structure: Three layers of balsa wood cut for the body
Spacing: More balsa wood pieces added to achieve correct height from floor to center, and center to top
Shaping: Body covered and shaped with Milliput two-part epoxy putty to get the characteristic Eriba angles
Refinement: After hardening, further shaped with files and sanders
Multiple Adjustments: As visible in the photos, I had to make several adjustments to get the angles representative of the real caravan
Undercoat: Applied to assist with the final body finish

The characteristic curved shape of the Eriba was particularly challenging to achieve using flat materials. The compound curves required patience and multiple layers of epoxy putty, each carefully filed and sanded.

Windows - A Fiddly Challenge

Window frames — Axle fitted to wheels; challenging curved nose windows

Windows installed — Mudguards, bumper, and roof fitted with all windows in place

Window Construction:

Templates: Windows first cut from hardwood for visual check and to serve as bending templates
Outer Frames: 1.5mm black-coated aluminum wire bent to form window frames
Inner Frames: Additional 0.5mm aluminum wire for inner window detail
Glass: Transparent hard plastic cut to size and glued on the inside
Curtains: Made from painted tissue paper, glued to transparent plastic to show through windows

The front nose windows were particularly hard to form given their very odd curved shape - getting the compound curves right took several attempts.

Wheels and Running Gear

Wheel Construction:

Hub and Rim: Three layers of bamboo fitted into each other
Spokes: Middle section cut away to create spoke effect
Tires: Black paper strip wrapped and glued for tire effect
Axle: Glued assembly connecting both wheels

Details and Final Assembly

Stripped back — After several failed paint attempts, windows ripped off and body sanded down

Additional Details:

Mudguards and rear bumper formed with epoxy putty
Rear lights sculpted and painted
Roof cut and sanded from balsa wood
Jockey wheel (front support leg)
Brake assembly
Tow bar and hitch

The Painting Disaster and Recovery

After several attempts to paint and smooth the body, I made the difficult decision to rip off all the windows and start the finishing process again. The paint finish wasn’t smooth enough, and I could see imperfections that would be visible in the final piece.

This setback was frustrating but necessary. I sanded the body down completely and started the painting process fresh, taking more time between coats and being more meticulous with sanding between layers.

The completed caravan was a triumph. All the frustration and rework was worth it - this was proof I could tackle the ambitious vehicle modeling required for this commission.

Chapter 3: The VW Golf Estate Challenge

The Temptation of the Easy Way Out

Model car option — The tempting shortcut: a purchased red Golf model - wrong scale and wrong body style

With the caravan completed, I was tempted to use a red Golf model car I had purchased instead of making another vehicle from scratch. There were just two issues: the car was not at the same scale as the caravan, and it was a sedan, not an estate.

The temptation was quickly put aside, and the next major journey started - to make the car.

Finding References and Building a Template

Target vehicle — The exact car I needed to build - VW Golf R Estate in red

Reference model — Purchased VW Golf sedan to help with sizing and shaping

I found a nice picture of exactly the car I wanted. The only problem: even after searching everywhere, I just couldn’t find a model in the right scale of an estate version. The only way forward was to make it myself.

I did buy a VW Golf sedan model to help with shaping and sizing the parts. With the help of more pictures of estate versions, I could visually make the adjustments needed to extend the rear and modify the roofline.

Measurements and Paper Prototype

Measurements 1 — Working out dimensions and proportions

Measurements 2 — Scale calculations for all components

Paper cutout compared to painted reference model - my heart sank: "How am I going to get this right?"

It was exactly at this point, when comparing my paper template to the beautifully painted reference model, that my heart sank into my shoes. How was I going to achieve that level of finish and accuracy?

Discovering Air-Dry Clay

Considering the easy option — The sedan looked so good with the caravan - why not use it?

Air-dry clay forming — Air-dry clay solution - bulking inside and forming the body

It was then that I discovered air-dry clay and saw a way forward. The epoxy putty was just too difficult to work with for the extended shaping time needed. I thought using air-dry clay would be much more workable - I could take my time shaping it before it hardened.

Construction Approach:

Internal Structure: Bulked out the inside with scrap materials for strength
Clay Application: Covered with air-dry clay, building up the estate body shape
Extended Rear: Added length and the characteristic estate roofline
Gradual Refinement: Worked the clay while still malleable to get smooth curves

Details and Disasters

Final car — Coming together: hot glue lights, painted plastic windows, custom number plate

Final Details:

Lights: Formed from hot glue and painted
Windows: Plastic painted black on the inside for glass effect
Number Plate: Made from yellow paper with the actual license plate number of the real car
Wheels: Repurposed from parts with custom painting

The Rework Cycles

The process did not go without disasters and reworks. I took apart all the fittings several times to:

Reshape problematic areas
Re-sand surfaces that weren’t smooth enough
Re-paint the body to get it smoother and better shaped

One thing is for sure: my attitude of “good enough” was tested again and again. My patience and endurance were stretched to the limit. But this was a commission - it had to be right.

Chapter 4: Figures and Tilly the Dog

With the car and caravan ready, I could turn my attention to the figures and Tilly, the dog - arguably the most personal and challenging aspect of this commission.

Initial Figure Attempts with Air-Dry Clay

Wire frame figures — Wire frames with air-dry clay - "This should be easy..."

Early attempts — "Oh dear, it's harder than I thought."

Up until now, I had really struggled to make figures with epoxy putty. With the air-dry clay that worked so well for the car, I thought figures would be a breeze.

Process:

Created wire armatures for stability and pose
Rolled the clay
Started forming the bodies around the wire frames

Reality set in quickly - creating recognizable human figures at this tiny scale is incredibly difficult!

Figure development — Using router tools helped, but the learning curve remained steep

More work with a router and fine carving tools helped a bit, but I realized I still have a long way to go with figure sculpting. The challenge isn’t just making a human figure - it’s making figures that capture a likeness of specific people. That’s an entirely different skill level.

Tilly the Dog - A Wood Carving Solution

Carved dog — Carving Tilly from wood proved more successful than clay

Dog refinement — Definite improvement with the carved approach

My first attempt to make Tilly the dog with clay was poor. So I tried carving it out of wood instead. There was definitely an improvement - the firmer material allowed for more precise detailing and the dog’s characteristic shape was easier to maintain.

Final Figure Assembly

Scale check — All units seemed in proportion and proper scale

The final figures didn’t come out too bad. While they’re not portrait-quality likenesses, they capture the general appearance and most importantly, they read as a couple with their dog at the correct scale. For a first serious attempt at portrait figures, I’m accepting of the result, while recognizing it’s an area that needs much more practice.

Chapter 5: Layout and Positioning

With the main components completed - caravan, car, and figures - I could start to get a perspective on positioning everything on the 25cm × 25cm base.

Confronting Space Constraints

Layout test 1 — First layout attempts revealing space limitations

Layout test 2 — Testing different arrangements and compositions

I realized at this stage that my initial ideas were not feasible within the space constraints:

Path into campsite: Not enough room to show an entrance path
Fence: Would cramp the composition
Canopy: The caravan’s roll-out awning wouldn’t fit in the space
Activity elements: Initial plans for camping chairs and other accessories had to be simplified

Design Decisions:

Focus on the core elements: caravan, car, figures, and Tilly
Create an intimate scene rather than an expansive campsite
Use the river as a backdrop feature rather than a major element
Concentrate detail on vegetation and ground textures

This is a common challenge in small-scale dioramas - the story must be told with fewer elements, requiring each component to work harder visually. The 25cm × 25cm constraint forced me to be ruthless about what to include.

Chapter 6: Vegetation and Scenery

With positioning established, it was time to create the Welsh countryside setting that would bring the scene to life.

Tool Development - Custom Drying System

Plant making tools — Newly designed drying clamps for efficient plant production

Drying pads — Repurposed credit cards as leaf and flower drying pads

Building on lessons from the English Country Garden, I had developed better tools for miniature plant making:

Custom drying clamps for holding wire stems
Repurposed credit cards as flat drying surfaces for leaves and flower petals
Organized workflow for producing multiple plants efficiently

Creating Riverside Plants and Shrubs

Riverside shrubs — Building riverside shrubs and plants

Plant detail — Close-up of completed riverside vegetation

The riverside vegetation needed to look natural for a Welsh countryside setting:

Water-loving plants near the river’s edge
Taller grasses and sedges
Small flowering plants for color spots
Varied textures to create visual interest

Tree Construction - Field Research

Tree research — Reassessing tree forms in the wild before construction

Before starting the larger trees, I went back to studying real trees - a valuable practice I learned from previous projects. Understanding how branches actually grow, how foliage masses sit on the structure, and the characteristic shapes of different tree species makes a huge difference in creating believable miniature trees.

Wire armatures for larger trees and shrubs

Adding leaves — Leafing the main tree structure

Tree Building Process:

Wire armatures twisted to create realistic trunk and branch structures
Texture added to trunks (paint, filler, or natural materials)
Foliage materials prepared (sawdust, foam, or wire-and-paper leaves)
Foliage attached in natural clumps and masses
Final color refinement and highlights

Tree progress — Progress on main tree - building up foliage mass

Chapter 7: Grass and Groundwork

Researching Campsite Grass Appearance

Campsite research — Studying various campsite open spaces for grass texture and color

Before finishing the grass, I spent time looking at various open space scenes in caravan parks. Real campsite grass has a different character from garden lawns or wild meadows - it’s more worn in places, has bare patches, and shows traffic patterns. Capturing this authenticity was important for the scene.

Static Grass Application - A New Technique

For the first time, I used a static grass applicator to create the green grass around the caravan. This tool uses static electricity to make grass fibers stand upright, creating a much more realistic effect than glued-down fibers.

Static Grass Lessons:

Apply glue in sections (it dries quickly)
Use varied grass lengths for natural appearance
Mix colors slightly for depth and realism
Create worn pathways by leaving some areas less densely grassed
Seal with diluted matte medium after application

The static grass created exactly the well-maintained but lived-in campsite appearance I was aiming for.

Chapter 8: The River - Getting It Right This Time

After the less-than-convincing river in the Log Cabin project, I was determined to improve my water effects for this commissioned piece.

River Research

River banks — Reference for riverside vegetation and bank textures

I studied real river scenes carefully, paying attention to:

Water color in shallow vs. deep areas
Bank transitions from grass to water
River bed visibility through clear water
Vegetation patterns at the water’s edge
Surface texture - is it still or flowing?

River Construction Process

Building the Riverbed:

Shape the Base: Carved the river channel into the baseboard
Texture the Bed: Added small stones, sand texture for the bottom
Paint in Layers:
- Dark brown/green base for depth
- Lighter colors for shallow areas
- Subtle variations for natural appearance

Applying the Water Effect:

Clear Resin Layer: Poured clear casting resin for the water surface
Leveling: Ensured even thickness for realistic depth
Curing: Allowed full cure time (24-48 hours) for crystal clarity

Completed river 1 — Completed river with clear resin water effect

Completed river 2 — Riverside detail showing successful water and vegetation integration

The resin technique was far more successful than my previous attempts. The key lesson: proper preparation of the riverbed and patient layer building creates convincing water effects.

Chapter 9: Final Details and Assembly

Detail view 1 — Final detailing of the campsite scene

Detail view 2 — All elements coming together in the finished diorama

With all components completed, the final assembly brought everything together. Each element - the meticulously crafted caravan, the challenging car build, the figures with Tilly, the Welsh countryside vegetation, and the improved river - combined to tell the story of this family’s camping adventures.

Pride of Place Among Peers

Among other models — The caravan model looking very good amongst its peers on the model table

Before delivery, the completed diorama sat on my work table alongside other projects. Seeing it in this context - surrounded by the English Country Garden, Log Cabin, and other builds - reinforced how much this project pushed my skills forward. Vehicle modeling, figure sculpting, commissioned work under constraints - all new territory successfully navigated.

Chapter 10: Completion and Delivery

Final display — The commissioned work finally delivered and proudly displayed on the mantelpiece

The commissioned work was completed in July 2025, seven months after that casual question over a relaxing evening. The diorama now sits proudly on my son’s mantelpiece, a miniature memory of their camping adventures with Tilly in the Welsh countryside.

Build Achievements

Technical Accomplishments:

First successful vehicle models (both caravan and car)
Detailed Eriba Triton caravan with accurate proportions and details
VW Golf R Estate built entirely from scratch at 1:42 scale
Custom-sculpted figures (ongoing learning area)
Successful dog figure carved from wood
Improved river and water effects using resin
First use of static grass applicator for realistic grass texture
Welsh countryside vegetation and scenery

Skills Developed:

Working with air-dry clay for vehicle modeling
Creating compound curves in miniature vehicles
Window fabrication from wire and plastic
Working to client specifications and space constraints
Accepting “good enough” vs. perfectionism on timeline
Managing rework and iteration on commissioned pieces
Balancing accuracy with artistic interpretation

Materials Used:

Balsa wood (caravan body structure)
Milliput two-part epoxy putty (caravan shaping)
Air-dry clay (car body, initial figure attempts)
Aluminum wire (window frames, armatures)
Bamboo (wheel construction)
Wood (Tilly the dog, detail pieces)
Clear casting resin (river water effect)
Static grass (campsite grass)
Hot glue (vehicle lights)
Wire, paper, and paint (vegetation and scenery)

Reflections on Commissioned Work

This project taught me valuable lessons about working on commission versus building for myself:

Different Pressures:

Client expectations and specific requirements
Fixed timeline considerations
Space constraints from the beginning
Balancing accuracy with feasibility
When “good enough” really isn’t - and when it must be

Creative Challenges:

Capturing specific real-world subjects (their actual caravan and car)
Creating recognizable figures of real people
Working within constraints not of my choosing
Managing the emotional investment in capturing someone’s memories

Personal Growth:

Pushed vehicle modeling skills from zero to functional
Improved figure work (though still developing)
Better planning and scale calculations
More realistic expectations about timelines and rework
Accepting imperfection in commissioned context

The joy my son and his family expressed when seeing the completed diorama made all the challenges worthwhile. This isn’t just a model - it’s a memory preserved in miniature, a snapshot of happy times camping together.

What’s Next?

This commission solidified several things:

I can tackle vehicle modeling (with patience and rework)
Figure sculpting needs focused practice
Working with air-dry clay opens new possibilities
My improving water effects technique
Commissioned work pushes skill development faster

The skills gained from this ambitious project will inform future builds, whether personal projects or potential commissions. Each project reveals new areas to explore and master.

Build Logs: Detailed step-by-step documentation coming soon to the Build Logs section

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