I've been building models since 1956. I build in plastic, metal, paper, cardboard and wood. Over the years or, decades, I have developed methods of doing things and the one thing I enjoy is making a model that looks real, not modeled. When I snap a photo I want the item or layout to appear as it would in real life. Fires have always been a, somewhat, challenge.

In the early 2000s, I spent five years creating an old west town in 1:16 scale. I built 53 buildings complete with interiors. 90% of the work I carved and cut and created myself from balsa and other woods. In two of the buildings, there are open fires. The photograph studio and the bathhouse. You can see the town, which I named, Cactus Creek, by clicking the links at the end of this blog.

When doing a scale model fire, it has to look as real as possible. I have collected several 1:24th scale camping trailers and I made a small camping scene with them in a cabinet. So a campfire was a must.

This blog details the building of the campfire. If you are creating a camping scene, either with trailers, tents, etc., a campfire is a great added piece.