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Alternative to plaster cloth?

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#21 ·
Any setting compound will work fine with paper towels.
Setting. comes in a bag that you mix with water. Every hardware store in America carries it. 30 or 45 minute work time should be ideal.

Better towels are easier to work with. The cheap ones @ the dollar store may fall apart on you while you work.

Mix small batches in cheap plastic buckets - clean up promptly.

A stop to most any thrift store will score the plastic bowls cheap.

If you are feeling adventurous Structolite adds texture. 50 lbs shouldn't cost more than 20 dollars.
 
#22 ·
Aminnich said:
Technically I could just paint and add tree/bushed directly onto the foam, right?
Click to expand...
Yes.

Sometimes I shape the foam with a rasp and sandpaper, paint right on the foam with a thick coat and apply grass, gravel or dirt to the wet paint. Structolite, mold-a-scene or sculptamold can also be applied directly on the foam before painting.
 
Discussion starter · #23 ·
Lehigh74 said:
Yes.

Sometimes I shape the foam with a rasp and sandpaper, paint right on the foam with a thick coat and apply grass, gravel or dirt to the wet paint. Structolite, mold-a-scene or sculptamold can also be applied directly on the foam before painting.
Click to expand...
I think this is what I'm gonna try first
 
#24 ·
Odyknuck said:
Check out the material this guy uses in this Utube Vid. I found it interesting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvM1XyxC8Bs&index=1&list=PLUPA7kItMcWsEi_ZdT4lhk45cy4lUwstW
Click to expand...
One word of caution about using any kind of plaster product.
DON'T WASH THAT DOWN THE DRAINS, unless you thoroughly flush your drain pipes with a lot of water. Even washing your hands of the plaster be careful. You can plug up your pipes if your not careful. I use a 5 gal bucket to wash whatever I wash of the plaster then dump it outside in the back 40.

That being said,
I think you posted the wrong video?:confused:
That one shows nothing about using the Quilt Batting?
Is that what you are calling the " shaper sheet"? :confused:

Here,(?)

 
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#25 ·
Aminnich said:
Are you talking about the shaper sheet?

I thought about using this, but since I have all this foam, im gonna use that. Im looking for something to cover the foam i have. Technically I could just paint and add tree/bushed directly onto the foam, right?
Click to expand...

That is what I'll be doing. I will have a wide variety of materials under the track. (plywood, MDF, foam, etc.) It is the only way I can see of bringing it all together paint, paint, and more paint! The "oops" or mistakes department is THE place to go, sometimes you must ask if they have "bad color mix" areas! Mrs Quimby's inability to choose a color is my gain! Earth tones abound and it is top quality stuff for CHEAP! 35-40 dollar a gallon paint for 5-9 bucks EACH! Many times pints for a buck or two of top quality paint! Avoid gloss unless you will be covering it or WANT a "shine" on whatever it is you are painting!
 
Discussion starter · #26 ·
I would definetly get a mat finish paint, I don't want my hills to shine from the overhead light.

Here are my thoughts regarding paints. And please correct me if I'm wrong. I would put a coat of base paint (a tan or light brown) to represent dirt. Then I would use spray paint to add colors. Here is my question; who the spray paint still eat away at the styrofoam if it had a good coat of paint? I would use spray paint throughout, but I don't want it to eat away at my shaped foam.

Thanks for all your input and help guys!
 
#27 ·
I never tried using spray paint over latex paint. I'm thinking if it doesn't eat the rigid foam, it might just make the latex crinkle.

I apply one coat of latex to make sure all the pink is hidden and let it dry for a few hours. Then lay on a thick coat of latex paint and immediately sprinkle on WS earth blend (for dirt), green blend (for grass) and/or play sand (for gravel). Then I spray a 50/50 mix of scenic cement and water (you can also dilute Elmers glue) to make sure the ground cover stays in place.

By the way, when shaping the foam with rasp or sandpaper, the pink dust goes everywhere and picks up a static charge. I use a dust mask and shop vac to keep it under control.
 
Discussion starter · #28 ·
Lehigh74 said:
I never tried using spray paint over latex paint. I'm thinking if it doesn't eat the rigid foam, it might just make the latex crinkle.

I apply one coat of latex to make sure all the pink is hidden and let it dry for a few hours. Then lay on a thick coat of latex paint and immediately sprinkle on WS earth blend (for dirt), green blend (for grass) and/or play sand (for gravel). Then I spray a 50/50 mix of scenic cement and water (you can also dilute Elmers glue) to make sure the ground cover stays in place.

By the way, when shaping the foam with rasp or sandpaper, the pink dust goes everywhere and picks up a static charge. I use a dust mask and shop vac to keep it under control.
Click to expand...
Thanks Lehigh74 for your input.

shaping the white bead Styrofoam is MUCH more of a mess. Im covering in foam by the time im done with what im doing
 
#29 ·
I tried the white Styrofoam just once…and didn’t end up using it just for that reason…because it made a mega mess...and because it didn’t seem to carve/shape well. I’m interested to hear how you make out with it. I’m guessing you will need to use something like Sculptamold to get the final shape.
 
#31 ·
Hydrocal plaster

Aminnich said:
Hey guys,

Spring break is next week and I wanna get a ton of stuff done. I have a bunch of foam ready to go and I went to buy plaster cloth last night. I'm wondering if their is an alternate product I can use? $20 for a roll isn't my cup of tea.

Somewhere I read getting the mix plaster and cheap paper towels works, what do you think?

Thanks guys!!
Click to expand...
Aminnich;

Hydrocal brand plaster has been used for scenery for many years. It is made by US Gypsum Co. You may be able to find a dealer through them. I don't think it's carried at Home Depot or Lowes. If you use plaster, use Hydrocal(or Ultracal another version from USG.)
Common molding plaster, plaster of Paris, and such are not as strong as Hydrocal. You may be able to buy small bags of Hydrocal, at high prices, from a hobby shop. Last time I used it was on a club layout, and we bought a fifty pound bag. Unfortunately the stuff is sometimes difficult to find, and usually it's only available in bulk. If you are in touch with any other model railroad types, perhaps you can split a bag.
Typically Hydrocal is used to build, "Hard Shell" scenery. Wadded up newspaper, cardboard strips, etc. form the basic mountain shape. Strips of cut up paper towels are dipped in the soupy Hydrocal, and laid across the form. Overlap the strips to form a strong shell. I used "Bounty" brand towels because they had a web of plastic fibers inside them. This made them strong enough to stay together when soaked with water/plaster mix. This process is very messy. That's the advantage of the plaster cloth, less mess. I agree though that Woodland Scenics plaster cloth is very expensive. Have you tried medical supply companies? Plaster cloth was originally used to make plaster casts for broken bones.

Good Luck
Traction Fan
 
#33 ·
#34 ·
Big Ed said:
One word of caution about using any kind of plaster product.
DON'T WASH THAT DOWN THE DRAINS, unless you thoroughly flush your drain pipes with a lot of water. Even washing your hands of the plaster be careful. You can plug up your pipes if your not careful. I use a 5 gal bucket to wash whatever I wash of the plaster then dump it outside in the back 40.

That being said,
I think you posted the wrong video?:confused:
That one shows nothing about using the Quilt Batting?
Is that what you are calling the " shaper sheet"? :confused:

Here,(?)

Click to expand...
You are correct I did post the wrong one. Its the one you show.
 
#35 ·
The Quilt Batting?
Is that what you are calling the " shaper sheet"? :dunno:

Or is "shaper sheet" somethin different? :confused:
 
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#37 ·
The quilt batting is a good ideal.
 
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#38 ·
We used rolls of kitchen style chux wipes (like these ) I think over there they might be called handy dishcloth or something?
anyway, we gave them a bath in small batches of plaster of paris mix. worked well, was cheap, but was a little messy.


Lehigh74 said:
When I built a mountain 30 years ago, I used plaster cast cloth (same thing as what WS sells now, but only 4” wide). I got it at medical supply places. It was messy, but I’m thinking that using plaster and paper towels would be a lot messier.
Click to expand...
drape the dry plastercloth where you need it and squirt it with a spray bottle. less mess.
 
#39 ·
Aminnich said:
I'm wondering if their is an alternate product I can use? $20 for a roll isn't my cup of tea.
Click to expand...
$20 for a roll of plaster cloth? I paid $8.00 for a roll at the local arts and supplies store. Never have I seen plaster cloth more than $10.

Wow @ $20.

-J.
 
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