While picking up some Sculptamold at a LHS, I noticed a bag of Celluclay next to it on the shelf. I had heard of this product before but wasn’t sure just what it was but the description said it was another paper mache type of product. At $30 for a 5 pound bag, a rough calculation told me it was about 3 times the price of Sculptamold. My question is this: Is this product that much better than Sculptamold to justify the much higher cost. What advantages does it have over Sculptamold.
Celluclay isn’t anything like Sculptamold, when mixed it looks like oatmeal, and it takes a long time for thick applications of Celluclay to dry, it does have it’s uses in model rr’ing, but trying to use it like plaster or similar products won’t yield a very satisfactory result.
I’ve used Celluclay for dioramas and it makes a very convincing ground work for scales like 1\72,1\48 and 1\35, and it will work nicely for say…a plowed field on a layout, or maybe some exposed dirt and rock areas.
You might want to get some and mix it up and see if you like it, but I wouldn’t plan on using it on any large areas. One thing you will need to do is mix some white glue with the Celluclay so it will stick together and stick to your surface, without glue it wants to come loose and crack.
also, you said $30 for 5#? thats wayyy too expensive…try a craft store and see if you can beat that price.
That’s the price it sells for at a Michael’s in Tucson, Arizona, too, and it’s nothing but papier mache. I think the majority of the price is just for the name. I avoid products that do that.
I bought it at Michael’s in Plattsburgh, NY for 21 bucks plus tax.
After trying them, I ended up a fan of lightweight premixed drywall seam compound mixed with sawdust and acrylic paint. It is cheaper, and less mess. I also think I am getting better results. You can wash the tools in the sink, and it takes a couple days to dry so you can work on details as you see them.
You are better off with drewall plaster that set up in 20 min. You mix it your self.After 20min. you can work with it.
I’ve been using the pre-mixed drywall mud for a while now and I love it…it’s easy to use…stays fresh for a long time when you keep it closed up, and its only $10 for a 5 gal. bucket.
I like the ability to sculpt detail into it as it dries…plaster sets up too fast for me. It usually takes 2 days for thick applications of mud to set up thoroughly, and 12 to 24 hrs for the thinner coats.
When used with a base of foam board cut into contour shapes…it makes excellent hills and rock faces that you can use the Woodland Scenics techniques of weathering and coloring on, and mixing some brown\tan latex paint with the drywall mud will eliminate any show through white.
It’s all in individuals preference tho, you shouls experiment with different terchniques and products and see what works best for you.