Is there anyone besides me left in the world that still uses plaster of paris on their layout ?. I’ve tried foam and so forth, but came back to plaster because I know how to work with it to get the results I desire.
Tracklayer
Nope. I’m anti-French.
Jeff
Don’t let my ex-wife hear you say that, she’s French. Oo la la…
Tracklayer
Oh Yea! Went through 3 boxes of it last night. I tried pink foam for one corner mountain.
Didn’t like working with it and you have to put plaster over it anyhow. I use it for a base coat on aluminium screen supported by wood or card board. I now have discovered Sculptimold for a final coat. Getting some great results. Just tried doing some practice roads with it. (still working on that technique) And it’s CHEAP!
P.S.- I used it to pour some home made tunnel portals that came out great too.
LOL. We probably won’t be dating anytime soon anyway.[:D]
Jeff
I use plaster-impregnated cloth to do my scenery, usually over a combination of crumpled newspaper and foam support forms. Between that and using Sculptamold for rock and detail work, it works out pretty well for me. I have used stacked foam scenery on bits and pieces of the layout, but it’s very time-consuming and really messy, especially when it comes to cutting and filing away. I was using WS plaster cloth, but it was so darned expensive, that I was able to find much larger rolls at an art supply house at a better price. Now my LHS carries it as an alternative.
Tom
I hope not. I wouldn’t wi***hat kind of misery on you if you were my worst enemy… That’s one female I wish I’d never met!.
Tracklayer
Hey, I’ve got an EX like that too! Small world! LOL
Jeff
well, I put a little plaster in my celluclay to make it dry faster. Just straight plaster is much heavier, and doesnt give you the texture or versatillity of celluclay. I also use some plaster rock molds.
I use plaster of convenience.
I view all things in model railroading as commodoties. What ever yeilds the lowest price I go with. Unfortunatly the tide is definatly turning against old fashioned style DC control so I am finding my self forced to convert to DCC before I even get a chance to use my DC system. [:(]
But since no one will grant me one inch on buyilding a layout I am stockpiling alot of supplies. I am sure that by the time I actually start consturction. I will probably have no need to visit a hobby shop.
James
I still use plaster. It’s durable. Most of my scenery is foam with a thin layer of plaster over it. I used casting plaster to use in my rock molds. To model open fields, I use a thin layer of plaster. When the plaster is dry, I spray it with water then sift dry plaster on it. It gives the smooth plaster base layer a texture like that of open farmland here in Missouri. I paint it with thinned light tan acrylic latex that I bought for $5 for a gallon at an Ace Hardware store that a customer did not want because it was the wrong color. Uh oh… time for work… see ya!!!
My rock molds are all done in plaster. My scenery base uses a less heavy plaster mixture called Gypsolite. It has a grainy texture that I like for my foam covering.
You bet I do, I mix in some fine vermiculite and tint with acrylic craft paint. I think it looks ok. I do need to mix up small batches as it sets up fast. My layout is foam but for landforms I use cardboard webbing and cover with paper towels or coffee filters dipped in soupy plaster. It is less messy than carving foam (no hot wire). It works for me and that is the important part.
I like the price of plaster.
Plaster of Paris is easy to use, easy to locate (Lowes), and inexpensive. I find
it to be great for hardshell scenery. I’ve never used Hydrocal. P o P is good
for casting rock molds and bridge piers,etc. I don’t know what I’d do without it.
I am also Anti-French, but I do still use plaster! [:D]
I use Hydrocal for casting, and Gypsolite for surface texture. Scenic Express has big containers of these, cheaper than WS. I mix a bit of acrylic dark brown paint in with the Gypsolite to pre-color it. I even make some of my own molds with latex rubber. It’s not difficult to do, and it’s all in good fun anyway.
I cast portals and retaining walls.
What is that Gypsolite stuff and where can I get it other than mail order?(is it like sculptimold?)
I use plaster for ‘painting over the hydrocal surface’: Hydrocal is very good for basic scenery shell’ work, but does not take coloring/stains well. All of my rock castings are plaster for this reason.
Jim
I used the plaster for rock outcroppings, but I used the Hydrocal Light for rock cuts of the shale or limestone type. Both worked well, but the Hyrdrocal is twice as costly. The Gypsolite, or any of them really, are great if you can find a cheap bulk supply. I have heard that you can get Hydrocal in bulk for much less than the mild-carton prices at the LHS.