Does anyone know of a good website on using foamboard and syrofoam. I’ve been working on my bench and are now ready to do the foam board.
I need some basic instruction on how to lay it for landscaping and how to shaoe it to theway i want it
Boneheadbassboy
Just ten blocks from ths W & L.E. yard
Hi Bone, there’s some good resources right here on the main CTT site. There’s some great books on the topic you may find at a library too. Basically, I would stick to foamboard - the insulation board that is pink or blue here in the Midwestl; it is easier to work with… It comes in big 4x8 sheets for the base of the layout - then you can use pieces to buid up mountains or hills. Use the right glue for it - the wrong stuff will melt it. Cover the hill with plaster-impregnated gauze or you can use heavy-duty paper towels dipped in plaster. After painting the main board a nice tan color, you can then sprinkly ground foam on it and cover that with a sort of glue known as matte medium… You can shape the foam with an old serrated knife - it makes a huge mess - or with a foam-cutter that you could get at a hobby or craft store. Oh, I’m rambling now. Get a few broken pieces at Lowe’s or Home Depot and experiment!
Here is a step by step primer for building extraordinary scenes:
http://www.modeltrainjournal.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1603
I would not use styrofoam since it makes a huge mess and the mess is static, so clings on everything. The insulation board is a much better choice.
Thanks for the info
Boneheadbassboy
My whole layout is foamboard and styrofoam. I used a special hot wire foam cutter that minimizes the mess. The shop vac took care of everything else. Serated knives work real good at cutting foam, it the hot wire can’t get to it.
BEFORE
AFTER
Been there, done that.
I built a very realistic tunnel/ hill with styrofoam.
This is a foam mtn.w/hydrocal molds and plaster wrap.
This is a tuba planter when the weather was nicer and this summers home to a garden railway
[:)]
Jon
Don’t be afraid to use different methods for different parts of your layout. Depending on what weight if any you are going to place on the scenery, foam board would be good. However for just your average mountain, the old card board and towel in plaster is good and i have found very easy to work with and easy to modify. I built my mountain areas in separate sections or moduals so I couId scenic them with paint, grass, trees etc away from the layout. In addition, you can get boxes for nothing and cut and glue or staple for less than the foam board. I have a 40 foot section on my layout with a lot of hills/mountains and I used the card board technique because free forming the mountains was easier for me. I have to admit they look better than I thought, but still a far cry from some of the true artists out there.
One thing I did to test the look of the particular section I was working on was to cover the card board frame work with newspaper to see if I liked the look before I used the plaster and towels. This was a little more work, but it gave me an opportunity to modify and provided additional strength to the mountain and the plaster and towels had a better base. No end to the creative aspects of this hobby!
Buckeye Riveter,
Thanks again for posting pictures of your layout. Also, thanks a million for sending me the schematics for your layout! I have a very lightweight layout now thanks to your advice. I am also using foam for building mountains as you suggested. I use the Tippi Hot wire Cutter like you do. I might add that I have found the Stanley Surform tool to be especially hepful when forming the slopes of the mountains.
Mike
Boneheadbassboy,
A few nights ago, I wanted to make a granite outcropping on my layout. I cut a few pieces of ridgid pink foam to the approx. shape, then started to shape it with a hacksaw blade. That left the foam shaped, but very course, with a lot of fuzz. So I took a piece of sandpaper and scuffed it semi-smooth. The end result after painting is amzingly realistic. It looks like I plopped a real hunk of granite on the table!
Jim
I want to thank everyone for their input. I haven’t had much time before but since I retired I have 24/7 to play with my table.
Spankybird sorry I can’t make the meeting tonight.It’s my wife’s birthday and when Mama’s happy everybody’s happy
Boneheadbasboy
Just ten blocks from the W & L.E. yards