Hi guys
I tried something new last nite and it was just an idea that popped in my head I don’t even know if I’m doing it right …but what I did was I poured about 3/4" thick of plaster on the mountain front side and grabbed some aluminum foil that my wife had used for baking supper and just placed it on the plaster and bunched it up so it would have a peak running from top to bottom ( vertical like ) I molded it by just holding it there for maybe 5 minutes then I pulled it off although it kept the plaster very soft still I ended up with a really cool looking shape like u would see on the face of a mountain. When I did pull the foil away alot of the plaster still stuck on the foil leaving pints on the rock face it just made , I was quite happy with this although I would like to know is there a better procedure for doing this.
I don’t know if there’s any articles on this technique or not if there is I sure would like to read them.
Lynn[:)]
I’ve taken tin foil and molded it over real rocks that I like to make a mold and then filled them with plaster. Turned out pretty good. You can also find tree bark that has the character you desire and mold a sheet of tin foil over it to make a bigger mold.
What a Great Idea i must add never thought of it ,if you have pics of your results that would be great
Carl…
I’m not really looking to make rock molds I have 5 WS rubber molds its more for doing the rock face like where you would see a verticle rock say 30 feet long where maybe rock has fallen away from it so what your left with is a 30 foot section of jutting rock . It actually worked pretty good although I was kinda afraid to leave the foil on the plaster…not sure why but when I pulled it away it pulled the plaster with it giving a neat effect. The plaster that was left in the foil ( the plaster sticks well to the foil) I just layed it down in another area and piched it up a bit and it stayed there . This technique takes the smooth look of the mountains we make away and gives the rougher more natural look.
I just thought there maybe a standard way of doing this that gives different better results . I will take pics tonite when I get home.
Lynn
Lynn,
I’m interested in your results. I tried that on the original Tater Mountain, but it didn’t work like I wanted and scrapped it. I could have done it better.
I’m interested in pictures as well.
I’ve seen where the tin foil is crumpled up first, then the plaster is poured…I think i’ll just stick to building mine from blue insulating foam or rubber rock castings…chuck
Chuck this really has nothing to do with pouring plaster into the tinfoil . The mountain has all been formed already and has a couple coats of plaster on it . I simply spead a thick layer of plaster of paris on the mountain face then covered the fresh spread plaster with the foil and formed with my hand pinching to a verticle peek down the centre and after a while pulled the foil away. let me see if I got a couple pics . I don’t have one from making the foil peeks but tomoorow I’ll take some . This gives you an idea what kinda mountain we’re talking about
Yep thats who it is all right my sons Cat in the Hat
This is after first coat of plaster of paris I dipped bug screen into the p o p first
second coat done
[img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc26b3127cce95a6764bb5ab0000001610
wickman-
Been there, done that. The plaster pulled away with the foil due to creases getting set down into the plaster. If you avoid getting down into the plaster the results should be different. I’ve used foil for rock casts and am trying to figure how to use the technique to create cement block walls.
ok…so you poured the plaster first then used the tin foil to form the rock face while it was still wet huh?..clever!..chuck
Here’s a couple pics of how it looks if you can make it out
Years ago I tried to use tin foil for rock molds but I wasn’t happy with the result. I probably crumbled the foil too much and the results just didn’t look right to me so I gave up on the idea. I think with a little more care in shaping the foil, you could get a good result but I just didn’t have the patience. I have also seen painted tin foil used as a tunnel liner. The wrinkles in the foil pass for hollowed out rock.
MR had a couple of articles/tips on this back in the 60’s and 70’s (errr, so I’m told by those who were around back then!!) [:I] I recall something about using a mold release agent like Pam cooking spray… not sure.
I also remember articles about making “half pipe” culverts with tin foil rock mold interiors to use as tunnel liners.
i tried this some time ago and it worked flawlessly. i made a rock cut. one thing i should have done is set toothpicks in the plaster so it looks like the holes drilled for the dynamite. on the new layout i have an almost 5 foot long rock cut to make along the front end of my 4X8. the rocks look real good painted a brownish grey color. the secret is to let the plaster dry for about 36 hours.
GEARHEAD426
HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND STUFF
[8]
Why did you coat the mountain in plastic first? Doesn’t that make the plaster weaker because it doesn’t have something to stick too? What sort of difference does it make when the plaster dries for 36h first before painting it? I always colour mine as soon as it is firm or put the paint in the plaster, that way if it chips, you’re not left with a ‘white’ spot. And I also put in the detail with a knife when it’s moist, rather than trying to put it there in the first place with the wet plaster…
my 2c Danny
I tried the tin foil rock method. what a blast I reconmend to any one.