I took some newspapers and cutted them no bigger then 2 by 2". I filled a bottle with varm water and let them lay there for 24 hours. Then a took a food mixer and made some nice paper mache.
I took away most of the water and mixed it with vermiculite, paint and the glue that we use for wallpapers. I don’t know what it’s called in english. It took a couple of days to dry but it looks nice and seems to be very strong.
Next time I do this I will not mix in the paint, just paint it on the surface after it’s dry. I will also take away the vermiculite for a smother surface.
The nice thing with this is the price, or lack of it. Newspapers are free, so are water. And a bag of wallpaper glue (the sort you mix with water) will last a very long time.
What do you guys think about this method?
I a firm beliver that if it works for you, then it works!
Sounds like you got pretty creative though. I dig it. And cheap? No way to to go wrong there. You are right about the paint. I tried adding paint ot various things and seems to really slow down the drying time.
Electro,
Do you have an photos to show for?
I’m a visual kind of guy.
Just remember with a layout your size, your going to need a dump truck full. Do you feel like making THAT much? You might want to check out a product called Structolite. I hear it works very well.
http://www.usg.com/navigate.do?ichronicleId=0901197e8002dd7a
Paper, being an organic material might be susceptible to insect infestation, termites, perhaps.
I suggest you mix in a deterrant of some kind. I think Joe Fugate uses Lysol. Could be wrong.
I like it, because it is light weight, especially for modules that have to be transported. Having seen pictures of terrain erected from layered foam, I think that is the most labor intensive and tedious method I have seen.
I am building my future model railroad as modules in my garage, pending construction of my model railroad building when funds permit. This way I can get a big leg up because every thing will have been constructed and by using used kitchen base cabinets, I won’t need to build any benchwork.
So, lighter is better, I will give it a go and see how it works out. I have a VitaMix so chopping up the paper should be a breeze. That will also reduce the load in the re-cycle bin. Oh well, if anyone thinks recycling paper will save trees. Yeah right. Who do you think plants the trees that are used in paper makig? The Good Fairy?