I was going through a box of stuff that was given to me 20 years ago and found an unopened box of PermaScene. I searched around and found out what it is but I didn’t find any pictures of scenery where it had been used.
It has some sentimental value to me so I would like to work it in someplace if I can. If anyone has experience with it can you tell me what a good application would be?
PermaScene has plaster in it so it may or may not be good. I’d whip up a batch and make sure it hardens. Mine took days to fully dry out. David Popp trowels it on carved foam landscaping. I used it in home made molds to cast rock.
You can mix it with cheap craft paint to give it color. Everything you see here is PermaScene except the water. At normal viewing distance, those pinholes aren’t noticeable.
Wider view, early experimentation with water color.
Experiment with paint washes
I’ve had a few “vintage” bags of PermaScene and as Big Daddy states, it didn’t really set up too well and made a mess.
For a substitute there’s a product plasterers use called Gypsolite that is a lightweight “brown-coat” that, I believe, would make a good scenery base. I’ve also heard of crumbling up, then soaking old, fibrous ceiling tiles into the mix for more texture.
https://www.goldbondbuilding.com/products/conventional-plaster/gypsolite-plaster
Was it Lou Sassi that came up with the Ground Goop recipe?
https://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/114748.aspx
Good Luck, Ed
Thanks for the heads up. I’ll make a test batch before committing to using it.
My recollection of PermaScene in the early 80s was buying it in a box similar in size and shape to pancake or waffle mix. The stuff dried to a tannish color with a somewhat coarse texture. I was pretty jazzed about my first crack at rolling scenery with the PermaScene terrain, so my enthusiasm was only slightly dampened when a visitor remarked about the “oatmeal hills”.
Regards, Peter
I had already decided that I wasn’t going to use the glitter “grass” that was in the box also, so unless I figure out how to work in a pile of oatmeal I won’t be using this either.
Thanks for the info.
Permascene was one of the main components in the original formula of ground goop. I have used it a fair amount. Mix equal amounts of permascene and sculptamold add in white glue and a bottle of craft glue along with a cupful of bleach. I have done it without the permascene but it does not work as well. It lacks some of the texture and takes longer to dry.
Perfect. Thanks.
Oh boy, that had to hurt. [(-D]
Rich
why the bleach?
(post deleted by author)
Bumping this to ask for an informed answer.
I would suggest powdered Rit fabric dye as a colorant for any sort of plaster or plaster-based scenery material. I don’t know how bleach-fast that might be…
What a jerk to say something like that about anybody’s layout. Especially a guest talking to a host.
Just to clarify, that was the host’s visitor, not me, who made that crack.
Rich
I was the one asking why bleach? The discussion strayed into goop which is vermiculite in some formulas. I suppose it is not free of insect eggs and that is were bleach was suggested
The reason for the bleach is a mold preventative in the ground goop. The ground goop takes quite a while to completely dry generally 48-72 hours. In a humid basement it might even take a bit longer- that could be enough to let mold or mildew set in. (especially since it needs to dry completely throughout) But that long working time does have advantages in setting details. As for permascene by itself I can not remember the drying time but it did seem like it was shorter (been quite a while)
Modern ground goop
Permascene is long out of production so maybe a look at how it can be done now might be of help. Permascene was garden vermiculite mixed with a powdered glue. By itself the texture is a bit much but when mixed into ground goop (Lou Sassi pioneered this) it smooths it out and makes a better color and texture. The mix also allows you to add ground foam or other grass materials as well as details and have them glued in easily.
Formula- this does not need to be exact- there can be variation. I use a cut off milk jug so this gives an idea. Mix equal parts of garden vermiculite (Home depot or Lowes generally carry) and celuclay paper mache. I add in an 8Oz elmers or equivalent white glue and a 2OZ craft paint that is slightly darker than the earth color I am aiming for. I add in a capful of bleach for mold prevention.
One spread out I sprinkle on Woodland scenics earth and green blends then some courser ground foam. You can also press in field grass (or static would also work.) Most all of it will be held down by the goop although I do add a spray of their scenic cement.
This method is fast- I did this scene at the club in about an hour (much to the surprise of a couple of members who had been there earlier and a farm magically appeared.) Details can be pressed in and will hold.
I know
Be advised that vermiculite is supposed to be a dangerous material now, like asbestos or talcum powder.
I figured you did. 
