Scratch building concrete walls???

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Hello to all the scratch builders out there. I need to scratch build a few buildings for my layout. The catch is, that the buildings are concrete slabs. Does anyone have a method for building walls out of concrete and any pic’s would be a big help. Thanks

2

I’ve made forms out of tin foil using popsickle sticks and modeling clay to prop up the sides. Just pour them as thick as you need. You can use 1/8" thick foam tape to make forms for concrete slabs and sidewalks.

3

I just make 'em out of sheet or shape styrene then paint 'em to look like concrete.

Here’s a bridge abutment I made that way…

And a retaining wall…

And another set of bridge abutments (showing their backside bracing)

I weather 'em by dribbling india ink heavily diluted with alcohol on em. Neatness doesn’t count here (but make sure the concrete paint is thoroughly dry or it may wash off).

For those really big projects you can get .060" thick styrene in 4x8 sheets from a plastics distributor. Much cheaper than the Evergreen or Plastruct stuff. It’s easy to cut, glues up almost instantly and is relatively inexpensive (a 4x8 sheet of.060" cost me about $13).

Hope this helps,

Charlie Comstock

4

Hi

I am an O 3 rail guy, but model are model doesn’t matter the scale.

In the next picture you can notice the concret deck that I made. Now basiclly is a piece of wood painted with (now my secret) wood filler (elmers) is you use natural you can tint with any weatherizing chalks, it is water base, so you dilute with water untill is enough to apply with a brush, too much water make it run. Now after it is dry you can weatherize with indian ink, but becareful because too much water start to dilute your work.

I hope this can help to you

my2 cents

Andre.

5

Strip and sheet styrene, and concrete flavored paint… The trick is to layer the styrene to get the pillasters and other relief in the walls.

Lee

6

Thanks guys that’s a big help. This is always the best place to come for help. Thanks again.

7

Styrene and wood are probably the easiest and the prefered material, however, I really like using Hydrocal to simulate concrete. Simple forms and/ or dams, even carving a master for molds. The powered masonry dyes and plaster do make for some convincing concrete. The plaster can be cut, carved and gouged. Once weathered look real. Durham’s Water Putty is another product that works well for flat paving.

Fitting castings for an abutment

Finished pics of the same

Stonework cast to Walther’s cut stone retaining wall. A club member carved the origional master, Motrak Models now sells these castings

Now I am hoping to be able to do a curved stone viaduct, molds will need to layed on a curved template. Been procrastinating on this one…