I use a combination of the two.
The poll is a little limited…
I use newspaper wads covered with plaster, along with foamboard. Dave
Where’s the “other”?
I use 1" white beaded foam (cause I can’t locate the blue or pink kind here in CA) as the base with news shreaded paper and glue shell for hills and land forms.
Aggrojones, Are you near a Home Depot? If they don’t stock it they will order it from another store for you. Maybe Lowe’s will too! happy railroading.
What ever is available as the mood strikes me. I’ve used small amounts of foam at various locations on my layout. However, the greatest portion is a cardboard latiswork covered in paper towels, dipped in soupy plaster or lately Woodland Scenics plaster impregnated cloth. The later is quick, clean and stopable at any time. However, Joe Fugate has a scenery clinic running at this time on doing scenery here on this forum. It is on-going and may be back at the second or third page now. Visit this page before doing anything, as Joe’s advice is sound and he has experianced most types of scenery methods. Go, go now, before you forget!!
I think its a little late for that. I’m like 55% done with the scenery here. [(-D]
I use newspaper, especially the “life” section of USA TODAY,because i’m sick of the hollywood antics.
Most of the landforms I like to do w/ plaster cloth over foam. Modeling a New England railroad means there’s a lot of trees to be planted. The foam is great for this- poke a hole and set the tree. Other areas of open fields or rolling hills are done w/ wire screening stapled to the wood spline. Scrap pieces of foam are used as supports for the screening until plastered. The only plywood decked areas are yards, towns, and industries.
Bob K.
I use screen and plaster cloths… I guess that fall in the category of something completely different. You should put at least an “other” option
I basically use newspaper underneath the plaster cloth. I also use foam sometimes. I actually even used Priority mail boxes to build up my mountain I have too. I will try them all if I have to
Pennsyperson, there are lots of other methods besides the one that you use. I think that’s what this poll will tell you and also a little bit about how to word your next poll so it includes enough choices.
I use a self-supporting 1/4" thick shell of layers of bubblewrap, 2-part urethane plastic foam and fiberglas screening. Not a lick of cardboard or foam insulation supporting the hills.
Wayne
I thought the reason they didn’t stock it in CA was because of environmental/health regulations. Is that a myth? If it’s true, I can’t imagine a home center within the state would order it for you.
Wayne
John–there was a posting on the “Layouts and Layout Building” forum about this subject. Here in the Sacramento area, the Home Depots have switched to Insulfoam, which is a beaded foam similar to what Woodland Scenics puts out. If you ask them about ordering the Corning or another brand of extruded foam, they just give you a blank look. I’m in the same spot as Aggro, I needed extruded for an extension, and had to end up using the beaded stuff. Messy, and one HECK of a lot slower than the extruded, but if you’ve got enough patience, it gets the job done. But extruded foam around here has decided to join the Paleozoic Era. In other words–it’s EXTINCT! ’
Tom[xx(][xx(]
I have had great success with foam, it is cheap and easy to use.
Layers of 1" extruded foam ($9.87Cdn for a 2/8 sheet) glued with PL300. If I had messy gaps, or had rough changes in elevation that needed to look rock face-like, or needed plaster rocks placed against the face, I used plaster cloth in at least two off-set layers against these places. With some care, all of it looks quite natural, especially after senicking.
I used to use the old hardshell routine wood with cardboard or chicken wire webbing.Then troweled in the plaster and hydrocal.Now I use exclucivly pink insulation.Super light weight if I ever have to move and much much easier to plant trees or make changes to landforms. Rob