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cutting a grade, making fills

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 16, 2004 3:40 PM
Michaels sells these wondercutters in the floral dept. for around $5, they are very handy for sculpting foam.
http://www.thecraftplace.com/store/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=218
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Posted by wrmcclellan on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 10:38 AM
Hi FJ&G,

Some interesting ways I found to shape foam are (in a well ventilated area):

1. Heat gun (like for stripping paint). The foam contracts and in some cases forms a crust that helps protect the surface from abrasion. This is especially good for large flat areas. I used a foam base on my layout and did not like the mess created from scalloping areas to give the terrain some undulations after the track was in place. I used the heat gun to shape and depress areas for a very nice result. Be aware that if you are close to a seam of edge of the foam - it will pull back a bit. I just filled the area with some foam-safe latex caulk.

2. For rock formations - I used an old soldering iron to "carve" the foam - dragging the tip back and forth over the area. With beaded foam - the result is a very satisfying rock face effect - and no mess.

The fumes are no worse than of you used one of the hot wire foam cutters.

Regards,
Roy

Regards, Roy

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Posted by Buckeye Riveter on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 8:06 PM
Dave, by accident I found a way to cut styrofoam. First spray the area you intend to cut with a water-glue mixture that would be normally used for scenery. Let it dry overnight. It cuts with less mess, but still takes effort to cut.

I found this out on a very small area where I had been spraying glue for the ballast and then went back to cut some foam.

Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum. Smile, Wink & Grin

Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..

Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR

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Posted by daan on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 2:14 PM
That's the hard way! I've used a hot wire (resistorwire with a carbattery laoding transformer). The resistorwire gets hot and slices through the styrofoam like a hot knife in the butter. You don't have all the snowball glueing everywhere and the surface is nice and flat.
You can also use a cupper wire in a soldering gun...
Daan. I'm Dutch, but only by country...
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cutting a grade, making fills
Posted by FJ and G on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 2:07 PM
OK, I know I'm doing it the hard way. Scenery and terrain first, followed by tracks. Hard work but fun.

Been blazing a trail through the beady styrofoam with knives, using a level to ensure my spurs are gradeless, making cuts and fills. The tracks tend to be rolling as I'm laying them on the terrain slopes.

A very very interesting way to do it, more like engineering and surveying work than if you have your wood roadbed all hunky-dorie before any scenery is put.

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