Shaping blue Styrofoam

[vsmith]

Different scales, but same technics

Glad we could help. BTW my tool-o-choice is a drywall saw

[pathvet9]

I guess I made a mistake in posting this as I had wanted the MRR not Garden web, but thanks very much for the tips! I have watched the first 6 Youtube parts so far and have found the tool of choice.

It is the Surform pocket hand plane, right off the shelf at HD.

[vsmith]

Theres a very good 9-part online tutorial on Youtube starting with part 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1D4KBB_GC4

[altterrain]

When  I did my mining diorama I did the initial shaping with a tree pruning saw -

 

Then refined with the tippi cutter -

 

There is also a coping saw type attachment for the tippi. The foam is also easy to shape with a sharp knife or coping saw.

After shaping you can do more shaping with an exterior grade spackle or vinyl concrete patcher.

 -Brian

[pathvet9]

I am finally at the stage of cutting down into my 2" thick Dow blue styrofoam to make a sloping underpass and want to know the favored way to smooth that byway?

I am doing the roughing in with a Tippi and that is OK but my hand is not steady enough to make a smooth transition. Is there a special tool/file/plane that anyone can recommend? I tried a sanding block but it is not much good.