Useing Sculptamold for the first time...........Help Please!

[Anonymous]

hello all, just a quick question........ i recently finished wrapping my mountains and such with hydrocal. now its time for the sculptamold........... how is the best way to use this product? i have never used it b fore, but hear its a good product. what are some uses for it, and how fast does it set up? what is the best way to mix it? anyone with any info, or experience, please let me in on the tricks to useing Sculptamold.any info greatly appreciated.

thanks.......
steve[:)]

[Anonymous]

Hi Steve,
I've only used Sculptamold once and had a bad experience with it. I followed the directions exactly and it wouldn't do what I expected it to do.

Since then, I've found that joint compound works quite well. My local club uses it for filling out the spaces that would be too cost-prohibitive with Hydrocal. We normally build our landscape with chicken-wire laid over with the Hydrocal plastercloth, then if there are any other items to build, such as small hills, etc., we use extruded foam (the same stuff we use for the underlayment of the layout. We shape the foam to the desired "rough" outline, then cover it with a thin layer of joint compound. We don't get too finicky with the surface, since it will be painted and covered with ground foam and other bits of scenery.

I've heard that if you are going to work the Sculptamold with your hands, keeping them wet helps prevent the stuff from sticking to your fingers. Kind of like a potter would do when shaping the clay on the wheel. I don't know of any other way to make it do what I want, unless it's to make it more soupy than the instructions call for. Perhaps I just didn't have the proper patience for the first time. If I ever use it again, maybe it will be different.

Regards,

Joe

[mrgstrain]

I have not been doing this to long but I use pink foam to form landscape & have
been using molding plaster brushing in it on. Works for me.
Good luck.

Larry

[mls1621]

Steve

I've used Sculptamold exclusively on my N scale layout. I decided to use it after working with my neighbor on his layout. He used it in combination with rock molds of Hydrocal.

I've not read the directions on the package, but mix it to the consistancy of oatmeal. This consistancy is good for fine tuning the terrain shape as you apply it. Using plastic a container eases cleanup and rubber gloves save the hands. I sets up quickly, so small batches are best.

We've used Rit dyes mixed with water and a few drops of dish washing liquid, redish brown and yellow, for the color and India ink diluted in water for gray shades and shadow. The yellow dye is only used to neutralize the redish brown, as it can go pink as it dries. A special note, very little yellow is needed to counteract the affect. Also, a little India ink goes a very long way, so use little with a lot of water.

My terrain is made totally from two inch styrofoam insulation. I shaped it then covered it with a neutral latex paint to hide the pink and blue of the styrofoam.

Spray the color on while the sculptamold is still wet, this allows the color to be absorbed and give a good appearance.

If you decide to use the dye method, put some sculptamold on a piece of scrap material and experiment for effect. Apply the dye in varying strengths to see which result looks the best to you. You can use water with a few drops of dish washing liquid to help keep the sculptamold moist during the coloring process, I always keep a spray bottle with this mixture handy.

I hope this helps you out.

Mike
St Louis

[snowey]

the mixing ratio is 2/1. That's 2 parts Sculptamold to 1 part water. It dries quickly, so only mix small batches, like the other post said.