Use of chunk charcoal for rocks.

[Painter Carver]

(Note that this is a repost of a question that I placed in the General Discussion Forum when it should have been posted here.)

I am planning on using chunk charcoal to provide details of rocks in my mountain layout. The question i have pertains to preparation of the charcoal. My plan is to vacuum each piece and then spray it with some type of fixative prior to placing on the layout, which I plan to do using Sculptamold. Is this a good procedure? If so, can anyone recommend what to use for the fixative?

Thanks,

[mbinsewi]

I've never heard of anyone using charcoal, but if it's the look, color and texture that you want, maybe try a spray-on clear coat.  You can get it dull, or glossy.  Testors has it in small cans, but hardware stores that carry spray cans of paint should have this, in bigger cans.

If it's part of a mountain that no one can touch, or disturb, maybe you don't need to give it any type of coating.

Just my thoughts.

Mike.

[7j43k]

I would use Dullcote from a bottle, and thin it with lacquer thinner.  And I would determine the ratio experimentally.

 

Ed

[ACY Tom]

I responded to the question in the General Discussion section. These need to be combined. 

Tom

[Painter Carver]

Thanks, I’ll give the clear coat a try.

[Painter Carver]

Thanks, I’ll give this a try.

[Painter Carver]

Thanks. Can you tell me how to combine the responses or is that something that an administrator needs to do. Sorry about confusing the issue by posting twice. Perhaps by trying to correct the mistake of posting in the wrong forum I made things worse!

 

 

[BigDaddy]

Steve Otte will have to combine threads, there is nothing you can do. 

[Painter Carver]

A final note:  I am an artist and use acryhlic gesso as a base for my oil paintings. I tried using the gesso as a fixative on the charcoal and found that a mixture of two parts gesso and one part water worked very well. It resulted in a nice clean surface and preserved the detail that I want.

A final thanks for everyone's input.

[Nickel Plate Road]

I read that you can use lump charcoal and seal it using elmers glue thinned with water for sealing. Then you can paint as needed so on and so on. Good luck :-)