Login
or
Register
Subscriber & Member Login
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Login
Register
Home
»
Model Railroader
»
Forums
»
Layouts and layout building
»
Paper Mache
Edit post
Edit your reply below.
Post Body
Enter your post below.
I apply my papier-mache over a carved foam substrate, so that it is solidly supported and not a shell the way hydrocal advocates usually go. I don't use any sort of "towel" or other sheet material, though; instead, I use ground up cellulose as my base, preferably a product called Cell-U-Clay. I also add in joint compound, real dirt, and other water-soluble color or texture agents, mix it to a peanut butter consistency, and trowel it on using a plastic spoon. The key to this method, though, is to get a good foam base to work on. For this, I use expanding foam insulation, the kind that is sold in hardware stores in spray cans, intended for use in filling the gaps around doors and windows. With it, you can literally sculpt a mountain with a spray can, though it'll take some getting used to because of how much it expands. Once cured, you can easily carve it back with a big kitchen knife, and even reuse the shavings to build up other areas. <br /> <br />If you really need to do a shell rather than a solid foam substrate, then use chicken wire or metal screen of some type over which you apply the soaked towels, but even then, consider the towels to be a substrate and the spooned-on material to be your finish layer. An average 1/4" thickness of Cell-U-Clay with approximately equal parts of joint compound mixed in will form a decently rigid shell, though it will still be soft enough to poke holes through when it comes to planting trees.
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag
Update Reply
Subscriber & Member Login
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Login
Register
Users Online
There are no community member online
Search the Community
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter
See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter
and get model railroad news in your inbox!
Sign up