MOUNTAINS???

[Anonymous]

how do i make a mountain? and how do i make it look nice? thankyou for all the help!!!

[Anonymous]

If you can get liquid starch make paper mache mountains.

[selector]

Or, and I have never done this, cut srips of cardboard and glue or staple them together to form a basket or several arches (by weaving them). Then, cover those with strips of paper dipped in plaster of paris, or with good old papier mache.


Many use stacked layers of blue Dow Chem Styrospan ('extruded' foam insulation). I used 1" layers, carved initially at the edges to give a preliminary contoured shape. Later, shape them more finely with a wire brush. Have a Shop-Vac handy.

When you stack the layers of foam, glue them to each other with PL300, PL200, or Liquid Nails for Projects. Several highly accomplished modelers use white glue or carpenter's glue instead, and swear by the results. In any case, be sure to press them together to keep them flush and all layers flat by piling heavy objects liberally over the topmost layer. Stacks of magazines (do you have any, perchance?) are great for this. Allow at least 8 hours for drying, especially in basements where humidity is generally high.

[Anonymous]

Pink or Green high density Foam.
Patching plaster over an aluminum screen(supports of wood underneath)
Ceiling Tiles.
For rocks use Pine Bark, aquarium stones & gravel, rocks, foam rocks(carved w/dremel tool).[^]

[Anonymous]

You can see my carboard webbed mountains here
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/seanblanck

[cacole]

Styrofoam blocks out of computer boxes or whatever, glued together with caulking compound, draped with an old towel, sheet, blanket, or newspapers, and coated with 20 minute casting plaster or Hydrocal in several coats until it gets thick enough to not break or crack.

[Piedsou]

I build a framework of chicken wire over wood risers. I then cover the wire with industrial paper towels soaked in plaster.
I blend the 3-D mountains into the 2 dimensional backdrops which help with the illusion that the mountains are larger than they are. Many model mountains are just hills and way too small to have a railroad penetrate them with a tunnel.



I cover the mountain forms with dirt colored latex paint and real dirt from the backyard. The trees are weeds picked in the fall.



The rocks are a combination of hand carved plaster and latex moulds.

[HAZMAT9]

I can only tell you of my experiences building a railroad nearly 20 yrs ago...things have changed, but here's what I did. I used crumbled up newspaper and built up the mountain while tacking down the newspaper with masking tape. You can also cover the entire mountain with screen similiar to what's used for screen doors. I then mixed up Plaster of Paris or you can use hydrocal or something similar mixed to a consistency similiar to pancake batter...maybe a bit thicker. I began layering the mountain in several layers not applying too thick on each layer. The final layer, I made the consistency "watery" for adding tributaries, washes...etc. While the mountain was curing, I used exacto knives or just about anything with a sharp point to etch geologic features into the mountain. When the mountain was cured completely, I washed the mountain with a mixture of water, a few drops of dark blue ink and a few drops of dishwashing detergent to give the mountain a greenish-blui***int similar to a very wet environment. I added more of the mixture to areas which were considered shaded while a lighter mist spraying went on areas which were exposed to sunlight. I then used a paint bru***o highlight areas in brown where it showed exposed rock faces...mainly which were etched w/ the exacto. My new layout, I plan on using foam since mounds of plaster is pretty darn heavy. Hope this gives you another perspective. Steve

[ondrek]

use this link-
http://tutor.modeltrain.com./
then follow the steps, they show you how to make a pretty good mt. using the foam, they show with the white bead board foam, but the blue/pink extracted foam works just as good

Kevin

[gmpullman]

Just happened to build a mountain last night! I used a few furring strips to make the basic framework and to this I placed a few cross members made out of 2" strips of very thin (3 mm) old wood paneling.
To this I stapled crumpled aluminum window screen... be sure you have a good support structure. I found one or two places where the plaster soaked towels were so heavy that they caused the screen to sag. I just temporarily propped it up from underneath.
Also... you guys just building. Be sure to leave at least an inch on either side of the roadbed for bringing your scenery into it. A few places I had to add strips of wood to the edge to give me the width I needed.
I found a good plaster product that the trade calls "brown coat" or scratch coat. It is easier to work with than plaster of paris, has about a one hour working time and doesn't drip as much as Paris... It has perlite in it and this makes it a little lighter and gives it a nice texture. It's made for a base coat under finish plaster. I could actually trowel it onto the screen without the paper towel. Nice stuff...
Also, find the towels with the nylon mesh imbedded in it. Otherwise you just have a messy glop. Or use the disposable shop towels they have at auto parts stores.
I will put a coat of plaster of paris or casting plaster over this base coat and with that I can cast my rocks where I need them, etc...
Have FUN