hill/mountains: drywall compound vs Poly Filla

[Kent]

I'm expanding my layout, building some hills and mountains. I have been buying Polly Filla (dry wall patching mix) it's about $3 (CND) per 1kg box of mix. Buy after using 3 boxes last night, I wonder if I'd be better off using dryway compound instead?

There was a 20 kg permox tub in Walmart for $12, I wonder if it'd be as strong? and since it premixed I can't easily control the thickness so I might be to stiff to apply to cloth for skinning hills and such.

With Polly Filla I mix it up myself and make it thinner for soaking cloth in to cover hills.

[Kent]

I'm expanding my layout, building some hills and mountains. I have been buying Polly Filla (dry wall patching mix) it's about $3 (CND) per 1kg box of mix. Buy after using 3 boxes last night, I wonder if I'd be better off using dryway compound instead?

There was a 20 kg permox tub in Walmart for $12, I wonder if it'd be as strong? and since it premixed I can't easily control the thickness so I might be to stiff to apply to cloth for skinning hills and such.

With Polly Filla I mix it up myself and make it thinner for soaking cloth in to cover hills.

[Anonymous]

The stuff at Wally world is pretty thick and can be thinned with water. If I was doing it that way I would use cheese cloth in it no matter what brand. Or used the old cardboard stips woven over newspaper. Or old screen wire. Or use bailing wire frame covered with 2" masking tape. Plaster of paris works good and sets quicker and harder. I have also used newspaper strips soaked in whiteglue/rubbing alcohol mix. That's prob the cheapest way.

[Anonymous]

The stuff at Wally world is pretty thick and can be thinned with water. If I was doing it that way I would use cheese cloth in it no matter what brand. Or used the old cardboard stips woven over newspaper. Or old screen wire. Or use bailing wire frame covered with 2" masking tape. Plaster of paris works good and sets quicker and harder. I have also used newspaper strips soaked in whiteglue/rubbing alcohol mix. That's prob the cheapest way.

[DavidH]

Drywall filler is pretty soft and shrinks a lot as it dries. It is good for stuff like paved roads, but I wouldn't personally use it much beyond that. You might consider taking a look at something like Sculptamold. It is really easy to work with, lightweight and strong. It is also very clean to work with. BTW, Polyfilla is a Canadian product (and maybe British). I don't think our American brethern would be familiar with it. For patching plaster, it is great stuff - extremely fine grained and strong.

David

[DavidH]

Drywall filler is pretty soft and shrinks a lot as it dries. It is good for stuff like paved roads, but I wouldn't personally use it much beyond that. You might consider taking a look at something like Sculptamold. It is really easy to work with, lightweight and strong. It is also very clean to work with. BTW, Polyfilla is a Canadian product (and maybe British). I don't think our American brethern would be familiar with it. For patching plaster, it is great stuff - extremely fine grained and strong.

David

[scotttmason]

Sculptamold can be found in US; usually at the more "artsy" type stores rather than the big box retailers.

[scotttmason]

Sculptamold can be found in US; usually at the more "artsy" type stores rather than the big box retailers.