Hill creation

[Anonymous]

Okay so this is and isn't related to model railroading, but I have a project that I have to finish but hit a snag. The project is a model of an Eco-Friendly house for school-it relates to model railroading because well i used most of the same techniques I've used on my own layout (wiring, constuction, scenery, etc.) the snag I have is the fact that the house itself is supposed to be a "hill", just imagine a house covered with dirt except the doors and windows. I can't exactly come up with an idea to make the hill "shell" out of. I thought of paper mache, but it would rot in a couple years, so that don't work. I thought of foam board but, as of now it isn't avalible to me, and it can get messy, any ideas??? This material also has to be able to be cut round the top as an axcess hatch to the interior.

~Thanks,Curt

[BlueHillsCPR]

How about good old hardshell with plaster of paris or Hydrocal?  You could use either paper or cloth dipped in the plaster mix laid over a pile of newspapers.  Cut the top open and remove the newspapers after it's all hardened. Just my

[ARTHILL]

I am a fan of Styrofoam. My grandkids have carved some nice scenes. I get my foam at construction sites. We carve with a steak knife and paint with both artistic acrylics and house paint. We glue the pieces together with hot glue.

[cowman]

There is a house like that not far from me.  Make a shell for the house out of foam board (office supply store).  Use foam board or thin plywood for a top to set on the shell.  Do a plaster cloth or glueshell form for your hill, leave it so you can cut and lift off the top of the house for your accesss.

Good luck,

[DeadheadGreg]

honestly man, i think the easiest thing for you to do would be to make the shape out of strips of cardboard assembled into a giant frame, or doing this with chicken wire, although chicken wire will make the hexagons show through.  just cut strips of cardboard and glue or staple them together to form the shell size and shape you need.  you could put a ring around the top, and then create a separate top part that is removable.  then just cover that with paper towels soaked with plaster, or plaster-impregnated paper towels

[HAZMAT9]

Any of the ideas listed so far would work.  Gregs post would work great, the part of using the chicken wire or any type of screen.  You can build up the dome shape with wadded up newspaper cover with the screen and tack down.  Pour plaster mixture.  Once dry, fill in the xxxxx patterns (from the chicken wire) with another layer of plaster or drywall patch.  Remove the newspaper underneath once dry and you'll have a pretty strong structure (the chicken wire is used like steel rods in concrete).  Or if you've got a few bucks, buy a rubber ball and cut in half.  Plaster over then remove the plastic ball....or just leave it in.  If you do decide to remove the ball, remember to coat the ball with oil or something so the plaster doesn't stick/crack.

Good Luck,