I'm trying to model a rock quarry on my layout. Right now, I have plaster slapped up there and it looks alright, But the blockyness of a quarry wall is missing. My question is, how do I make realistic wall out of plaster?
Sorry about not having any pics, I'll try to post some tonight.
Thanks
Many model railroaders use stacked offset sections of painted and weathered insulation board to indicate the removal of blocks of marble or granite. For a gravel quarry, I use the Walther's Gravel crusher and loader, which is connected to the pit by a covered conveyor. I "slapped on" rugged walls of painted Hydrocal plaster over heavy screen wire, which is strong enough to withstand abuse, without cracking, and can be carved into the "blockyness", if the Hydrocal is thick enough. I have also used "cement repair" on walls that get a ,lot of handling. Hydrocal requires a primer, for the paint to adhere.
Bob Hahn
Or layers/chunks of foam. Even floral foam will work (since its not structural and the area is small).
Stack the foam up in tiered layers and then rub wet plaster over the foam to get rid of the "grain". Be sure to scribe vertical grooves in each layer to represent the drill holes, where they drilled into the rock and then blasted the slab off.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
dehusman Or layers/chunks of foam. Even floral foam will work (since its not structural and the area is small). Stack the foam up in tiered layers and then rub wet plaster over the foam to get rid of the "grain". Be sure to scribe vertical grooves in each layer to represent the drill holes, where they drilled into the rock and then blasted the slab off.
A good way to model the drill holes is to use a coarse-toothed comb (about 2 scale feet between teeth) to groove the partially set plaster.
If your quarry produces blocks, the horizontal surface in front of the face will be fairly level. If it produces gravel, the lower face will resemble a talus slope. The two products use different drill hole patterns and blast sequencing to produce very different results. Note also that a block quarry will also produce some loose debris, and may have a small gravel crusher/separator as well as the big block finishing plant.
Crushed rock/gravel is usually used close to the quarry. Blocks (especially blocks of high quality decorative stone) may be shipped to very distant places.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with a small gravel quarry)