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Securing scenery materials

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  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Potomac Yard
  • 2,767 posts
Posted by NittanyLion on Saturday, September 30, 2017 4:14 PM

BMMECNYC

You could also try roughing up the surface of the styrene if you are going to scenic over it (sand it).

 

Yep, get some rougher sandpaper and make a bunch of random passes over it, to give it a cross-hatched pattern on it.  Enough unevenness to make it grippy.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Saturday, September 30, 2017 1:58 PM

One of my sub-hobbies is building detailed mini-scenes. I usually use 0.060" styrene sheet as my base.

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All I do is scratch up the surface of the styrene with the roughest sandpaper I can find. After that I paint it with regular old gray primer.

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I can then apply ground cover with my usual adhesive of white glue thinned 5:1 with water and everything holds just fine.

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I built these a few years ago, still solid as you could want.

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-Kevin

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Living the dream.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
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Posted by rrebell on Saturday, September 30, 2017 9:05 AM

A little liquid glue should roughen up the surface enough for paint and the ground cover.

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    January 2015
  • From: Southern California
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Posted by Lone Wolf and Santa Fe on Monday, September 18, 2017 1:05 PM

NVSRR

Any specific paint type or brand?   i know it will have to be flat. 

Wolfie

 

I use Tamiya acrylic paint and sprinkle on the first layer of Lifelike brand "Earth" ground cover while the paint is still wet.  The paint holds the ground cover.

Modeling a fictional version of California set in the 1990s Lone Wolf and Santa Fe Railroad
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 17, 2017 6:04 PM

You could also try roughing up the surface of the styrene if you are going to scenic over it (sand it).

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  • From: US
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Posted by wp8thsub on Sunday, September 17, 2017 5:13 PM

NVSRR
Any specific paint type or brand?

I just use whatever works for the other parts of the base I'm working on.  Typically it's something like Testors camouflage gray (which I often use for concrete), or Rustoleum (or Krylon) of some kind from the home center.

Rob Spangler

  • Member since
    March 2011
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Posted by NVSRR on Sunday, September 17, 2017 3:59 PM

Any specific paint type or brand?   i know it will have to be flat. 

Wolfie

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel

An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel

A realist sees a frieght train

An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space

  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: US
  • 2,455 posts
Posted by wp8thsub on Sunday, September 17, 2017 3:00 PM

I scenic around styrene sheet all the time.  Provided the styrene is painted, typical scenery adhesives like diluted white glue work just fine, as the painted surface provides plenty of tooth for the glue.  Use some spray paint under the areas you intend to scenic later and you should be OK.

Rob Spangler

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Sunday, September 17, 2017 2:45 PM

Over the years I’ve used double sided tape and on an occasion or two Velcro.  The newer Velcro can be a tad hard to peel off so I wouldn’t us it on frail goodies.
 
 
Mel
 
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
  • Member since
    March 2011
  • 1,950 posts
Securing scenery materials
Posted by NVSRR on Sunday, September 17, 2017 2:16 PM

i build my buildings as moduals on .080 styrene sheets To save the more work intensive areas.    I have yet to find a way to secure scenery materials like dirt and foams and such to the styrene.  Only thing that works is a rubber cement type adhiesives. But the off gassing over time warps the styrene.    Andbody find some other adhuesive that works?   

Wolfie

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel

An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel

A realist sees a frieght train

An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space

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