Ground Goop for Scenery Questions

[donhalshanks]

Lou Sassi's scenery article in Nov 2005 issue of MR, describes how to make "ground goop" which I found interesting. He describes using it over foam.
(1) Any reason it can't be used over hardshell, plaster, plaster cloth, or whatever?
(2) Who else has had experience using this with what results?

Hal

[bikerraypa]

I've used it, and it works great. There are a lot of good ideas for it in "Basic Scenery for Model Railroaders." However, a lot of folks here have "alternate" recipes which seem to be cheaper and just as effective, so I'm going to give them a try as well.

Check this thread:

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=46621

Good luck and post pics!


Ray out

[mrgstrain]

I love it. Since i first read about it and tryed it i can not stop useing it. I have used it on pink foam, painted foam, plaster covered foam and even over waded up paper towels and newspaper with great rsult's. I like it because you can work with it for a long time and when it dryies it help's set your base layer's of ground foam etc.
Larry

[cwclark]

I saw the same article in this month's MR..i've already got the celluclay which i purchased at Hobby Lobby and this weekend i'll make a trip to lowe's for the vermaculite in the garden center...i'm just going to give it a try although I still believe "Zip Texturing" the process using dry plaster mixed with dry tempra paints sprinkled over wet plaster will yield the same results...chuck

[dknelson]

I think one advantage of ground goop over zip texturing is that if the soil, ground up leaves and ground foam mix is damaged or wears off (and it will) the ground goop still looks like, well, bare ground, while zip textured scenery is over hard plaster and does not look as realistic if the texturing material is worn away, unless of course you model rocky terrain.
It also seems like ground goop looks pretty good even before you get around to the subsequent steps that are outlined in the article.
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by donhalshanks

Lou Sassi's scenery article in Nov 2005 issue of MR, describes how to make "ground goop" which I found interesting. He describes using it over foam.
(1) Any reason it can't be used over hardshell, plaster, plaster cloth, or whatever?
(2) Who else has had experience using this with what results?

Hal

"Ground Goop" can be applied over any of the other scenery bases mentioned by Hal. If you choose to do so you may want to pre-wet the hardshell or plaster based varieties. Celluclay is available directly from Activa Products although a well stocked hobby shop or craft store should carry it. Activa's toll free number is [phone]. I got my Vermiculite from a local Aubuchon Hardware store. The brand name is New Era from Clinton Nusery Products in Clinton, Conn., 06413. The workability of the Goop makes it a much more versatile medium than zip texturing in my opinion. I've used it to create ruts in dirt roads, eroded hillsides...for example.

[radioandrail]

My wife and I love the stuff. We are building our first layout (N) and we just completed scenicking the mountain. We found Celluclay at Michael's, but later found it cheaper at the LHS, go figure. Got the vermiculite at Home Depot. It sets rocks in place very well, and it's easy to work, since you don't have to rush.