Login
or
Register
Subscriber & Member Login
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Login
Register
Home
»
Model Railroader
»
Forums
»
Layouts and layout building
»
zip texturing
zip texturing
6694 views
5 replies
Order Ascending
Order Descending
Anonymous
Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts
Posted by
Anonymous
on Wednesday, August 27, 2003 6:01 PM
I echo Rob's thoughts on zip texturing. It was state of the art at one point, but now has receded into the background. Try out the Woodland Scenic stains for scenery or make your own acrylic washes. Check out Dave Frary's scenery book, forget the title, but it is very good. The WS video tape - Model Scenery Made Easy - is very good and not cheap, but is a good visual reference as to what to do. WS flogs their products but fortunately they are over all very good products; learn their "leopard spot" technique, it will work very well.
Reply
Edit
Anonymous
Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts
Posted by
Anonymous
on Wednesday, August 27, 2003 6:01 PM
I echo Rob's thoughts on zip texturing. It was state of the art at one point, but now has receded into the background. Try out the Woodland Scenic stains for scenery or make your own acrylic washes. Check out Dave Frary's scenery book, forget the title, but it is very good. The WS video tape - Model Scenery Made Easy - is very good and not cheap, but is a good visual reference as to what to do. WS flogs their products but fortunately they are over all very good products; learn their "leopard spot" technique, it will work very well.
Reply
Edit
dknelson
Member since
March 2002
From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
11,439 posts
Posted by
dknelson
on Wednesday, August 27, 2003 8:07 AM
Zip texturing, which Linn Westcott introduced in the mid 1960s, used dried powdered pigments mixed I think with plaster over wet plaster or wet paint. It did a very good job of creating certain effects and was superior to the then-common method of using sawdust colored green or brown. It may be worth exploring for certain dry effects but for grassy or weedy areas I'd use the new(er) ground foam methods.
Dave Nelson
Reply
dknelson
Member since
March 2002
From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
11,439 posts
Posted by
dknelson
on Wednesday, August 27, 2003 8:07 AM
Zip texturing, which Linn Westcott introduced in the mid 1960s, used dried powdered pigments mixed I think with plaster over wet plaster or wet paint. It did a very good job of creating certain effects and was superior to the then-common method of using sawdust colored green or brown. It may be worth exploring for certain dry effects but for grassy or weedy areas I'd use the new(er) ground foam methods.
Dave Nelson
Reply
wp8thsub
Member since
November 2002
From: US
2,455 posts
Posted by
wp8thsub
on Tuesday, August 26, 2003 10:44 PM
If zip texturing is your thing, go for it, but...
Scenery methods introduced since the old Linn Westcott advocacy of zip texturing have surpassed the technique in realism and durability. Even if you followed the directions exactly, zip textured scenery was likely to turn powdery. Subsequent developments, including the introduction of ground foam products and using layers of real dirt and rocks (held in place with diluted glue or matte medium) as base scenery texture over the plaster/foam base create far superior results to anything zip texture can hope to achieve.
I've seen several examples of zip texture scenery in person and it doesn't do much for me. Investigate more up to date methods (and maybe visit a few layouts completed with them) before finishing your scenery.
Rob Spangler
Reply
wp8thsub
Member since
November 2002
From: US
2,455 posts
Posted by
wp8thsub
on Tuesday, August 26, 2003 10:44 PM
If zip texturing is your thing, go for it, but...
Scenery methods introduced since the old Linn Westcott advocacy of zip texturing have surpassed the technique in realism and durability. Even if you followed the directions exactly, zip textured scenery was likely to turn powdery. Subsequent developments, including the introduction of ground foam products and using layers of real dirt and rocks (held in place with diluted glue or matte medium) as base scenery texture over the plaster/foam base create far superior results to anything zip texture can hope to achieve.
I've seen several examples of zip texture scenery in person and it doesn't do much for me. Investigate more up to date methods (and maybe visit a few layouts completed with them) before finishing your scenery.
Rob Spangler
Reply
BR60103
Member since
January 2001
From: Guelph, Ont.
1,476 posts
Posted by
BR60103
on Tuesday, August 26, 2003 9:19 PM
The information should also be available in Bill MacClanahan's book "Scenery for Model Railroads" (the revised edition) (if you can still get it) or Dave Frary's "Realistic Model railroad Scenery".
--David
Reply
BR60103
Member since
January 2001
From: Guelph, Ont.
1,476 posts
Posted by
BR60103
on Tuesday, August 26, 2003 9:19 PM
The information should also be available in Bill MacClanahan's book "Scenery for Model Railroads" (the revised edition) (if you can still get it) or Dave Frary's "Realistic Model railroad Scenery".
--David
Reply
jrbarney
Member since
January 2002
1,132 posts
Posted by
jrbarney
on Tuesday, August 26, 2003 6:44 PM
Go to the Index of Magazines page of this site, use the search engine with the term "zip texturing," note the three citations that are returned. Then order reproduced copies from either NMRA Kalmbach Memorial Library or MRR itself.
"Time flies like an arrow - fruit flies like a banana." "In wine there is wisdom. In beer there is strength. In water there is bacteria." --German proverb
Reply
jrbarney
Member since
January 2002
1,132 posts
Posted by
jrbarney
on Tuesday, August 26, 2003 6:44 PM
Go to the Index of Magazines page of this site, use the search engine with the term "zip texturing," note the three citations that are returned. Then order reproduced copies from either NMRA Kalmbach Memorial Library or MRR itself.
"Time flies like an arrow - fruit flies like a banana." "In wine there is wisdom. In beer there is strength. In water there is bacteria." --German proverb
Reply
Anonymous
Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts
zip texturing
Posted by
Anonymous
on Tuesday, August 26, 2003 4:32 PM
Model Railroader published an article back in the 70's on zip texturing, giving the recipes to create various landscape colors. Does anyone have access to those recipes?
Reply
Edit
Anonymous
Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts
zip texturing
Posted by
Anonymous
on Tuesday, August 26, 2003 4:32 PM
Model Railroader published an article back in the 70's on zip texturing, giving the recipes to create various landscape colors. Does anyone have access to those recipes?
Reply
Edit
Subscriber & Member Login
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Login
Register
Users Online
There are no community member online
Search the Community
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter
See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter
and get model railroad news in your inbox!
Sign up