Which Hydrocal?

[Anonymous]

When I visited USG's web site, I discovered there are several versions of Hydrocal, such as A-11and B-11.

Which type is the best for making hardshell scenery?

[Anonymous]

let me know i was wondering the same thing

[Anonymous]

I've found that Woodlands Scenics lightweight Hydrocal worked best for me. It comes in a 1/2 gallon carton. I used it to make rock castings, roads and smeared it over the blue board insulation I used for hills. That's what I prefer.

Thanks,
Jeremy

[Anonymous]

Woodlands Scenics lightweight Hydrocal is expensive. Also, the only local source I have for it is Hobby Lobby (150 miles plus to nearest hobby shop carrying trains). Hobby Lobby charges $8.49 a 1/2 galon container.

[Anonymous]

I create wargaming scenery as well as railroad. What I use is Denstone dental plaster. It mixes ALOT better than hydrocal, and is alot cheaper. You can get it from www.dentistbid.com. Large amounts only, though, but you'll go through it all on a model railroad! Oh, and free shipping last time I was there.

[wp8thsub]

Hydrocal is overrated for model railroad scenery. It's a brand name USG uses for a fine grade of gypsum plaster. USG's 20-minute casting plaster (a slightly coarser grade) is available locally for less than 1/3 the cost of Hydrocal and delivers virtually equal results with scenery. If you don't require the capture of extremely fine detail such as with the types of industrial molds for which Hydrocal was intended there's no point in spending more for it.

As for the Woodland Scenics "Lightweight Hydrocal," that rises to the level of rip off in my book. Since Hydrocal is a USG brand, it's no doubt safe to assume that WS is repackaging a USG product and jacking up the price. The last time I bought Hydrocal I paid about $35.00 US for 100 pounds, while the same quantity of casting plaster a year ago at a local lumber yard was $11.50. By comparison, spending the WS suggested list of $8.49 for 1/2 gallon is nuts. I worked with someone who was experimenting with the WS plaster and we found the finished product to be very weak and soft compared to plain Hydrocal, so the WS claim that "their" plaster is "half the weight...and goes twice as far" doesn't impress me.

Find a supplier for casting plaster, you'll be glad you did.

[Anonymous]

I just checked my supply and I've been using the White Gypsum Cement. It's worked well for me. Two layers of fan fold paper towel dipped in a soupy mix and a thin brushed layer on top (maybe 3/64" thick) took a framing hammer to break up for remodeling. I didn't remember it that expensive. And it seems a lot denser than what WS calls hydorcal.