Chooch Flexible Walls

[marshalls train]

Does anyone know how to change the color of a factory painted wall?

[jjdamnit]

Hello All,

You may or may not know that Chooch was bought by Walthers.

Walther's has reposted many how-to videos in the Walthers Chooch Theater.

Check out the video "Dry- -Let's Make A Dry Climate".

At approximately 30-seconds into the video, it shows how to change the color from the stock tan to other shades.

Hope this helps.

[SeeYou190]

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marshalls train

Does anyone know how to change the color of a factory painted wall?

I used my favorite, Citadel washes.

It would be helpful if you share what kind of a look you are going for. I colorized mine after they were glued in place, and it has been OK.

-Kevin

 

[Overmod]

jjdamnit

At approximately 30-seconds into the video, it shows how to change the color from the stock tan to other shades.

For those who want to cut to the chase and avoid the irritating model-train background noise: they advise acetone and a toothbrush to remove the 'tan color', then thinned-down earth-tone color puddled in and allowed to dry.  Presumably dry-brushing, highlighting, or a raft of other painting or finishing techniques (including priming) would work on the cleaned material as well.

Personally, I'd want more than just the fan blowing the acetone fumes away if I were to follow their method.  Who here has a recommended 'safer' alternative that works on the finish but doesn't damage the casting?

[Bernd]

marshalls train

Does anyone know how to change the color of a factory painted wall?

 

 

If you don't mind a little bit of extra work you could always cast your own walls using the "Chooch Flexible Walls" as masters.  I was actually looking to use the individual stone cut from the cast wall to make my own building walls before I figured out how to get that nice fracture rock facing look these vinyl walls have.

 

 

 

 

I actually did seven molds, two of the medium cut stone, two of the small cut stone and three of the Random Interconnecting Wall #8302 HO/O scale.

 

 

I experimented with two different casting mediums, Durham's Water Putty and Hydrocal.

 

The top two castings I used the water putty. The bottom one I used Hydrocal.

 

 

I was surprised how nice they fit together.

 

 

I did get some bubbles in there. You need to stir the water into the powder slowly. I guess I stirred to fast. Better luck next time.

 

Here's one of the medium cut stone walls that was cast using Hydrocal. After it cured for a day or so I gave it a wash of acrylic grey paint thinned in water.

 

 

So if you don't mind a little extra work you can cast your own walls and color them anyway you want. As far as using  acetone I wouldn't worry to much about exposure since you're not goin to be doing everyday until you retire. Just make sure you do it like outside in the summer and no flames close by. 

 

Bernd

[SeeYou190]

Bernd

If you don't mind a little bit of extra work you could always cast your own walls using the "Chooch Flexible Walls" as masters. 

Also, if you really want some beautiful walls, look into casting your own using the molds made by Hirst Arts. They are incredible.

-Kevin

[Bernd]

SeeYou190

 

 

Bernd

If you don't mind a little bit of extra work you could always cast your own walls using the "Chooch Flexible Walls" as masters. 

 

 

Also, if you really want some beautiful walls, look into casting your own using the molds made by Hirst Arts. They are incredible.

-Kevin

 

I've seen his videos. I wanted to get into casting dental stone. A modeler on the other forum I'm on recommended Hirst to me. I didn't get as far as checking out his website for products. Thanks for the heads up.

Bernd

[SeeYou190]

Bernd

I wanted to get into casting dental stone. A modeler on the other forum I'm on recommended Hirst to me. I didn't get as far as checking out his website for products.

There are literally hundreds of molds available. Maybe 10 are suitable for model railroading.

My friend Chris uses dental plaster in his Hirst molds, I use Hydrocal with fine results. I only have the two molds that I pictured in my post. Chris probably has 50 or more.

I will see if he will send me a picture of one of the castles he has built.

-Kevin

[richhotrain]

Bernd, your homemade walls look great. How flexible are the walls? That is one distinct advantage of the Chooch Flexible Walls. They really are flexible.

Rich

[Track fiddler]

I've never been too impressed with the Chooch flexible walls.

Their piers and abutments are Killer.  That would be my next job quest, designing some for their future runs if I could be so lucky.

I guess the Old School rubber ones were kind of cool.  Unless I missed something, thier newer ones are more like cardstock stuff

I like making brick and stone things from scratch for pennies on the dollar because it's fun

Oven bake clay can be formed into where it's going when it comes out of the oven and still warm

 

Nice looking walls Bernd.  I don't have any molds but that's what I'm talking about

 

 

TF

[Bernd]

richhotrain

Bernd, your homemade walls look great. How flexible are the walls? That is one distinct advantage of the Chooch Flexible Walls. They really are flexible.

Rich

 

The cast walls are not flexible since they are cast Hydrocal or water putty. I don't think they would bend to much while still a little bit from full cure. The only thing I think one could do is bend the mold, but you'd have be careful if you bend the mold to far that the casting material wouldn't leak out.

Bernd

[Bernd]

SeeYou190

 There are literally hundreds of molds available. Maybe 10 are suitable for model railroading.

-Kevin 

I checked out the website. Didn't see anything like what I was going to use. I'll have to do a post on what I came up with.

Here's the ultimate goal of casting my own walls. http://southrivermodelworks.com/page160.html

What I wanted was for the stones/blocks to look like this.

Bernd

 

 

[Bernd]

Thanks TF. More to come as I get time.

Bernd

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Regarding, the question in the original post: ..... I have used washes of acrylic paint on the Chooch stone walls to change the coloring to a darker shade. 

Below you can see I used the Chooch walls as retaining walls for my city. 

 

[Overmod]

Bernd

The only thing I think one could do is bend the mold, but you'd have be careful if you bend the mold to far that the casting material wouldn't leak out.

Make the 'casting' as a thin film, e.g. by brushing a flexible material, perhaps some form of RTV, over the mold using an appropriate release agent, and cure under vacuum if bubbles are an issue.  Then curve the result as desired and back it with cast plaster or dental stone to make the final curved panels.

You might have to spray something on the flexible face to get it to take paint properly.  There are sure to be people here who can advise 'best products and techniques' for the appropriate materials.

[Bernd]

Overmod

Make the 'casting' as a thin film, e.g. by brushing a flexible material, perhaps some form of RTV, over the mold using an appropriate release agent, and cure under vacuum if bubbles are an issue.  Then curve the result as desired and back it with cast plaster or dental stone to make the final curved panels.

 You might have to spray something on the flexible face to get it to take paint properly.  There are sure to be people here who can advise 'best products and techniques' for the appropriate materials. 

Now that's an interesting idea to try. 

Now, if you had the patients you could build a curved wall using individual stones to build that curved wall. 

I used individual stones I made from soap stone on my rock crusher building.

Bernd