Can anyone provide info/experience using the variety of ready to install rock faces as available from Scenic Express, Cripplebush or other. I'm leaning toward these methods because of time limits in working on my layout. Any info based on your experiences would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Mark
Hi Mark
I went with the Cripplebush rubber rocks, they were very easy to install. I trimmed them to size with some scissors, used hot glue to attach them, and added dirt/bushes to blend the seam in. I'm very happy with the results, I'm not finished with this area, but it's an example for you to see.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
GS,
Thanks for the Cripplebush suggestion. I can see several possibilities there for my railroad. What did you use for the cribbing retaining walls? Is it a commercial product or did you scratch build them? I would like to do something like that on part of my layout.
Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.
skagitrailbird What did you use for the cribbing retaining walls? Is it a commercial product or did you scratch build them?
The cribbing is scratch built using basswood. I didn't like any of the commercial cribbing. I stained the wood and glued them directly to a sheet of styrene cut to size (Home Depot "for sale" sign) then after they had dried I added "Smith & Sons medium dirt between the cribbing, spray with alcohol and 50/50 white glue/ water mixture just like you would with ballast. After that I glued to the foam.
Capt.Gimack-that is the color they came in, I assumed I would have do some washes but when I opened the package they were really impressive, I installed them I and decided to leave them alone. I purchase 2 molds, one was Sante Fe Canyon # 1 (is it huge) and I think the other was Shale 1.
I was introduced to them by another member here on the forum ( bogp40) who had used them on his layout, thanks for the help Bob!
I found a dealer online that was selling the rocks at better price;
http://storesonline.com/site/519086/page/495804
I purchased the rocks and some trees from them, no problems and very quick shipping. I would/will use the Cripplebush rocks again, very nice product.
Thanks for looking
GS
The Cripplebush rubber rocks come only with a base coloring of a dark gray/ brown. The method I use to color is to find spray spaints of the approximate coloring for your finished rock colors. There are quite a few various color that are present in natural outcroppings and cuts, but of course you do have an overall base color for your geography.
I will only dust on the colors when painting. The darker shades painted at an angle of what would be the undersides/ bottom. The ligher shades shot from a sharp angle from the top. Since these are light dust coats the paint will dry quite fast and then washes of acrylics and drybrushing to highlight can be done in short order.
I do like to get a basic fit/ cut of the "panels" before installation. Your greatest concern is how and where to blend the seams. I have noticed that the layout of the panels will work in a jizsaw fasion, and by making ragged cuts at some of the lows areas and test fittinf will give the best results. Even though you may decide to use other adhesives (liquid nail, mastics etc) to bond the larger areas, hot glue is best to bond edges and especially seams. It will get a bit stringy but they are removed later. When placing and fitting the castings can be bent and shaped over all sorts of contous of concave and convex. Additional ragged relief cutting will allow you to shape over thoise spots. I try to diquise the seams at low spots or where the rock would be a crevase that will have some weed, brush growth. On my first attempts I used quite a bit of hot glue and had it sqeezing out the seams. Thought that it would need repainting, however, those shiny spots looked so good to simulate trickling water that even more was added for the effect. As you place the molds add scrap chunks/ slivers of foam behind them to gain extra definition to the contour shapping of the finished rock. In my initial use of the molds, on a 10-12 ft long cut, I glued over curved, tilted 3/8 plywood. Yes it did come out fine as a cut this size would have bee fairly precise especially for the type rock I was modeling. As I continued to work them I did realize that to protrusions could be accented by molding/ bending over underlaying material.
That "ugly" plaster casting to the left has since been replaced w/ another rubber casting and blended
The Cripplebush product may bee pricey, but this large project would have required some serious plaster castings and I doubt that i could have achieved the same results so quickly w/o all kings of cutting fitting and carving in place, This 10 ft long cut was placed in a couple of evenings.
After placement, the seams were worked on and additional colors od red/ orange, yellows and even some green and hints of muddied purple were dry brushed in. The entire surface was drybrushed with my mix of very light tan on the upper facing protruding portions of the rock to gain added depth.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
Mark, have you all ready built you hill / mountain and looking to add a rock faces or are you getting ready to start? I was looking at rubber rock faces a few years and it was more than I had to spend. Then I saw a how to video on U Tube about using foam from home depot and have not looked back.
Easy to cut (but messy) and paint. At the time I wanted the lines (not sure what they are called) to show the layers in the rock faces. Now in hindsight they are to straight. If I ever get around to it, it is easy fix to get rid of them.
One of the things I like best is they are easy to shape with a old steak knife and sanding block.
Other thing I love, is they can be made in such a fashion that you can lift them off the layout.
If you want to give it a try, little tip. If you find a damaged section at Home Depot, if you ask you can get 75% off the cost. My last 2" X 4' X 8' section was discounted to $8.00 from $28.00.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust