Trains.com

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!

What do you use for scenic landforms?

1199 views
15 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
What do you use for scenic landforms?
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 10, 2005 4:47 PM
I use a combination of the two.
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Along the Murphy Branch
  • 1,410 posts
Posted by dave9999 on Thursday, March 10, 2005 4:52 PM
The poll is a little limited...

I use newspaper wads covered with plaster, along with foamboard. Dave
  • Member since
    July 2002
  • From: California
  • 3,722 posts
Posted by AggroJones on Thursday, March 10, 2005 7:38 PM
Where's the "other"?

I use 1" white beaded foam (cause I can't locate the blue or pink kind here in CA) as the base with news shreaded paper and glue shell for hills and land forms.

"Being misunderstood is the fate of all true geniuses"

EXPERIMENTATION TO BRING INNOVATION

http://community.webshots.com/album/288541251nntnEK?start=588

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: PtTownsendWA
  • 1,445 posts
Posted by johncolley on Thursday, March 10, 2005 7:53 PM
Aggrojones, Are you near a Home Depot? If they don't stock it they will order it from another store for you. Maybe Lowe's will too! happy railroading.
jc5729
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 10, 2005 7:56 PM
What ever is available as the mood strikes me. I've used small amounts of foam at various locations on my layout. However, the greatest portion is a cardboard latiswork covered in paper towels, dipped in soupy plaster or lately Woodland Scenics plaster impregnated cloth. The later is quick, clean and stopable at any time. However, Joe Fugate has a scenery clinic running at this time on doing scenery here on this forum. It is on-going and may be back at the second or third page now. Visit this page before doing anything, as Joe's advice is sound and he has experianced most types of scenery methods. Go, go now, before you forget!!
  • Member since
    July 2002
  • From: California
  • 3,722 posts
Posted by AggroJones on Thursday, March 10, 2005 7:57 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by johncolley

Aggrojones, Are you near a Home Depot? If they don't stock it they will order it from another store for you. Maybe Lowe's will too! happy railroading.


I think its a little late for that. I'm like 55% done with the scenery here. [(-D]

"Being misunderstood is the fate of all true geniuses"

EXPERIMENTATION TO BRING INNOVATION

http://community.webshots.com/album/288541251nntnEK?start=588

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Ridgeville,South Carolina
  • 1,294 posts
Posted by willy6 on Thursday, March 10, 2005 7:57 PM
I use newspaper, especially the "life" section of USA TODAY,because i'm sick of the hollywood antics.
Being old is when you didn't loose it, it's that you just can't remember where you put it.
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Weymouth, Ma.
  • 5,199 posts
Posted by bogp40 on Friday, March 11, 2005 7:47 PM
Most of the landforms I like to do w/ plaster cloth over foam. Modeling a New England railroad means there's a lot of trees to be planted. The foam is great for this- poke a hole and set the tree. Other areas of open fields or rolling hills are done w/ wire screening stapled to the wood spline. Scrap pieces of foam are used as supports for the screening until plastered. The only plywood decked areas are yards, towns, and industries.
Bob K.

Modeling B&O- Chessie  Bob K.  www.ssmrc.org

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: Barranquilla, Colombia
  • 327 posts
Posted by RedLeader on Friday, March 11, 2005 9:28 PM
I use screen and plaster cloths... I guess that fall in the category of something completely different. You should put at least an "other" option

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 11, 2005 9:42 PM
I basically use newspaper underneath the plaster cloth. I also use foam sometimes. I actually even used Priority mail boxes to build up my mountain I have too. I will try them all if I have to
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 11, 2005 10:27 PM
Pennsyperson, there are lots of other methods besides the one that you use. I think that's what this poll will tell you and also a little bit about how to word your next poll so it includes enough choices.

I use a self-supporting 1/4" thick shell of layers of bubblewrap, 2-part urethane plastic foam and fiberglas screening. Not a lick of cardboard or foam insulation supporting the hills.

Wayne



  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 11, 2005 10:31 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by johncolley

Aggrojones, Are you near a Home Depot? If they don't stock it they will order it from another store for you. Maybe Lowe's will too! happy railroading.

I thought the reason they didn't stock it in CA was because of environmental/health regulations. Is that a myth? If it's true, I can't imagine a home center within the state would order it for you.

Wayne
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Carmichael, CA
  • 8,055 posts
Posted by twhite on Friday, March 11, 2005 10:42 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by johncolley

Aggrojones, Are you near a Home Depot? If they don't stock it they will order it from another store for you. Maybe Lowe's will too! happy railroading.


John--there was a posting on the "Layouts and Layout Building" forum about this subject. Here in the Sacramento area, the Home Depots have switched to Insulfoam, which is a beaded foam similar to what Woodland Scenics puts out. If you ask them about ordering the Corning or another brand of extruded foam, they just give you a blank look. I'm in the same spot as Aggro, I needed extruded for an extension, and had to end up using the beaded stuff. Messy, and one HECK of a lot slower than the extruded, but if you've got enough patience, it gets the job done. But extruded foam around here has decided to join the Paleozoic Era. In other words--it's EXTINCT! '
Tom[xx(][xx(]
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Cherry Valley, Ma
  • 3,674 posts
Posted by grayfox1119 on Friday, March 11, 2005 11:08 PM
I have had great success with foam, it is cheap and easy to use.
Dick If you do what you always did, you'll get what you always got!! Learn from the mistakes of others, trust me........you can't live long enough to make all the mistakes yourself, I tried !! Picture album at :http://www.railimages.com/gallery/dickjubinville Picture album at:http://community.webshots.com/user/dickj19 local weather www.weatherlink.com/user/grayfox1119
  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,326 posts
Posted by selector on Saturday, March 12, 2005 12:40 AM
Layers of 1" extruded foam ($9.87Cdn for a 2/8 sheet) glued with PL300. If I had messy gaps, or had rough changes in elevation that needed to look rock face-like, or needed plaster rocks placed against the face, I used plaster cloth in at least two off-set layers against these places. With some care, all of it looks quite natural, especially after senicking.
  • Member since
    May 2014
  • 3,727 posts
Posted by trolleyboy on Saturday, March 12, 2005 12:42 AM
I used to use the old hardshell routine wood with cardboard or chicken wire webbing.Then troweled in the plaster and hydrocal.Now I use exclucivly pink insulation.Super light weight if I ever have to move and much much easier to plant trees or make changes to landforms. Rob

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!

Users 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!