Plaster Cloth

[robert sylvester]

Don't you just love geology, and the ways to make rock and mountain formations and ways to develope contours for layouts.
Several other techniques. If you want quick hills and mountains, cheese cloth. Yep, if your fascia and mountain contours are already cut, framing for the mountains in place, hot glue the edge of a piece of cheese cloth or burlap; stretch it or unroll it across your framing hot glue it as you go then you can put all kinds of goop, from plaster, painted on sheet rock mud, ground goop, some even mix plaster and real dirt, after all it is a mountain. Place a cap full of lysol in the ground goop and plaster/dirt mixture. But you can cover a lot of ground quickly, rather than 4 inch squares of plaster cloth. I have used plaster cloth for over twenty years, do orthopedics, on my layout as well as patients, and it does work, but I can cover a lot of ground with the above once the frame work is in.
Now, another technique that works, is brown paper bags or thick brown paper. Again the bags cut up can cover a lot of area qucikly, and brown paper comes in roll. Just use yellow glue or hot glue and tack it down. Again cover it with whatever you like.

If your framing and support is good, cheese cloth, burlap, or the brown paper covers areas quickly, is cheap, and easy to work with. Once it is on then paint a thin layer of plaster, goop, mud, let it dry then add another coat. Of course you can use screen wire for support too, then cover it with one of the above.
WTRR
District Office

[jrbernier]

Just checked the Hobby Lobby web site - They have 'E-Z Form' plaster wrap. The 8" rolls similar to the Woodland Scenics product is $7.99 for 10 sq ft.. the 4" rolls are $2.99 fpr 5 sq ft. Stange, but the smaller rolls are a better value. They also list 'Plasterform' - 4" by 180" rolls for $2.99(5 sq ft). The larger rolls work out to .80/ sq ft, and the smaller rolls work out to .60/sq ft. The Scenic Express rolls at 1st Place Hobbies still appears to be the best price at $4.90 per roll(.49/sq ft), plus shipping....If my local Hobby Lobby has the small rolls in stock, it might be a good souce if I am running low(more lack of planning on my part...).

Jim Bernier

[mrgstrain]

My hobbylobby has it do not know the brand, but it comes in 2 withs, i think 4 & 8 inch. They have it in by the molding clay.

Larry

[cwclark]

what a great product!....for years i did the newspaper or paper towel dipped in plaster routine and it was the messiest stuff there was to do in the hobby...plaster would drip everywhere before you got it in place...the plaster rolls are so much more better to use than the old way...just dip in freash water and layer it on....I use the kind that hobby lobby sells not the woodland scenics kind...it's cheaper and does just as good ....about the plaster types...hydrocal is a lot lighter but i've always had success with plain plaster of paris...i can get a 50 lb. bag of it from lowes or home depot for about $12.00....chuck

[jrbernier]

PVictorious,

Our Hobby Lobby has the Woodland Scenics roll(well maybe 1 or 2 at anytime). They are abut $8.00/each. The after Christmas sale is 1/2 price, so $4.00/each is not too bad. I have looked in the craft/plaster area of the store, and have not seen any other 'plaster wrap' material. What brand does your local Hobby Lobby stock?

Jim Bernier

[Anonymous]

I got plaster cloth at Hobby Lobby for a couple bucks - a whole lot less that WS.
Mike P
ABQ, NM

[jrbernier]

I have checked the 'web' and several medical supply store here in Rochester(Mayo Clinic land...). The best price is 1st Place Hobbies for the Scenic Express rolls at $4.90 each. That is less than .50/sq ft. I have gotten 'web specials' from Scenic Express directly that have matched that price, but a quick check shows a current 'web' price of about $6.00/roll - .60/sq ft. One roll of either the Woodland Scenics or the Scenic Express material will yield 10 sq ft of coverage. You will need to 'overlap' these to build a strong 'shell' and from experience, 2 or 3 layers should be used. The last area I have done was 2 layers of 'wrap' I then brushed a thin layer of Hydrocal over it to 'stiffen' it up the next day. After that I painted another thin layer of Plaster(Hydrocal does not stain well - too hard) After 3 layouts of paper towels dipped in Hydrocal, this is much faster and less of a mess(though more expensive).

Jim Bernier

[myred02]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Ibflattop

Has anyone tried to get plaster cloth from a medical supply dealier?????? Would it be cheaper to buy a case or two from one of these places?/??? Kevin

Well, something like that. I have connections in the medical buisness whom I asked once to go down to the orthopedic ward in the hospital and get me some of that stuff used in making casts. Lucky for me, they had some that they were going to throw out because it was getting old. It still worked, though.

I don't know how much it would cost to buy some from a medical supply store, but it would probably be about as cheap to buy it from woodland scenics. [8D]

-Brandon

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by gatefive

Try this web site for plaster cloth. It is cheaper than Michaels or Ben Franklin Crafts.
It is *** Blick Art Supply - http://www.dickblick.com/zz335/06/.

*** Foster
Arrow Creek and Western

But it's still much more expensive (by area) as 1st Place's price for Scenic express! Yes, the Art supply price is $3.69 per roll, but their roll is 4 inches by 15 feet, half the size of Scenic Express (8 inches by 15 feet) at $4.90.

[bogp40]

QUOTE: Originally posted by gatefive

Try this web site for plaster cloth. It is cheaper than Michaels or Ben Franklin Crafts.
It is *** Blick Art Supply - http://www.dickblick.com/zz335/06/.

*** Foster
Arrow Creek and Western

***, thanks for the link.
The hobby roll may work better than even the medical rolls I have been using. Has anyone tried their products?
Bob K.

[gatefive]

Try this web site for plaster cloth. It is cheaper than Michaels or Ben Franklin Crafts.
It is *** Blick Art Supply - http://www.dickblick.com/zz335/06/.

*** Foster
Arrow Creek and Western

[howmus]

I have used the paper towel dipped in plaster method for many years. It is a bit messy, but it works. Thanks to the people on this forum, I was introduced to the plaster cloth. Much, much nicer to work with. I generally cut the plaster cloth to exactly fit the terain I am covering. Put it in place while it is still dry and then wet it with "wet Water" (water and a few drops of dishwashing detergent) sprayed from a spray bottle. The plaster cloth retains its shap, is much less messy, and just easier to use. I then brush on 2 or 3 layers of diluted ready mix joint compound. Paint the plaster and add scenery. The cost is a bit higher, but I like doing it this way much better than the old hardshell technique. As far as which kind of plaster cloth is better, (your original question, I believe) I would get what ever is the most convenient and cost effective. They should all work equally well.

[ac4400fan]

Scotts Shop Towels work great there thick and you can play with them while there wet to aviod ripping ..They worked great for me

Carl...

[metalfrog]

i've only used the ws cloth and i like it very much although it's very expensive.i use to use the plaster/paper towel method and it worked great but that was when i was younger.plaster cloth is the way to go imho.wow...$5.94 and $4.90 for a roll of that stuff is a great price.im paying over $7 for it now.terry.......

[bogp40]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Ibflattop

Has anyone tried to get plaster cloth from a medical supply dealier?????? Would it be cheaper to buy a case or two from one of these places?/??? Kevin

A couple of years ago, 2 cases of medical/ cast plastercloth was donated to my club. I have used both WS and this medical stuff. The WS is very expensive and no where the quality. the rolls of the donated plastercloth is stronger, has much more plaster impregnated and generally much easier to use.
I don't know it it is readily available or a product being phased out. All new casts seem to be made with a plastic/ type material. Haven't contacted an apothocary supplier yet. We still have a case still on hand.
Hydrocal is bought in 99lb bags from a DW plaster construction supplier for way less than WS plaster.
Bob K.

[Anonymous]

i am buying it wholesale, i will go with woodland

[Ibflattop]

Has anyone tried to get plaster cloth from a medical supply dealier?????? Would it be cheaper to buy a case or two from one of these places?/??? Kevin

[Anonymous]

I've used both, and now get Scenic Express. It's considerably cheaper. Sometimes it comes apart a bit, and is a bit stiffer, but mostly about the same. Don't pay retail for either, though. 1st Place has Woodland for $5.94, Scenic for $4.90. I've not found anyplace with better prices for either.

http://www.1stplacehobbies.com/default.asp

[Anonymous]

I have not used the ScenicExpress cloth but I have used WS cloth. So i can only comment on Woodland Scenics....I love it!!!

I did most of my layout with the plaster dipped paper towels and just the more difficult/important areas with the plaster cloth.

I wish I had ignored the expense and used the plaster cloth for the whole thing! It is so much easier it is worth it for the time and mess savings. And it dries rock hard! The plaster was a little unpredictable (probably my fault but who cares)

See...always a difference of opinion around here. [8D]

[jecorbett]

Plaster Cloth is a convenience item. You pay a premium to have someone else do what you can do for yourself. It comes down to what is more valuable, your time or your money. In many cases, my time is more valuable but this is not one of those cases. It saves you a little time, but costs a lot more money.

[BigRusty]

Paper towels work fine. Just dip them in a bowl with a plaster slurry to which vinegar has been added to slow hardening. I have even heard of people using coffee filters. I wish I had saved all of mine instead of putting them in the compost heap.

[Anonymous]

Hey Everyone

Whats the best kind of plaster cloth to use?
Woodland Scencics or Scenic Express

and the hydrocal ?
Woodland or Scenic Express

Thanks