I have some gaps in the joints of my retaining walls (Woodland Scenics N-Scale stone) that I would like to fill. I have used Sculptamold to fill in the gaps of my rocks, but it is too fiberous for the little gaps in my retaining walls. I am thinking about using spackling paste. Will this work?
Richard
Yes, then wipe off with damp towel.
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
When I need to place a small amount of plaster/caulk/spackle I'll take a sandwich bag and place about a tablespoon of your material into a corner of the bag, twist the opening shut then clip off a tiny corner of the bag.
Now you have a mini cake decorating bag and you can squeeze the paste into the cracks, working it in a little with wood skewers or another handy scenery tool, artists mini-palette knives:
http://www.michaels.com/artists-loft-plastic-palette-knife-set/10291166.html#start=1
Having the plaster or spackle in the bag helps keep it from drying out too quickly.
Once the fill begins to set I lightly mist it with water and brush it slightly with a stiff brush to remove the excess.
IIRC the Woodland Scenics walls and portals are made of casting plaster (Hydrocal-type) so for the best hiding results use plaster. Some caulks and spackle have silicones and other binders so if you stain or use India ink on your castings the filler won't absorb it the same.
If you have a really tough crack to hide just "grow" a vine or some ivy up the wall in that spot.
Have fun! Ed
Another option is clump foliage. If there's a gap between rocks, nature will fill it.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
RideOnRoad I have some gaps in the joints of my retaining walls (Woodland Scenics N-Scale stone) that I would like to fill. I have used Sculptamold to fill in the gaps of my rocks, but it is too fiberous for the little gaps in my retaining walls. I am thinking about using spackling paste. Will this work?
doctorwayne RideOnRoad I have some gaps in the joints of my retaining walls (Woodland Scenics N-Scale stone) that I would like to fill. I have used Sculptamold to fill in the gaps of my rocks, but it is too fiberous for the little gaps in my retaining walls. I am thinking about using spackling paste. Will this work? That'll fill the gaps, but I doubt that it'll not crack without the paper backing with which it's usually used. A better choice would be Durabond patching plaster - it contains a catalyst and is available in several setting times, indicated by the number on the package. Durabond 20, for example, sets in 20 minutes. Once set, you can carve-in any necessary mortar joints to blend the castings together. When it's fully cured, stain or paint it to match the retaining walls. Wayne
Those small batches of Durabond or plaster do work rather well for filling or repairs to those misfits of continuous castings. I like to fill w/ improvised trowel/ tool made from strip styrene, This is used to trowel the filler and gain a basic shape. prewetting of the joint helps for premature drying as you place and shape the filler. smoothe concrete walls are finished by brush wetting and smoothing. rough rock or cut stone is better to fill and carve/ cobble after dried.
This method of filling/ repair used here
Cut stone mods and fitting done on portal (2 double track cut/ spliced) all seams carved after hydrocal filler. same for stone bridge Long retaining wall needed lot of fill and TLC Although spackle/ joint compound works, filling w/ Durabond or hydrocal allows for quick drying, less shrinkage and better carving/ shaping for final result. many times in fastening and fitting, i use the durabond as the "mortar" glue while assembling. Any excess is removed and shaped as you go. Very little work required later, prior to stain, paint and weathering.
Cut stone mods and fitting done on portal (2 double track cut/ spliced) all seams carved after hydrocal filler.
same for stone bridge Long retaining wall needed lot of fill and TLC Although spackle/ joint compound works, filling w/ Durabond or hydrocal allows for quick drying, less shrinkage and better carving/ shaping for final result. many times in fastening and fitting, i use the durabond as the "mortar" glue while assembling. Any excess is removed and shaped as you go. Very little work required later, prior to stain, paint and weathering.
same for stone bridge
Long retaining wall needed lot of fill and TLC Although spackle/ joint compound works, filling w/ Durabond or hydrocal allows for quick drying, less shrinkage and better carving/ shaping for final result. many times in fastening and fitting, i use the durabond as the "mortar" glue while assembling. Any excess is removed and shaped as you go. Very little work required later, prior to stain, paint and weathering.
Long retaining wall needed lot of fill and TLC
Although spackle/ joint compound works, filling w/ Durabond or hydrocal allows for quick drying, less shrinkage and better carving/ shaping for final result. many times in fastening and fitting, i use the durabond as the "mortar" glue while assembling. Any excess is removed and shaped as you go. Very little work required later, prior to stain, paint and weathering.
Although spackle/ joint compound works, filling w/ Durabond or hydrocal allows for quick drying, less shrinkage and better carving/ shaping for final result.
many times in fastening and fitting, i use the durabond as the "mortar" glue while assembling. Any excess is removed and shaped as you go. Very little work required later, prior to stain, paint and weathering.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
You've got some nice looking scenes there, Bob.
Wayne
doctorwayne You've got some nice looking scenes there, Bob. Wayne
I can only claim a few, club effort w/ many other great scenery folks. Rockwork, specialty castings my fav
Woodland Scenics makes a foam paste that actually works really well for that application. If you'll be doing a lot of it, invest in a good set of artists spatulas and carving tools. It can save you a lot of frustration.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
The fact that the filler may crack seems pretty scale like to me.
CTValleyRR Woodland Scenics makes a foam paste that actually works really well for that application. If you'll be doing a lot of it, invest in a good set of artists spatulas and carving tools. It can save you a lot of frustration.
I have some of the foam paste and had never considered using it to fill the joints. Thanks!