Working with plaster?

[Anonymous]

Ok guys I went to hobby lobby yesterday and got 8 lbs of plaster for $5. I also got some overpriced WS Plaster cloth to try out. Any tips on using regular old plaster for a newby like me to make mountians. I was wondering what type of mesh do you use for a base to apply the plaster to? Also has anyone heard of plaster of paris creating heat when it cures?? I was looking at the cautions on the plaster I got and it says do not let come into contact with skin as it may cause severe burns. I find that to be a rather odd statement for plaster as I have never used any type of plaster that creates heat when it cures. any tips before this weekend are appericated.

Curt

[reklein]

Man theres a lot to cover here. I use corrogated card board strips over a wood frame to get the general shape of the mountain.. Use hot glue to make ths up. Then apply your plaster cloth to get the cardboard covered. Then use the plaster of paris to strengthen the plaster cloth and model rocks etc. I use old whip cream containers to mix plaster in. Add about 1/2 cup water to the bowl then add plaster til it won't wet any more. I recommend only about half cup of water "cause thats about all you ccan work with before it starts to set.Mix it with your fingers so you can tell if theres any lumps. The plaster wont burn you unless you're sensitive to materials like these. But I use rubber gloves just to make clean up easier. I also use a bucket about half full of water to cleanup the plaster mess. Don't pour unused plaster down thedrain or it will set up in the traps and plug the sink. Plaster does heat some when it sets but not enough to cause a fire and not near as much as say fiberglass resin. It may feel just a little warm.

[jfugate]

I find the absolute fastest way to build up a quick landform for scenery is with cardboard strips, hot glue, and masking tape.

I cut some 1/2" wide strips from old corrugated cardboard boxes, then I hot glue them in place to form my terrain contour using a basket-weave pattern with the strips about 4-6" apart. I then apply 1-1/2" masking tape over the cardboard strips and paint the terrain with brown latex paint.

The paint gives the masking tape some "tooth" so the plaster sticks to it well. I just paint my plaster mix on over the masking tape.

I've found using plaster cloth to be less-than-great because it droops between the cardboard strips and you can see the cardboard strip pattern underneath  and now you have to add a really thick final coat of plaster to disguise all the droopy plaster cloth in between the cardboard strips. The masking tape over the cardboard strips prevents this problem -- and in fact once you paint it all with brown latex paint, you can leave it in a pinch (until you can get back to the plastering) because it looks semi-finished just like that.

I also use a special plaster mix that is gray instead of stark white, so that even if you have to leave the bare plaster in place for a while -- it still looks good like that. Later if you need to drill for trees or whatever, you don't get white plaster spots all over the place.

I discuss this all (and more) in my scenery clinic that's on my web site.

[jwar]

Im not knocking Joes scenery in any way, he is fantastic, and a touch of class in sharing with his expertiese and supurb skills. However  in my personal openion (which aint much) cardboard is a great place for small insects to hide. The main reasoin I feel this way is that some wherehouses, grocery stores, hardware stores,  are very sloppy with pest controll. According to my pest control guy, cardboard is a great transporter of pest into a home.

I use aluminum screen, sprayed with adheasive and apply saran wrap on the back side. Then twist and tweek the screen to get the form i want , stapel or hot glue in place. Then brush on a soupey plaster mixture on the screen. The plastic wrap prevent the plaster from being too messy. I* may try Joes mixtures for my hard shell scenery next time. I use drywall mud mixed with color and sand..

Just my two cents...John 

[spidge]

I like Joe's method also but be ready, ants love this stuff, plaster of any kind that is. I did not use the masking tape on the entire layout and Joe is correct about the webbing can be seen and requires a thick and heavy layer to hide. The areas ( mainly foreground ) where I used the masking tape look so much better. The ants I just let run around and eventually they go away but I did treat around the house but not the layout.

[BigRusty]

Call me old fashioned, but... I use cheap galvanized widnow screen which can be easily crinkled and formed to any contour one could desire. It is stapled to contour boards cut from the surplus 3/4 inch plywood used to cut out the track boards. It has the advantage that holes can be cut out of the middle to allow for a track in the tunnel if need be. I trowel on a fairly thick plaster allowing it to ooze through the screen mesh. After it is well hardened I go over it all again with a thinner plaster mix with some white vinegar added to retard setting. I then use my hands to smear it around to hide all the trowel marks. While it is still wet I sift dry plaster onto the the areas where grass would grow, which I then mist often enough to wet it completely. It will set hard as a rock. Then I spray it with green and brown latex paint to simulate grass. It is a lot easier to remove dust and debris hard plaster than from ground foam. This method is a lot faster and far more durable than cutting all those cardboard strips, interlacing them, gluing or stapling, applying masking tape and what you get is a thin shell that it is very hard to plant trees or poles in. It is easy to apply rock castings too, and additional layers can be added to carve your own strata. Best of all it is not only a lot quicker, but a lot sturdier and even if it weighs a ton, it is a lot more durable.

[grayfox1119]

I like using foam. My local HD carries plenty of it all the time ( northern climate ). I layer the 2" foam to get whatever height I want, and use hot knife and saw etc. to cut out the features that I want. Plaster can be appled ( or plaster cloth) onto the foam and there is no worry about cardboard showing through or drooping.
It is easy to make any changes too. I goofed once and idn't allow enoght room for an long passenger car to make a turn in the tunnel. It was easy to hot knife away a piece of foam to correct my oversight.
No bugs life, no ants life either.

[jwils1]

I've been doing some fairly low hills and like to use crumpled newspaper "pillows" as suggested by Woodland Scenics, covered with plaster cloth and then plaster (Sculptamold for me) as needed to smooth it out or fill as needed.  This is fast and easy.  Here are some samples.  Not yet finished and no plaster yet.

[BuffaloBob]

I have used  both cardboard strips and screen supported various ways. Prefer the cardboard. I staple it at the joints.Use paper shop towels or c-fold hand towels dipped into a soupy plaster of paris mix for the first several layers. then when dry brush a coating of gypsolite over it to creat the look that you want. The plaster of paris gets warm, but poses no problem.Wear latex gloves to protect your hands and make clean up easier. have been covered in plaster of paris up to my elbows with no problems that I know of. Would buy the plaster from your local home store.

Hope that this helps.

[Anonymous]

I like Joe's method also but be ready, ants love this stuff, plaster of any kind that is. I did not use the masking tape on the entire layout and Joe is correct about the webbing can be seen and requires a thick and heavy layer to hide. The areas ( mainly foreground ) where I used the masking tape look so much better. The ants I just let run around and eventually they go away but I did treat around the house but not the layout.

Ants love plaster? I've had cockroaches eat Sculptamold (I lived in one of the bug Meccas of the US - The Woodlands, TX), but have never had ants touch anything.

[spidge]

curtw 944 check out my results so far on the' goop or not to goop post.'

[Anonymous]

Ok guys thanks for the tips. I had a fairly bad weekend. Sat was ok moved a friends mechinic shop well about 20 cars. He still has a bit more to do in the old shop before he is completely moved. Then the crap hit the fan on sunday morning. We had a family reunion that we got ready for. I went to take a shower turned on the water and noticed 5" of hot water all ready in the tub. Then I had a chance to take a shower. About 9:30am I went to feed the cat and ended up noticeing that the sink started backing up and flowing out of the cupboard like a stream!! I couldent get a hold of mainteniance at all for 2 days. The water did go down but I had 5 sets of towels almost runiend we will see...

On monday Jen and I went up to Georgetown to get some info on wedding sites and I went up to the georgetown loop. We got up there and I got some great photos but the train was sold out!! So I have reservations this saturday for 11:55 am, wohoo!!! 

Any way I have a meeting around 4pm with the appartment managers today to see whats going to happen.

Later,

Curt

[spidge]

Yikes!