Landscape Construction

[Roadtrp]

Which method of landscape construction do you prefer, and why?

At this point I am planning to use glue shell, but I would like to hear the pros and cons on the various methods.

Thanks

[Big_Boy_4005]

Roadtrp, I'll be watching this one, because I haven't decided yet myself. You may want to include FOAM as a choice before things get too far along, as that method has been gaining popularity.

[Roadtrp]

Thanks Big_Boy... good suggestion. [:)]

[Big_Boy_4005]

You're welcome, good move to sneak it in so quick.

By the way, I've done hard shell, and I'm seriously considering a thin glue shell over foam hybrid that I once saw on a modular layout a number of years back.

It basicly covered the pink with a craft paper brown. All of the terrain including the roadbed was covered before the track was laid. It looked cool without any greenery or rock work in place, as if the railroad had come through with cuts and fills. It seemed natural and realistic even in it's unfinished state.

[Anonymous]

I think foam is great, I made this with upholstery foam, pink extruded foam, plastic packing foam, painted, blended and ground foam and a huge squirrel.

[Anonymous]

In my first two layouts I used plaster cloth with cast plaster for the rock outcrops. In my current effort I have decided to use foam board with hydrocal castings for the rock faces.

Randy

[Anonymous]

I use both hard shell and foam, I'm curious as to what is glue shell?

[dave9999]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Fergus

I use both hard shell and foam, I'm curious as to what is glue shell?

[#ditto] On the scenery method and the glue shell question. Dave

[Anonymous]

Lightbender - that squirrel comment is funny...![:D]

Fergie and Dave - glue shell is cloth soaked in full strength white glue, and laid over cardboard web and/or wire supports. A lot like the plaster method, except substitute cloth for gauze/papertowel, and glue for plaster/hydrocal. Cloth can be something like old sheets. Glue is best purchased by the bucketful. Don't forget to use waterproof glue if the rest of your scenicking will be water-based.

Supposedly results in a strong but flexible surface that will not crack like plaster.

Andrew

[orsonroy]

I think that anyone who has read my posts knows that I'm a big-time "foamer". I love the stuff, and will never go back to plaster for anything but an occasional road.

Foam, when used for the entire layout benchwork/subroadbed/roadbed/scenery contour process, is cheaper than traditional construction methods, is faster and simpler to build with, is a "dry mess", and can be worked into scenes as good as anything created on any other method.

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rda1964


In my first two layouts I used plaster cloth with cast plaster for the rock outcrops. In my current effort I have decided to use foam board with hydrocal castings for the rock faces.

Randy

Randy, beware the difference between Hydrocal and plaster, especially when it comes time for color. Hydrocal is much more dense, and doesn't accept stain as quickly as plaster. It isn't that you can't do castings with Hydrocal, its just that they behave differently, and its no fun to find out after they're up.

Andrew, I wasn't aware that it was typically done with cloth, but that makes the hybrid method I described above even more interesting. The foam will support it's shape, and a little water, could reactivate the glue on the surface when applying ground cover. Another possibility would be to use brown latex paint as the adhesive to apply the ground cover. Sounds like it might be time to do some experiments.[:)]

[Roadtrp]

I'm sure there are many variations of any landscaping method. The current issued of MR gives instruction on Glue Shell scenery. The author uses glue diluted with water and strips of "public restroom style" paper towels. It was an interesting and informative article.

[Anonymous]

I use foam for a substructure and a thin harshell covering so I have something to apply rock castings and ground coloring to.

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by LightBender

I think foam is great, I made this with upholstery foam, pink extruded foam, plastic packing foam, painted, blended and ground foam and a huge squirrel.

As long as you aren' t foaming at the mouth, you should be OK. But , you need to be careful of squirrel bites.[:p][:D]

[Anonymous]

Roadtrp,

I haven't gotten this far on my layout, still laying track. [:D]

However, when I get there I think I will use glue shell technique.

A couple days ago I started an experiment using foam rubber and hydrocal to make tunnel portals and retaining walls. I cut the foam rubber to size and generic shape. I made up some watered down hydrocal and dipped the foam rubber in it, squeezed it like you would a sponge in water, then laid it out to dry. I haven't check it yet to find out if it is workable, i.e. filing and carving, but will post the results here once I find out.

[on30francisco]

On my first layout I used wire mesh and covered it either with plaster mixed with asbestos (this was in the 60s when the danger wasn't known), or papier mache. I now use foam. It is much easier to work with, durable, lightweight, and not messy.

[darth9x9]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dave9999

QUOTE: Originally posted by Fergus

I use both hard shell and foam, I'm curious as to what is glue shell?

[#ditto] On the scenery method and the glue shell question. Dave

Glue-shell is using heavy construction paper to form the terrain and then brushing on undiluted elmers glue on the construction paper. Howard Zane does a clinic on it near the end of Allen Keller's GMR video tape #42. Check it out!

[darth9x9]

Oh yeah, I personally favor foam especially for modules. I will try the glue shell on my personal layout as it is much more economical than foam.

[jwmurrayjr]

Combination of hardshell and foam.

[Anonymous]

My new layout uses 2 part foam poured over bubble wrap & reinforced with fiberglas screening. This method is described at http://www.bragdonent.com but the foam components are available at plastics companies at reasonable prices.

The process forms a thin sheet about 3/8" thick and can be used much as you would use plaster cloth. I use scrap 1" foam to form the basic supports and some temp. wads of newspaper to define the contours for the hollow foam shell.

Wayne

[Anonymous]

I chose "other" as I use a combination of all three methods depending on the needs of the scenery at that point. If it is in a relativly stable spot, I generally use hardshell. If I need it to be removable for some reason like accessing hidden staging tracks, I use foam to save weight. Glue shell I save for those situations where I am out of plaster or plaster cloth, but got plenty of other stuff to coninue the job with.

James

[BNSFNUT]

Most of my experience has been with hard shell but I have used some foam on a portiable layout and it came out ok. I prefer hard shell because I find it easier to get the contours I like and it is easier to fasten rock castings for me.