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About scenery and design

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 12:31 PM

All methods should be looked at to see what appeals to you. I used foam on my current layout just to try something new. Trying new things is how we grow our knowledge.

There are a ton of video's on foam mountains and I found this series on You-Tube really helpful. Part 7 is on finishing the project and I really like the way he used spackle to enhance the foam before painting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIj5WVsAvN4

I started using caulk to join layers together as I found it made the mountains flexible if bumped.

I have used various goop methods on parts of my current layout as well, however, the room I am using has really, really expensive carpet on the floor put there by the previous owners. I always have to cover everything up when gooping. I just vacuum up the foam and don't cover the floor at all when working with it.

My foamy mountain(s)

  

 

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Pa.
  • 3,361 posts
Posted by DigitalGriffin on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 12:51 PM

It's a 50:50 split between foam and cardboard latice work.  Each has it's benefits.  But even with foamboard, you need to cover it with some material like sculpt-a-mold or plaster sheets.

I will warn you that closed foam sheets do release a very toxic gas if burnt.  Some release a cyanide gas.  So if fire risk is a possibility, stay away.

Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions

Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 12:54 PM

DigitalGriffin

It's a 50:50 split between foam and cardboard latice work.  Each has it's benefits.  But even with foamboard, you need to cover it with some material like sculpt-a-mold or plaster sheets.

 

I didn't and it looks great. I just did it the same way the guy in the video did it.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Pa.
  • 3,361 posts
Posted by DigitalGriffin on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 12:57 PM

BATMAN
 
DigitalGriffin

It's a 50:50 split between foam and cardboard latice work.  Each has it's benefits.  But even with foamboard, you need to cover it with some material like sculpt-a-mold or plaster sheets.

 

 

 

I didn't and it looks great. I just did it the same way the guy in the video did it.

 



I wish I had your skill (seriously).  Unfortunately I couldn't shape the foam the way I wanted without making a mess of foam everywhere and restarting a couple times.  


I had a lot of rock castings anyway for my cliff faces (which are plaster).  So it just made sense to plaster it all together.  I have since gone back to cardboard webbing/weave.

Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions

Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!

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