thoughts on paper Mache

[Anonymous]

i use paper mache on some mountains, what do you think, should I, do you?

[ARTHILL]

Its as good as anything if you like the looks and the process. I like foam, Plaster of Paris and plaster cloth better, but that just my preferance. It all takes a lot of practice and an artist's eye. Have fun.

[rolleiman]

I prefer hydrocal.. I guess once painted colored and sceniced, it all looks about the same.

Jeff

[tatans]

Works great, price is right, easy to use, be careful not to make anything really thick as it will not dry and can rot, but there is something you put in to prevent this,does anyone out there know?

[jeffers_mz]

I used paper mache back in the 1970's and didn't enjoy the process. I don't like the feeling of goop drying on my hands and covering everything I touch, and there isn't a good way to trowel the stuff on, you hands basically have to be involved dipping the paper, stripping off the excess liquid, laying the strips, and smothing out the wrinkles.

If I did it today, I'd have a big bucket full of water to rinse off in, and a supply of towels or paper towels to dry off every time I needed to handle a tool I didn't want goop on.

[nbrodar]

I used Paper Mache ages ago, it worked good. Now I use pre-mixed drywall mud, over foam.

Nick

[JohnT14808]

I watched a demo lecture from a rep from Bragdon at a local train meet and was quite impressed with what their resin products can do. Light weight, a bit sticky, can be formed for about 15 minutes before it starts to set up. The demo was spot-on and will be something I'll try on later projects.

[on30francisco]

I used to use papier mache years ago to build mountains on my Lionel layout. They came out very good. The price was right, it worked great, and it was easy to do.

[Anonymous]

I use celluclay for scenery. It is kind of like paper mache, but it comes in powder form in a bag. You can get it at micheals and its very easy to use. Just add water and a little plaster (plaster to make it dry faster) and slop it on your scenery base. I use foam but you can use almost anything. When it dries its feather light and hard as a rock. It also takes paint very well. I usually augment the celluclay with plaster rock molds.

[AggroJones]

MY THOUGHTS ON PAPER MACHE:

No. Use Plaster of Paris or glue shell.

[Jetrock]

I use Sculptamold, which is sort of a papier-mache type of product, just ground very fine, on top of a foam or foamcore base, for my scenery. It looks nice and is very flexible, I apply it in clumps with my hands and massage it into the shapes I want (usually I wear latex gloves so I'm not picking bits of sculptamold out of my fingernails for a week!) It has a nice long working time, takes paint well and can go on rough or smooth depending on how it is handled. It's also lightweight when dry and can be sawn or sanded. The downside is that it's not real cheap for large areas...

[Anonymous]

I try not to think on paper mache, I find it uncomfortable and prefer a couch or tractor seat.

But back to the subject, I haven't used any paper mache on my laout. Everything on mine is covered with sculptamold or plaster. The sculptamold is kinda sorta similar to paper mache, it acts like plaster that is full of paper fibers, but it doesn't dry chemically. It may take a day or two for a thick layer to dry if the humidity is high in your area. When it does dry it makes a rocky texture. Oh yeah, for mountains and things of that sort the sculptamold is on top of a foam block.

Greg

[Anonymous]

I have used a form of paper mache for many years in my art classes-it is toilet paper and liguid starch. Just dip the paper(you can use paper towels) in the starch and lay it over your form. It takes about 3 or 4 layers and dries quickly and hard. I sometimes use a little elmers white glue mixed in warm water added to starch to make it even more durable. I don't know if it would work or not but it makers for very durable art projects.

[cwclark]

I use plaster of paris and then if there are any gaps or i need to hold a rock face in place i'll use the paper mache instead of the plaster of paris..I use it mostly as a filler rather than for the main material when building mountains ...chuck

[MisterBeasley]

I like Gypsolite over foam. Gypsolite is kind of like hydrocal, but it doesn't set up as quickly, and it has a very gritty texture when it hardens. You can't make it smooth if you want to. I add some dark brown acrylic paint before I put it on. In most places, a skim coat will do, but you can lump it up and sculpt with it, too.

[Texas Zepher]

I like paper mache, not because of the final look or the ease or difficulty of construction or any of those things -- but because years later I crawl around under the layout and remember when the mountains were constructed. The headlines, ads, articles, and dates from the newspapers used 20 or 30 years ago can be quite interesting. This mountain was built during the Iran-Contra Affair, this one was when the big blizzard hit the east coast, etc. 20 years from now someone looks under a mountain and on the bottom sees hurricane Katrine information.

[Anonymous]

Roaches just love paper mache.

[Anonymous]

so do mice,,,,

[babefluff]

You just add some Lysol or some other type of disinfectant cleaner to the mixture to prevent mould from forming. The mountains on my layout are made from paper mache and they look great. Other than a mess when you are using it I have no problems with it.

Scott

[Anonymous]

Wait til the roaches find it. they always do.

QUOTE: Originally posted by babefluff

You just add some Lysol or some other type of disinfectant cleaner to the mixture to prevent mould from forming. The mountains on my layout are made from paper mache and they look great. Other than a mess when you are using it I have no problems with it.

Scott

[simon1966]

I started with a paper mache layer on a foam mountain I was making. I did not like the effect at all and quickly switched over to plaster cloth. There are a couple of shots of this on my picture train link in my signature line.

[jecorbett]

I've used Sculptamold on small sections but never on a large hill or mountain. I saw one model railroad with a a mountain built with Sculptamold over window screen. Over time, it began crumbling away.

[babefluff]

QUOTE: Originally posted by On30Shay

Wait til the roaches find it. they always do.

QUOTE: Originally posted by babefluff

You just add some Lysol or some other type of disinfectant cleaner to the mixture to prevent mould from forming. The mountains on my layout are made from paper mache and they look great. Other than a mess when you are using it I have no problems with it.

Scott

We do not have any roaches in Newfoundland, too cold for them!