scenery basics required

[robvic]

Can anyone help with techniques for forming up hills, cliffs and cuttings
using paper towel and plaster. What proportions of plaster to water are
best? How long will it take to dry? How robust will it be? What are the
steps involved for the best results?

Thanks

Robin
rob...@yp-connect.net

[Richie Dulin]

>===== Original Message From "robvic" <rob...@yp-connect.net> =====

>Can anyone help with techniques for forming up hills, cliffs and cuttings
>using paper towel and plaster.
>What proportions of plaster to water are best?

Add the plaster to some water in a plastic bowl (ice cream containers are
good), stirring constantly until it gets to a soupy constistency (melted
icecream consistency). It needs to be thin enough to soak into the paper
towel.

HINT: Add concrete colouring powder (oxide) to the plaster to avoid bright
white chips to your scenery later.

>How long will it take to dry?

Not long. (When laying new plaster over old plaster, always wet the old
first,
otherwise it 'sucks' the moisture out of the new).
A believe you can slow and accelerate the drying using salt and vinegar. I'm
not sure which does what though...
Drying time shouldn't be a problem if you don't make to much, and remember
to
wet any old plaster, though.

>How robust will it be?

Very. The paper towel allows some flex.

>What are the steps involved for the best results?

Soak strips of paper towel (tear the strips rather than cutting them in
order
to avoid hard edges) in then plaster. Lay over your choice of former
(flyscreen, foam, crumpled newspaper). Lay two (or three if you want it very
strong), layers, overlapping adjacent strips. Smooth with fingers and a
little
more thin plaster if necessary (can help get rid of the paper towel's
texture
if necessary).

Cheers

Richie Dulin

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[Steve Magee]

On Sun, 24 Jun 2001 23:12:25 +0930, "robvic" <rob...@yp-connect.net>
wrote:

><snip>

. What proportions of plaster to water are
>best? How long will it take to dry? How robust will it be? What are the
>steps involved for the best results?
>
>

</snip>

Using the stand-by of many a modeller, the 4 litre icecream container,
good results are otained as follows:

Put about an inch of water (25mm) into the bottom of the container.
Now start adding the casting plaster one cup at a time, stirring while
you add. Look for the consistency of cream (unbeaten!!). Richie's
comment about melted ice cream is a good guide too. Now press the
paper towel into the mix to ensure coverage and then drape it over
whatever your formers are. To remove the old plaster from the ice
cream container, let it dry and flex the bucket to break it out.

The next step is the one I use, but I make no claim upon it being the
only way. It may be worth a try. It's sure a lot of fun!!

Firstly, using a mist bottle ($1.50 from Woolies, or recycle a
household bottle), thoroughly wet the surface until the water starts
to run off, rather than soak in.

Mix up another batch, this time add ONE more cup of plaster to get the
consistency of beaten cream. Dampen the existing towel mix again.
Using El Cheapo plastic putty knives, spoon it onto the dried towel
mix to a depth of about 12mm. Spread it around. When it is going off
to the consistency of wet clay, hack into it with the aforementioned
putty knives. Don't be too concerned about looks, just hack!! Stand
back, admire handiwork, let dry.

There's your cliff!! Colour it how you want, but I find that the best
effect is by staining rather than painting. I use the mist bottle with
a few drops of india ink in it, and a cheap old 25mm paint rush with
some earth colour plastic or vinyl paint, diluted 3:1 with water.
First trick is to give your "cliff" a spray with the mist bottle, this
will darken the crevices, cracks, etc.

Dip the rush in the paint, streak a line of paint across the plaster,
then immediately wash in with the bottle. I normally have the brush in
one hand, the bottle in the other and apply as the mood strikes. One
hint, try not to make it too dark, your foliage (Woodlands Scenics
ground foam, etc,) will look better for it.

You don't like the result?? Cover with another mix of plaster and have
another go!!

Have fun!

Steve

[Rod [comtrain]]

> to avoid hard edges) in then plaster. Lay over your choice of former
> (flyscreen, foam, crumpled newspaper). Lay two (or three if you want it
very
> strong), layers, overlapping adjacent strips. Smooth with fingers and a
> little
> more thin plaster if necessary (can help get rid of the paper towel's
> texture
> if necessary).

And do remember if using chicken wire or metal fly "wire" that you are
running power through your rails, make sure the "wire" under-base cannot get
near the track!!!!!
Rod ;o)))))))