scenery structure

3200 Views 20 Replies 14 Participants Last post by neil_s_wood, Jun 15, 2009

Twiglet

Discussion Starter · Mar 19, 2009

Hi
Just wondering how others out there build their hills and dales. I've heard people swear by chickenwire, aluminium mesh, polystyrene foam blocks, even scrunched-up newspaper as a basic substrate for landscape. Then there's Modrock and various modelling plasters and foams. I know this has all be covered before but just want to gauge is anyone has partucularly strong feelings.
For what it is worth I have plumped for the 'cardboard lattice' technique, with stapled cardboard strips covered by modrock. Has anyone else used this and what is their opinion? I am only just starting out on my scenery and not too late to reverse-ferret ...

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

upnick

· #2 · Mar 19, 2009 (Edited by Moderator)

Hi Mike,

I use insulation foam board its light and very easy to shape and builds up quicker

Any track to be laid over it can be cut into the foam creating a cutting easily ...... drill holes for the wiring thread a tube in the hole put the wire in down to the underside of the boards ...... saves loads of time trying to thread wires.

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2

Doug

· #3 · Mar 19, 2009

Chicken wire and plaster cloth was fast and effective for me. See topic here: http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index...?showtopic=6479

7113

· #4 · Mar 19, 2009

QUOTE (Mike H. @ 19 Mar 2009, 17:00) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>For what it is worth I have plumped for the 'cardboard lattice' technique, with stapled cardboard strips covered by modrock. Has anyone else used this and what is their opinion? I am only just starting out on my scenery and not too late to reverse-ferret ...

I use a similar method but use good quality pva and a little known modelling product called hydro-fibre. When well set a decent heavy card frame can withstand a fair old weight.

Regards

dwb

· #5 · Mar 19, 2009

QUOTE I've heard people swear by chickenwire
S'funny but I thought most people swear at chickenwire whilst reaching for the box of sticking plasters

David

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TonyDaly

· #6 · Mar 19, 2009

Chicken wire & plaster for me as well & I have the plasters handy. Ouch!

Doug

· #7 · Mar 19, 2009

I didn't have any problems with the wire. I just wished the plaster rolls were cheaper.

Next time, I'll make my own with plaster powder and cellulose kitchen towels.

john woodall

· #8 · Mar 19, 2009

I use polystyrene covered in casting plaster for the majorrity of my scenary base.

I use customboard as my track base.

when I built my layout, Timber was about 1/3 of the price it is now!

John

neil_s_wood

· #9 · Mar 19, 2009

QUOTE (dwb @ 20 Mar 2009, 06:29) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>S'funny but I thought most people swear at chickenwire whilst reaching for the box of sticking plasters

David
that's right.

I do the same as John, plaster over polystyrene.

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Madkitten

· #10 · Mar 19, 2009

Polystyrene and vast amounts of interior filler and PVA resin based white glue................... Creates a very strong and carvable landscape that takes all paints and glues.......................

Nikki

frame69

· #11 · Mar 19, 2009

I tend to use lots of car body filler as it's very flexible,sofends up when warm,easy to get colour to take,"smell's nice",...and a friend with a body shop gives me free left over cans. Its also quite good for detailing when solid.

7113

· #12 · Mar 20, 2009

QUOTE (frame69 @ 19 Mar 2009, 23:30) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I tend to use lots of car body filler as it's very flexible,sofends up when warm,easy to get colour to take,"smell's nice",..

I tried it once, but I fell off the car..........

Regards

frame69

· #13 · Mar 20, 2009

QUOTE (BRITHO @ 20 Mar 2009, 12:29) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I tried it once, but I fell off the car..........

Regards
...What sort of car was it? some are known for this...

TonyDaly

· #14 · Mar 20, 2009

QUOTE (BRITHO @ 20 Mar 2009, 12:29) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I tried it once, but I fell off the car..........

Regards

Are you sure it wasn't the wagon you fell off

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7113

· #15 · Mar 23, 2009

QUOTE (TonyDaly @ 20 Mar 2009, 22:05) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Are you sure it wasn't the wagon you fell off

Nah - never got on it!

Regards

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theakerr

· #16 · Mar 26, 2009

I really wanted to try to capture the rolling scenery of Lincolnshire from Grimsby to Boston across to Lincoln and Horncastle as I remember it in the late 50'/early 60's and none of the techniques I had seen would do that. I ended up using basic wood shapes for hills set about 12/18" apart and the baseboard cross members for areas that went below grade. On top of these I laid 2" wide masking tape and on top of that I put the plastic wall joint mesh also known as tape (a flexible plastic tape that resembles fibre glass mat) that is about 2" wide. Then put on commercial drywall jointing compound using a spatular and a wet paint brush to smooth it out. The compound was put on so that it just covered the tape. Leave to dry and then put another layer of the plastic joint mesh (tape) on top of the first one and put another layer of drywall compound on top. Leave to dry. Sand smooth, shape using more drywall compound or polyfilla. Paint and cover with woodlands scenic or whatever. Will try to figure out how to get some photos up in the next while. Note I live in Canada so it is possible that some of the items I use are not available in the UK

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Mercator II

· #17 · Mar 27, 2009

QUOTE (theakerr @ 26 Mar 2009, 23:47) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I really wanted to try to capture the rolling scenery of Lincolnshire from Grimsby to Boston across to Lincoln and Horncastle as I remember it in the late 50'/early 60's and none of the techniques I had seen would do that.

The Boston area is easy to model, just paint the board, lay the track, job done! Its sooo flat. Horncastle is a bit harder with the wolds

Are you going to model any paticular station? Kirkstead Bridge would make a good model with the river next to it and Woodhall Junction

Brian

theakerr

· #18 · Mar 31, 2009

Basically my layout is freelance but the station is sort of based on Grimsby/Louth. I dont really have a story but if I did it would be that the old Grimsby to Peterborough line became an alternative to the ECML as areas like Immingham and Killinghome grew in industrial importance. This allows me to model the area I grew up in and run ECML rolling stock.

TheBufoon

· #19 · Apr 3, 2009

Check out my method, cheap, lightweight, easy & little mess

http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index...amp;#entry83008

Graham Plowman

· #20 · Jun 15, 2009

QUOTE (dwb @ 20 Mar 2009, 05:29) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>S'funny but I thought most people swear at chickenwire whilst reaching for the box of sticking plasters

David

Some do, except those of us who wear leather garning gloves when fixing it in place!

This is how I dow my scenery with chicken wire:

http://www.brma.asn.au/gallery/plowmang/Layout5.htm
http://www.brma.asn.au/gallery/plowmang/Layout6.htm
http://www.mrol.com.au/TunnelMouth.aspx

The newspaper is draped in plaster prior to laying on the chicken wire. This ensures that the plaster 'wraps' around the wire. I then place further layers on to top, again, draped in plater. The result is a thickness of 1cm or more, depending on how much is applied.

When finished and scenic'd it lookes like this:

http://www.mrol.com.au/

Graham Plowman

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