|
|
|
Clinic
- Fundamental Scenery Techniques |
| 1. |
Get
a mental image of the shape of the scenery you wish to create.
|
| 2. |
Gather
the following materials, 1 inch wide cardboard strips cut from
old cardboard boxes from the grocery store, paper towels,
newspaper
or plastic sheeting to catch any spills or drips, a hot glue
gun and glue sticks, Hydrocal (preferred) or Molding Plaster,
and old plastic tub to mix the material in and some water.
|
| 3. |
Begin
by gluing one end of a cardboard strip vertically to the backdrop and the
other end to the layout surface. Continue this process until you have
vertical strips covering the area you wish to cover with scenery. Next,
weave a cardboard strip horizontally through the vertical strips going
behind one strip and then in front of the next strip. When finished you
should have a web-shaped form of your landscape. You can bend the web to
change the shape if desired ( a LITTLE water sprayed on the web will make
it easier to shape.)
|
| 4. |
Mix
some Hydrocal or Plaster in the plastic tub to about the consistency of
ketchup and dip � sheets of paper towel into the mixture. Note: larger
pieces cover the area more quickly but are harder to manage. Apply the
plaster-soaked towel to the cardboard web. Continue to apply the towels
overlapping the seams until the entire web is covered creating the hard
shell foundation for your scenery. After the towels are dry, mix more
plaster and apply a thick (1/8 to � inch) coating of plaster to the hard
shell. If you plan to model rugged, mountainous scenery, apply rock
castings to the hard shell.
If
not apply some earth-tone latex paint to the plaster and immediately,
while wet, apply ground foam, dyed sawdust or the scenic
cover of your choice. Add any small scenic details such as
logs, rocks an debris and glue them in place with white glue. Spray
the area with water containing a couple of drops of liquid dish
soap in a pint of water. Wet the area well then spray on a mixture
of 3 parts water and 1 part white glue (such as Elmer�s � DO NOT
use Elmer's school glue.) Wet the area thoroughly and allow to dry.
Continue this process until the entire layout has scenery. Add
trees, bushes, people, automobiles and buildings to make your layout
�come alive.�
|
| 5. |
Recommended
Book and Tapes
Most
Hobby Shops have scenery books and some have tapes for Rent.
I like Dave Frary�s Scenery tape and book. I also like the
video
tape �Building Scenery with the Experts� from Kalmbach.
If your shop does not carry these items look for them
in your favorite model railroad magazines. |
Back
to Clinics by Paul
|
|
