Oh a side note since this has gone more on construction then canned foam, lol when using drywall compound/mud when it gets wet it goes back to the pliable state so when painting it changes form a bit, I have found airbrushing will get around this. Testors makes a decent one that is in a kit for about 40 bucks if you dont have one.
Most of my layout is foam, covered with drywall mud. I find it pretty heavy, but maybe I put it on too thick. I tend to paint it before scenicking, so I haven't had any softening problems.
I am somewhat of a control freak and I have found that the foam goes and does what it wants to do when applied. I prefer the old fashioned method of either pink or blue board or fiberglass window screen material tacked into place and then covered/filled/whatnot.
Well, I may be drifting from the thread a bit but I am really looking for the most lightweight material on the market today. Something in the weight range of the old paper machette styles we used in the seventies. This is for mobility as well as the fact that I am using no hardboard base...only 2 inch thick white insulation foam board. This will of course be supported by a framework bench BUT anything heavy will threaten to squash the foam and ruin its integrity. Once at a train show in the early 90s I bought some stuff that was really amazing. It came pre-mixed and was a tan color. You could get smooth or rough finish. You could buy it in 5 gal buckets even! It came out like putty (I hate to think of the chemical composition of this stuff because I never used rubber gloves to apply it!!). It was easy to form over screen wire and dried very lightweight. Can't remember the name now and I have not seen it in years, unfortunately. It was easy to carve into rock and took scenic glue better than anything I have ever seen before. Anyone else use this stuff or remember what it was called? John
John, It sounds like a lightweight resin. I think that Bragdon has some (same guys that make the Bragdon weathering powders). Andrew
Hi Geeky, Here is one and I uploaded a few more in the Rail Images section. Sorry but I don't remember how to link to my own images. Duh! Joe
About all I have ever tried using it for was plugging up mouse holes in my dad's HO train room that is attached to the garage. They keep gnawing new holes in the walls and having too much fun on the layout. If it were not for fear of contracting Hantavirus I could collect all the droppings put them in a high side gondola and pretend they are a load of sugar beets. Yuck.:thumbs_down:
To clarify Please do not interpret my posting these pictures of expanding spray foam mountains as any endorsement from my view point on the use of any type of foam. I was responding to a question posted by mjdx88. I remain steadfast in my view that the use of foam as the foundation of a model railroad is ill advised and not something I generally and typically see of value. My own use of foam is limited; using it as profile boards for screen wire and plaster based mountains. That others may find value in the extensive or exclusive use of Foam instead of wood or plywood is certainly an individual choice. I do recognize that some are able to get outstanding results using foam as evidenced by my posting of these pictures I took of a friend's layout. Joe
