Right now I am starting to make my mountains on my layout . Have used cardboard as a frame work. Right now was wondering what would be the better choice to use plaster of paris or drywall compound .Will adding lots of rock face details so when it is time to use a color wash I would like to end up with a medium gray with a darker color for the details . Will probably use acrylic craft paints from Walmart or Michaels . Would like to know if anyone has done this and what their thoughts are . Thanks alot .
Hard to say what is 'best', IMO it's what works 'best' for you, after a little experimentation. My layout is ALL mountains, the largest ones are screen wire overlaid with plaster cloth, others are the old wadded-up newspaper overlaid with plaster cloth, and some are foam-carved overlaid with plaster cloth. For rockwork (and I've got a lot), I use Sculptamold and rubber rock castings, or even the Cripplebush 'rubber rocks' (great detail but kind of expensive). I'd use Hydrocal for rock castings, except that it's very hard to work with in my particular climate, especially since my layout is in an uninsulated garage (California Basement, LOL!). The Sculptamold is much slower, I use a 'soupy' mixture of 50/50 Sculptamold and water, and it takes about 20 minutes to start setting up. However, once on the mountainside, I can work details for about an hour before it dries completely. Tom
Don't use DRYWALL JOINT COMPOUND it is not made to span long gaps, it will not have the strength when it sets up and it will crack. I have always used HYDROCAL. Plaster of Paris will do and so will molding plaster also. But I prefer HYDROCAL. The stuff dries hard and strong. It can be used to cast rocks. Sometimes it can be hard to find/buy, check out your local PLASTER & DRYWALL Supply Company. I've bought a 50lb bag at a real good price locally. If you buy it from other vendors in small packages, it can get expensive.
