davidgallen Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 Sculptamold is simply a plaster and paper fiber mix. I make my own using supplies from my local diy store. A large bag of plaster of paris and a small bale of paper fiber (it's sold as insulation) lasts me years and works out about a tenth of the cost of Sculptamold. I live in the US but I'm sure you will find similar products available in the UK. David 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Square Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 2 hours ago, Nigelcliffe said: I'll put in another plug for Polycell light weight filler as the top surface. Its very light, and it remains flexible when set, so doesn't crack like a lot of plaster based fillers. Takes water based paints well. - Nigel I'd agree, or one of the own brand equivalents. I managed to source one that was light grey when building Brafferton, so there was no danger of ugly white showing through. I painted it all with a very thin acrylic wash of browns and blacks. As Nigel says, it is very light and flexible. It's also fairly easy to plant fences, trees etc, unlike some fillers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Jim Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 I use thinned down DAS for the top covering, with a little PVA mixed in and coloured to suit with powder or artist's acrylic paints. Light and flexible and easily repaired if it get damaged. It will also soften again when wetted, so easy to blend a new bit into an existing area, although this probably means that it's not a good idea for a layout in a damp environment! Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Argos Posted January 16, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 16, 2020 2 hours ago, Yorkshire Square said: I'd agree, or one of the own brand equivalents. I managed to source one that was light grey when building Brafferton, so there was no danger of ugly white showing through. I painted it all with a very thin acrylic wash of browns and blacks. As Nigel says, it is very light and flexible. It's also fairly easy to plant fences, trees etc, unlike some fillers. Just mix in some brown emulsion when preparing a batch (tester pot goes a long way) never any chance of white or grey showing then. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Square Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 1 minute ago, Argos said: Just mix in some brown emulsion when preparing a batch (tester pot goes a long way) never any chance of white or grey showing then. You can’t really mix anything into the pre-mixed lightweight fillers. They’re a bit like a soufflé. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Argos Posted January 16, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 16, 2020 Ah! I presumed were talking about the powdered stuff. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post queensquare Posted January 21, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted January 21, 2020 I managed another hour or so of whittling before going out to play last night and am now fairly happy with the arrangement. Trees and woodland will be used to give a more interesting profile to the top of the hill as well as to suggest more of a slope. Ive had to accept that I cant get the entrance to the two tunnels to look right going into the same hill so have introduced a view blocker which represents about two miles in reality - all very temporary at the moment. Id already decided (and discussed with my backscene consultant JBS) that the horizon line on the Bath side of the layout was going to be a couple of inches lower than the Lyncombe Vale/colliery side so the blocker helps me achieve this break, as well as acting as a leg which will stop the 'lid' of Combe Down falling on the Midland storage underneath! The scenic profile on the Devonshire tunnel/Bath side needs more development (the one shown is just the offcut from the Combe Down side) but I have a cunning plan for this which I think will work visually but that will have to wait as I have about three weeks to work up the Lyncombe Vale stretch before a friend who knows how to use a camera properly pays a visit. Jerry 20 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TomE Posted January 21, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 21, 2020 It's amazing what a difference just adding the basic landscape makes to a model! Looking good Jerry. Tom. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Donw Posted January 21, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 21, 2020 That seems a very acceptable way of resolving the different heights and the missing two miles. This is really becoming something special now. Don Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post queensquare Posted January 24, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted January 24, 2020 Last night I cut some contour boards, fixed the tunnel mouth in place and had a play with my newly acquired sculptamold. Still a bit of refinement required but, overall, very pleased with the results. Jerry 39 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard i Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 Looks great. That scene will transform over night when you apply the grass to it. Looking forward to seeing that. Richard 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Re6/6 Posted January 25, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 25, 2020 (edited) Nice work there Jerry. I'm glad that you like the stuff! Edited February 10, 2020 by Re6/6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold bcnPete Posted January 26, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 26, 2020 That looks fabulous Jerry. The backscene works really well 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post queensquare Posted January 29, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted January 29, 2020 (edited) Well I have to say I'm sold on 'sculptamold', it's really easy to use. I've finished the land form around the rock cutting south of the viaduct and given the lot a coat of watery brown paint. Once I've painted and ballasted the track I can start ground cover, trees, hedges etc. I'm looking forward to this as progress is rapid and the transformation spectacular but that will have to wait until after the weekend at the earliest. I'm currently suffering with a snotty cold that some kind sole gave me at theSouthampton show and I'm at Yate this weekend. My rock cutting south of the viaduct isn't as spectacular as the prototype but does serve to conceal the point where the line doubles, a good mile or more earlier than it should. Both the cutting and viaduct were modified ready for double track in the late nineteenth century but it was never extended beyond Midford due to the cost of doubling the tunnels. Jerry Edited January 29, 2020 by queensquare 44 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post queensquare Posted January 31, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted January 31, 2020 Spotted on Bath shed at the recent Stevenage show was this beauty. 2mm modelling at its very best. Jerry 29 1 1 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Re6/6 Posted January 31, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 31, 2020 On 29/01/2020 at 21:03, queensquare said: Well I have to say I'm sold on 'sculptamold', it's really easy to use. I've finished the land form around the rock cutting south of the viaduct and given the lot a coat of watery brown paint. Once I've painted and ballasted the track I can start ground cover, trees, hedges etc. I'm looking forward to this as progress is rapid and the transformation spectacular but that will have to wait until after the weekend at the earliest. I'm currently suffering with a snotty cold that some kind sole gave me at theSouthampton show and I'm at Yate this weekend. My rock cutting south of the viaduct isn't as spectacular as the prototype but does serve to conceal the point where the line doubles, a good mile or more earlier than it should. Both the cutting and viaduct were modified ready for double track in the late nineteenth century but it was never extended beyond Midford due to the cost of doubling the tunnels. Jerry Just delightful Jerry. I'm glad that you're sold on 'Sculptamold'. I will always be using it on all future (and current!) projects. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
D869 Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 On 29/01/2020 at 21:03, queensquare said: My rock cutting south of the viaduct isn't as spectacular as the prototype but does serve to conceal the point where the line doubles, a good mile or more earlier than it should. Both the cutting and viaduct were modified ready for double track in the late nineteenth century but it was never extended beyond Midford due to the cost of doubling the tunnels. I think I've seen that photo before but I'd never spotted the temporary narrow gauge track. Not sure what gauge that might be but it looks really flimsy - maybe 15 inch gauge? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted January 31, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 31, 2020 On 29/01/2020 at 21:03, queensquare said: Well I have to say I'm sold on 'sculptamold', it's really easy to use. I've finished the land form around the rock cutting south of the viaduct and given the lot a coat of watery brown paint. Once I've painted and ballasted the track I can start ground cover, trees, hedges etc. I'm looking forward to this as progress is rapid and the transformation spectacular but that will have to wait until after the weekend at the earliest. I'm currently suffering with a snotty cold that some kind sole gave me at theSouthampton show and I'm at Yate this weekend. Jerry Hi Jerry, Superb effect, and I echo the comments of an earlier poster about how a bit of landscaping really changes the scene. Not come across this 'sculptamold' before - any idea what it is like weight wise? Does it add significantly like plaster, or is it a lightweight end result? Rich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Re6/6 Posted January 31, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 31, 2020 15 minutes ago, MarshLane said: Hi Jerry, Superb effect, and I echo the comments of an earlier poster about how a bit of landscaping really changes the scene. Not come across this 'sculptamold' before - any idea what it is like weight wise? Does it add significantly like plaster, or is it a lightweight end result? Rich It's ultra light, doesn't crack and you can even hit it with a hammer (if Celotex off-cuts or similar are used as a base) and all that you will get is a hole! 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold queensquare Posted January 31, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 31, 2020 1 hour ago, MarshLane said: Hi Jerry, Superb effect, and I echo the comments of an earlier poster about how a bit of landscaping really changes the scene. Not come across this 'sculptamold' before - any idea what it is like weight wise? Does it add significantly like plaster, or is it a lightweight end result? Rich Thanks Rich, as John says above it's very light and resistant to cracking even when spread fairly thin as here on a contoured Celotex base. These two properties were important on the Combe Down 'lid' as it will need to be lifted on and off fairly regularly. Next job is to find the centre of the lid, balance wise, so I can fit a wire lifting ring (hidden from the front by undergrowth) which I can use to literally 'fish' it off - well that's the plan! Jerry 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold queensquare Posted February 2, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted February 2, 2020 Bit more progress this evening, I've primed the track ready for painting and ballasting. Hot tip, I would have been much better off doing things the other way round - finishing the track before doing the landscaping. Masking was a pain and I suspect ballasting, particularly by the tunnel mouth and through the cutting will be much more awkward than it needed to be. Oh well, too late now! Jerry 14 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted February 2, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 2, 2020 1 hour ago, queensquare said: Hot tip, I would have been much better off doing things the other way round - finishing the track before doing the landscaping. Definitely! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Re6/6 Posted February 3, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 3, 2020 9 hours ago, queensquare said: Hot tip, I would have been much better off doing things the other way round - finishing the track before doing the landscaping. Masking was a pain and I suspect ballasting, particularly by the tunnel mouth and through the cutting will be much more awkward than it needed to be. Indeed! I learnt the hard way with Balcombe. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post queensquare Posted February 9, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted February 9, 2020 (edited) Storm Ciara meant it was a little breezy outside today but I did manage to progress the ballasting a bit. As predicted, it was awkward thanks to my having done the landscaping first but I'm fairly happy with the results so far. The ballast, cinder path and grass verge on the prototype were incredibly neat and I will try to recreate this as best I can. Jerry Edited February 9, 2020 by queensquare 29 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
2mmKiwi Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 8 hours ago, queensquare said: Storm Ciara meant it was a little breezy outside today but I did manage to progress the ballasting a bit. As predicted, it was awkward thanks to my having done the landscaping first but I'm fairly happy with the results so far. The ballast, cinder path and grass verge on the prototype were incredibly neat and I will try to recreate this as best I can. Jerry Hi Jerry, It's looking pretty neat so far. Out of curiosity what type of ballast medium did you use? Regards Steve 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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