A substitute for ‘modroc’ required

[AyJay]

So mid-project, I discover that I’m on my last roll of modroc and I have a big area of insulation foam still to cover. 
The nearest available source is Hobbycraft, but with the price of fuel I cannot justify a drive just for that. Also I have no desire to add to the wealth of any internet shopping billionaires, space faring or otherwise. So, what have I got that I could improvise with? 
I could raid the first aid kit for a crepe bandage and coat it in Filler (pollyfilla). Has anyone tried this?
 

[Graham108]

I've used crepe bandage and wallpaper paste - easy to paint over once dry.

[dasatcopthorne]

Don't Boots sell it?

 

Dave.

 

[5Dublo2]

J Cloths and PVA glue

 

 

[SamThomas]

Gaugemaster still list GM100 Mod-Roc @ £6.25 & GM119 Plaster of Paris @ £5.50.

 

If you google the product codes & descriptions you will find plenty of on-line small independants*** with stocks & often less than GM prices.

 

*** I'm sure will will find one or two who do not come into the "internet shopping billionaire" bracket. 👍

[New Haven Neil]

Watery Polyfilla and old tea towels.  used it for years.

 

[Wheatley]

Sculptamold, basically lightweight papier mache. I get mine from our local garden centre (!) but try an art/craft type place if yours just sells plants and water features. 

[russ p]

If you go on ebay there is loads of plaster impregnated bandage and cheap prices 

[MarshLane]

Another vote for Sculptamold .. I would say water soaked bandage/plaster off Ama**n is the cheapest and easiest but that probably falls into your internet category!

Rich 

[apbolton]

You can order on line from Hobbycraft, their plaster bandage is only £1.50 a roll, it's smaller than modroc but cheap as chips and is just as good.

[Graham108]

Special offer on Modroc - https://www.bakerross.co.uk/modroc-plaster-of-paris-bandage-rolls?gclid=EAIaIQobChMInJWf9ayB9wIVyuvtCh2_CAm1EAQYAiABEgIPQvD_BwE

[ianLMS]

Kitchen roll, toilet roll, newspaper, blue paper towel all soaked in pva does the trick. 

[eastglosmog]

Newspaper ripped into shreds, soaked in wallpaper paste and disinfectant (to stop mold growth) works for me.

[Philou]

Our club uses discarded carton egg boxes dissolved in warm water and then mixed with plaster (Polyfilla-type YMMV) and trowelled into place over jute sacking that has been hot-glued into place - lightweight and solid.

[AyJay]

All sorted now. I visited Hobbycraft and came back with 6 rolls, a scalpel and another pack of das clay.   Plus a big bag of loose earl grey and another of French earl grey from T2. Plus an Easter egg from hotel chocolate. Got to keep The Wife happy.

[doilum]

Strips of newspaper in a diluted PVA solution with a drop of Fairy liquid.

[SR71]

On 07/04/2022 at 14:36, Philou said:

Our club uses discarded carton egg boxes dissolved in warm water and then mixed with plaster (Polyfilla-type YMMV) and trowelled into place over jute sacking that has been hot-glued into place - lightweight and solid.

A long discussed topic but I don't think I've heard this recipe before. Do you have any in progress pictures? I'm intrigued to see if it works/looks how I imagine.

[Philou]

@SR71  Ooooh, I haven't any photos, but I'm due over to the club sooner rather than later and I'll ask if they can make me up a mix and I'll take some shots. I can probably take photos of the jute/hessian sacking and WiP as there's always a module or two under construction.

 

I tried the eggbox mix at home but I had no success as I dissolved in cold water and it didn't soften enough. A plunger-type electric mixer half-hinched - ahem - borrowed from the kitchen is useful too.

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

[SM42]

Newspaper with a flour and water paste worked for us many years ago whilst repairing some damaged scenery

 

Andy

 

Edited April 10, 2022 by SM42

[JeremyC]

In the past I've used plasterers scrim tape  'painted' over with Polyfilla or similar.

I've never had much success with paper towels or similar because in my experience there has always been a problem getting the layers to adhere properly to each other.

[JZ]

Another one for Scultamold.  But am in need of more myself and there seems to be none in the country.

[CKPR]

I'm still working through a large box of genuine ModRoc obtained via an educational supply company for a fraction of the then retail price. Mrs CKPR-to-be is an infant school teacher and all I had to do to get her to order the ModRoc was to use some of it to make a lunar landscape for her class... 

[JZ]

Struggling to find Sculptamold at a reasonable price, so ordered some of this. While it's a smaller bag, it works out similar to what I paid for Sculptamold last time. Watching Luke Towans scenics videos on YouTube, he uses a similar product called Sculp-It, but that only appears to be available in Australia.

[Philou]

@SR71 I went to the club on Saturday, but unfortunately there were no modules under construction (those that were had gone beyond the landscaping stage), but I have been promised that they will make up a bucket of goop next time I'm there. Next Saturday will probably quite opportune as it will be an all day modelling day - landscaping included.

 

I did re-ask what the recipe was just to check - they do use carton egg-boxes that are softened in hot water and then a plunger whisk is used to make a slurry. (I shall get the proportions next time). Over here they use a product called MAP which is then added to the slurry to make a softish mix. Its equivalent what is used in the UK for 'dob and dab' when dry-lining a wall, which is a gypsum based bonding compound that probably has a retardant in it so that the drying process is slowed - it is NOT thistle finishing plaster nor browning plaster. The mix can be spread with a putty knife/spatula/trowel over stretched jute/hessian sacking (being an agricultural area it's plentiful around here). It can also be used to sculpt rock faces - I haven't tried but it could well be used in foil moulds too!

 

Anyway, here a few photos that I took showing general landscaping and sculpting:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope it's of use,

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

[SR71]

Thanks Philip. Filed away for future use.