Making "Talus" or Loose Rock From Dried Plaster

[drew1125]

If you ever work with hydrocal plaster, or plaster of paris, making castings, sculpting scenery, etc…You know that when you get done, you always have that bit of plaster that dries inn the bottom of the mixing bowl…I use a plastic container to mix plaster in, so I can just flex the container, break out the dry plaster, & go on & mix another batch…
Now about that dried stuff…you can either toss it, or what I like to do is save it in a can like this…

What I’ve found is that this stuff makes a great additional layer of texture to my scenery…

I pour a little into a bowl…

Then I stir in a little India Ink & alcohol wash…

Then I add a little earth-colored acrylic paint…

You can either dump it onto a piece of wax paper to let it dry, or go ahead & use it while it’s still wet…

Once you’ve added it to the scene, & mixed it with other scenic elements, it adds a nice layer of texture to your scenery…

 

[tankist]

i knew i did not save all those clippings for nothing
planned to do the same.

 

[Gary B]

Excellent Drew! Now why didn't I think of that?

 

[Rico]

Nice "how to" drew!
Now I know what I'll do with all those little bits in my bucket.

 

[jbaakko]

Nice work! They look simply amazing.

 

[UP2CSX]

Great looking talus, Drew. I've done something similar but with a little more rust color to sumulate our Southern soil and used it for fill for roadway and track bridge approaches.

 

[Irongrave]

nice work, i've used it in the past to build rock faces as it cracks and splinters like rock then going back over to paint it again. also works well to make cause ways and around mining sites as over burden rock

 

[drew1125]

Thanks for all the comments huys!

... I've done something similar but with a little more rust color to sumulate our Southern soil...

Yeah, I should've mentioned that "earth-colored" is definitely relative to geography...I think I used Raw Sienna for this project...just use whatever looks best to you...going with darker browns, or reddish tints would definitely be an option...

...and used it for fill for roadway and track bridge approaches.

I used a bunch of it in this scene of a river bank, & a small trestle...

 

[UP2CSX]

I like that embankment, Drew. The rickity looking log trestle and the "rocks tossed over the side" looks just like the kind of line you'd expect from a logging road.

 

[Jon NFL]

And -
sift it down throught 1/2 inch, 1/4 inch and screen for rip-rap.

I use a dollar store basketball, cut in half, to mix my plaster (usually with powdered Tempera and carpenters glue). The 2 halves make changing colors easy. Cleanup is quick, just roll the half and twist. I don't know if I read it on this forum or else where but it works well.

 

[drew1125]

Hey I like the basketball idea!
I'm going to have to try that!

Yeah, I've never sifted the plaster bits...I just grab a habdfull from the can so it's pretty random...
I do however use real dirt for ground cover, I do sift it - first through an old window screen - what doesn't go through the screen gets discarded...
Then I sift it again through a nylon stocking...what doesn't go through that is about the right size for HO gravel (or ballast) & the sifted part is so fine, I've used it as a weathering powder, & it perfect for just plain ol'...well...dirt!

...The rickity looking log trestle...

Hey do you like that little bridge?
I made that out of plastic sprues!
I call it the “Sprew Creek Bridge“!

 

[ChevelleSSguy]

And -
sift it down throught 1/2 inch, 1/4 inch and screen for rip-rap.

I use a dollar store basketball, cut in half, to mix my plaster (usually with powdered Tempera and carpenters glue). The 2 halves make changing colors easy. Cleanup is quick, just roll the half and twist. I don't know if I read it on this forum or else where but it works well.

Model Railroader did a small tidbit on that tip a while back.

Since hydrocal is hydroscopic. Meaning it obsorbes moisture. I would think using it as ballast or in resin for water may cause problems.

 

[UP2CSX]

Drew, that's made from kit spues? That's a fine job, especially the paint and weathering. I would never have guessed that it wasn't wood dowels.