My adventures in Ho Scale.

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KriegslokBR52 said:
Question...because i absolutely suck at it, how do you connect the plaster to the wood where the railroad sits on? I did same plastic scenery with the bandaid but at that edge where the plaster gets to the roadbed it's just sits on it.
Click to expand...
Let me see if I can explain this. It would be easier to take you to my basement and show you! :D

I use 1/2" plywood for the sub-roadbed. When I take the plaster cloth up to the edge of the plywood I fold about a 1/2" of the plaster cloth over so its doubled up and stick that to the side of the plywood roadbed. Once its wet the cloth will stick to pretty much whatever you want it too.

All the plaster cloth is there for is a basic landform shape. It offers little structural support. the hardness comes when you put another layer of plaster, hydrocal, sculptamold (whatever is your preferred method) over the top of the cloth. I usually mix a very soupy plaster mix up (more runny than a normal batch) and use a 3" paint brush to paint it on. I use a putty knife (gives you lots of control) to blend the plywood and the plaster cloth to make it look like one smooth landform as one. I use a layer of scuptamold to do the final shape and blend the rock castings. I dont use those junk Woodland scenics rock molds. I use the Bragdon enterprise molds.



This was my previous N scale layout, but this is the final result of above technique.

1727917296859.png


1727917350840.png
 
migalyto said:
Let me see if I can explain this. It would be easier to take you to my basement and show you! :D

I use 1/2" plywood for the sub-roadbed. When I take the plaster cloth up to the edge of the plywood I fold about a 1/2" of the plaster cloth over so its doubled up and stick that to the side of the plywood roadbed. Once its wet the cloth will stick to pretty much whatever you want it too.

All the plaster cloth is there for is a basic landform shape. It offers little structural support. the hardness comes when you put another layer of plaster, hydrocal, sculptamold (whatever is your preferred method) over the top of the cloth. I usually mix a very soupy plaster mix up (more runny than a normal batch) and use a 3" paint brush to paint it on. I use a putty knife (gives you lots of control) to blend the plywood and the plaster cloth to make it look like one smooth landform as one. I use a layer of scuptamold to do the final shape and blend the rock castings. I dont use those junk Woodland scenics rock molds. I use the Bragdon enterprise molds.



This was my previous N scale layout, but this is the final result of above technique.

View attachment 200735

View attachment 200736
Click to expand...
Thanks
 




migalyto said:
About 15 months ago I switched from N to Ho scale. I tore down my existing benchwork from the previous layout, and started over from scratch, claiming more space. I don't really have a track plan, but I'm loaded with Kato unitrack to get something up, and running quickly. in the future the plan is to sell off the Unitrack, and go to flex track. the beauty of the Kato track is I can set it up, and change it as I have already done several times. here is the space , and the proposed benchwork.View attachment 29277View attachment 29278View attachment 29279
Click to expand...
I like this idea. Good work.
 


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