03-21-2009, 12:54 AM
Glad to see work resume! I know what it's like to take a long hiatus (or a few short ones) and that renewed sense of vigor when you begin again.
I've used lightweight spackle with good results. Nice things about it are, it dries whatever color it is when wet. I added a few drops of Delta acrylic craft paints to achieve either a gray or brown shade depending on the intended surface and was pleased to see it dry the same color as when wet.
Plus, it's extremely simple to 'carve'. Just use a flat bladed screwdriver and push mortar lines & gaps into the dry surface. Yes, the DRY surface. Spread it on smooth (use a wet sponge to smooth it when it is nearly set, a screed of sorts early on when very wet), let it dry, then push the lines in with a screwdriver or other chisel like tool. I went back over the stone wall I made with a variety of stone colors and painted random stones to achieve a varied look, but that's probably not even necessary if you use a nice black wash for the gaps and a dry-brushed highlight for the surface edges.
For a large vertical surface you may want to hot glue some cheese cloth or mesh to the foam, to give the spackle something to grab if it's going to be very thick. Otherwise, it's pretty sticky stuff. Thinned down it would make a good wash over the neat balsa detail you've added over the gap & along the edges.
NOW - I'm guessing the loco is an IHC, but who makes that neat passenger car behind it?
Galen
I've used lightweight spackle with good results. Nice things about it are, it dries whatever color it is when wet. I added a few drops of Delta acrylic craft paints to achieve either a gray or brown shade depending on the intended surface and was pleased to see it dry the same color as when wet.
Plus, it's extremely simple to 'carve'. Just use a flat bladed screwdriver and push mortar lines & gaps into the dry surface. Yes, the DRY surface. Spread it on smooth (use a wet sponge to smooth it when it is nearly set, a screed of sorts early on when very wet), let it dry, then push the lines in with a screwdriver or other chisel like tool. I went back over the stone wall I made with a variety of stone colors and painted random stones to achieve a varied look, but that's probably not even necessary if you use a nice black wash for the gaps and a dry-brushed highlight for the surface edges.
For a large vertical surface you may want to hot glue some cheese cloth or mesh to the foam, to give the spackle something to grab if it's going to be very thick. Otherwise, it's pretty sticky stuff. Thinned down it would make a good wash over the neat balsa detail you've added over the gap & along the edges.
NOW - I'm guessing the loco is an IHC, but who makes that neat passenger car behind it?
Galen
I may not be a rivet counter, but I sure do like rivets!