Help using broken ceiling tiles for a wall

Doug,

Try doing a small mockup first. The "broken ceiling tile look" isn't for everyone. Once, you've stacked/glued the pieces together and dug out/scraped some more detail (if desired) I'd either seal it with dullcote before painting or go over it with a light layer of scultamold first to hide any unwanted seams between the pieces...let dry...and then dullcote it...let dry...and then proceed to painting/detailing. It's just a technique I've used in the past. Personally, I like the look of hydrocal castings combined with carved foam...but the choice is yours.

Nick B

Nick, thanks for your input.  I thought I would try the ceiling tile look in one area of my layout since I have some broken tiles.  I plan to do it as a seperate piece and then fit it to the layout.

Doug

It is certainly a matter of taste.  But for my money, the best results come from mixing a variety of techniques. Mixing things up give the best suggestion of the complexity of the real world, IMO. I think that ceiling tiles certainly have a place in the mix. Here are some tricks for getting good results with tile:

--Don't always lay them flat.  Real-world strata usually have a pitch relative to horizontal.

--Include a fault here and there--a place where stresses have caused a discontinuity in the bedding planes.

--Introduce some non-uniformity in the thickness of the strata. Either shave down a tile, or use some other material here and there.

--Experiment with carving the surface of a tile, rather than just the fractured edges. Nice effects can be obtained.

As for whether to seal before staining, it depends on the effect you want.  The tile tends to absorb stains if unsealed. This can be good or bad.  If you want "old" stone--e.g., cuts that are a hundred years old and are dark with moss and minerals--stain before sealing.  But if you want cleaner-looking stone, it is best to seal first.

I stacked/glued together then used small wire brush to rough the edges and create different grooves etc. I added some bits and pieces of moss and lichen and just used various paint schemes and it came out well. It works. GoodLuck