Making a bluff from foam

I use hot-glue. The work goes a LOT faster that way.  Yes, it can melt the foam. But once you get the hang of it, it can be used very effectively and rapidly.

P.S. -- I can already glimpse a stunning vista hidden within that pile. 

Cool, love to see threads like this.  A tutorial is always welcomed-you never know a new technique until someone shows it to you!

Judging by the bluff in the background, you definitely have it figured out

Here's a pic of my tools and early progress.  I'm having fun making it look like rock, but there is a lot of sculpting left.

Progress.  Next I have to add foam to the bottom to create a talus slope.  If yyou are interested in the inspiration for my bluff, google Norwich Bluff, Mi.

I really like what you're up to here, it looks great. I happen to need something similar on my layout. As a matter of fact, I got so inspired seeing what you are doing, that I finally built the superstructure that my bluff will sit on top of. I have to do my foam in sections so they can be removed in case I have to access the three tracks below (behind the Masonite wall).

This is Dayton's Bluff, just east of downtown St Paul, MN.

Maybe I can carve my foam in the spring when it warms up.

Don't toss all of those scrapings and cuttings.  You can see in your photos how they make the rock slide size talus. Glue and paint.

Are you going copper mine time or current look? 

Carl, I believe I'm just going with current look.  This layout is pretty small.  Once I can take over my basement from my children, I  want to model the UP mining areas, up to Marquette. 

Nice Work! Should look great.

Here is my rock cliff wall I created the same way...

I am so often blown away by the talent I see on these forums!

I Tell you Between the 2 of you Basil and J Daddy, you guys are sure making alot of work for some of us when it comes time. You both have great work there and I will be keeping an eye on your project! Love it!

great learning tool

thank you and keep it up

Basil you make it so easy looking. Mine I coated with paper towels and plaster and paris... then carved the dynamite blast lines in it... took a while... Next come the trees for the top of the bluff... still not there yet.

Thank you, J Daddy! We'll see if my finished product can be anywhere near as good as yours!  I have my work cut out for me!

Progress through last night.  I wanted to add a steep slope to the bottom so I cut some 2x2 pieces,  cut one length wise at a 45 degree angle then hot glued them together--thank you AVANTI for that tip.  You can see I'm also creating a small grade for just a bit of elevation change;  about 2.5 degrees.

Excellent!  Keep the updates coming!

Curious-how much time involved at this point?

I should have kept better track, but I'd have to say at least 4 hours at this point.  A couple evenings this past week, I worked on it for 15-30 monutes before bed.  Once you get started,  it's just cutting and gouging! 

Nicely done

The Norwich Bluff has massive talus piles and a boulder field at the base.  Here's a glimpse of the future.

Basil

Looking good.

I love this kind of project . I have beat a lot of that stuff to death. About 8  4X8 sheets. lol

It is fun.

Larry

Holy hand grenades!  I am a friggin' amateur!   Amazing work, Larry!

This is a thread I am keeping track of for future reference !

GREAT

Looking good!   Get yourself a hacksaw blade - wrap one end with duck tape for a handle.  It's the best carving method I've found..

Can't argue with those results!  Thanks for the tip!

I'm done carving.   I sanded the entire structure with medium sandpaper to knock off loose pieces and minimize unrealistic flakes.  Next, I'll spray it down with a mixture of water, acryllic paint and dish soap.  I use a healthy amount of paint to make the water good and black and just a couple drops of soap.  This mixture supposedly helps the spray paint adhere to foam.

Pics right before and after base coat :

WOW that looks great, you make it look so easy! I sure hope I can do as good as a job when it comes my time.

Basil... Thanks for the info and the inspiration.   Using your techniques I did this small rock wall this week.  I appreciate you sharing the information.

Ron

It's as easy as it looks!  I find the initial cuts to be the most difficult, but I think that's just me.  If you find a structure you like--like I did with Norwich Bluff--you just kind of follow what it looks like.  My most commonly used tool is a steak knife!  I also find the drywall tools very very helpful.  I really like my Sure Form and Mud Boss, then make shaping easy. 

With the tip of using hot glue, it got even easier.  No waiting for it to dry and it holds the foam very well.  Then you can also use it to spot-glue small pieces to fill gaps, etc.  I did that on both ends at the base.

Ron, that looks fantastic!   Please share your painting technique.

Hi Basil - I'm having a hard time finding the pink foam material - went to HD & Lowes - none available.  Any other suggestions?

Paul

Almost any rigid insulation will do.  Owens Corning has a patent or trademark on the pink.  I've seen rigid insulation in pink, green, and blue. So long as it is a densely formed polystyrene, you'll be find.  My first bluff I made from packing foam from a car parts box and great stuff!  The only foam you can't use is the beads, those beads just fall right off and don't hold a shape.

I found this on HD's website.  It's even advertised as having hobby uses!  HD loves model railroaders!

http://www.homedepot.com/p/R-T...ion-320817/202532855

Here's my tool. Got the idea from a forum member.  Works great.

They also make a handle to hold the hacksaw blade that should also work.

Ken M

The only other tool I used was a soldering iron.  I used the hot iron to get rid of the block look and corners.  After I rounded it off, then I started cutting, sawing, etc.

I started with a heavy medium grey.  I love Home Depot and Lowes "Ooops" latex.  Every time I go to those stores I buy whatever ooops paint they have in the samples or quarts.

Then I used brown.  I would barely put the stiff bristle tip in the paint.  Then I would dab the tip of the brush on the foam in 6 to 8 different areas. a few inches apart each.  Then I would make hard and rough brush strokes over that area where I made the dabs.  Any area that looks like too much paint I would brush and brush and brush very hard.

Then I repeat this with a light grey and then again with white.

Lastly I made some ugly looking very watery mud colored paint, water mix.  I did the same technique as above but used light wispy strokes.  When I got the look I liked, I dipped the brush deep in the water paint and then held it over the top of the rock (foam).  It would drip and then run to the bottom taking a natural path.  If the paint did not come of the brush enough I would get it FULL of water paint and dab it so the water paint would puddle and run to the bottom.

Hope that helps.  Have Fun! 

Ron

A Dremel tool is also handy for carving details. I use various grinding bits and even a cutoff wheel.

Wonderful tips and insight!  Thanks you all for the insight and for sharing your knowhow.  

I painted today.  Black base of foam safe, they two grays, brown, yellow and white overspray.  I ha e to do something about the joint lines.

Basil... You got me motivated to work on my corner today.  I grabbed a bunch of scrap foam and hot glued it all together.  Then used a soldering iron, hobby knife and wire brush to start shaping.

When you collect all of your shavings to make stones how do you paint them without making a mess?

vr, Ron

Ron,  I am excited to see where your corner is going to end up!  That looks awesome.  Please keep us posted on the progress.

I am blessed to work for a large automotive group.  As such, I have the ability to use a paint booth.  I laid down a large sheet of plastic and dumped all the shavings out onto it.  Then I just started spraying.  I used a super-sophisticated tool to turn over the pieces to be able to get all sides and every bit painted--a fly swatter.

Update.  I used plaster of paris to cover the lines.  The paint is a little wet in these pics, hopefully they will dry dark.  Otherwise, I'll have to keep working at it.

Looking great, can't wait to see it on your layout!