using 2" thick styrofoam on hill building

Several options...

 

Hot knife

 

Hot wire

 

Serrated knife (bread-cutting type....but not your wife's best)

 

Knife blade for sabre saw

 

Hacksaw blade with a makeshift handle

 

et alia

 

 

You apparently have the closed-cell beaded foam.  You'll want to keep a shop vac handy....you're going to make a lot of beady snow that will static-stick to everything.

 

Bonding?  Woodland Scenics makes a Foam Tack glue that will work well, although it will take several hours to solidify the bond.  They also make LOW temperature hot melt glue sticks (and a gun therefor) that are made for this type of foam, more 'instantaneous of a bond.

 

I'm sure others will chime in with additional ideas.

 

KD

I bought a basic Hot Wire Foam Factory kit this past York and am really enjoy using it.

 

http://hotwirefoamfactory.com/home.php

 

You might want to look into Rosco products. They make a Foam Coat that will really toughen up your piece after you carve it. Keep it from coming apart. Used for traveling stage props.

Hi

 I found that the best thing for cutting the foam is a jigsaw helps to form it.

 I use old kitchen knifs to carve it. 

 Then use plaster to fil in cracks.

 

Great work Harry!  I especially like the bridge. Did you cover the foam with a stone textured sheet or sculpt the stone face from some other material? 

Liquid nails makes an adhesive for foam projects.  As for cutting, a hot knife or hot wire will reduce the beaddy mess that comes along with cutting styrofoam.