Using styrofoam

my local hobby shop buys sheets of Styrofoam and makes all his scenery out of Styrofoam I believe his thickness is about 1 inch or more after he builds the scenery he paints it and decorates until its gorgeous!

Alan 

Most folks used extruded foam for scenery......the foam used in packing is bead foam and does not work well.  Spray foam is also used and is better than that used in shipping. Big box hardware stores sell foam sheets that are good to use.

Styrofoam can certainly be used, but most people find it just too messy and friable. 

What Dave said:

Most folks used extruded foam for scenery......the foam used in packing is bead foam and does not work well.  Spray foam is also used and is better than that used in shipping. Big box hardware stores sell foam sheets that are good to use.

I have played with a bunch of extruded and it's messy enough. lol

Here is a couple funny pictures when I first started  .

Larry

Beaded styrofoam, like wadded-up newspapers, makes a good filler.  And you would want to cover it up with something to provide a decent landscaping base.

The pink or blue polystyrene is strong and self-supporting (within reason, of course).  You can cut it, carve it, grind it, grate it, and sand it as desired, give it an initial coat of some earthy color of flat latex paint, then keep adding on from there.

A good shop vac is your best friend for cleaning up the mess. 

Paul.

All carved Blue board foam, no plaster. The mountain is hollow. Takes less 4X8 sheets than you think. 

All pink foam and spray foam.  Except the longhorns and cowboys. 🙂

clem k posted:

 

Hey Clem. Your scenery is fantastic....who makes those trees or did you do them yourself?

Thanks.

Donald

Very cool scenery.

Trees by Scenic Express $     I would rather buy trees than buildings.

                            still under construction...

clem k posted:

Trees by Scenic Express $     I would rather buy trees than buildings.

Thanks Clem. I will be taking a look. My current trees are too "toy-like"..

Donald

Blue or pink styrene are more stable and less messy than open cell styrofoam. Good if you want a snow storm but not for much else.

Two-inch-thick Extruded Polystyrene (pink or blue) and a hot foam knife...a great combination for lightweight and easy-to-make landforms. Can  be further carved/shaped with a knive and/or a rasp; and covered with plaster, Sculptamold, or some other material if desired.

And if ya got a bunch of it to play with  go with some big boy tools. Here is a few of them .lol One other biggie is a shop vac!!

A few more in the beginning pictures.

Have Fun

Larry

clem k posted:

Trees by Scenic Express $     I would rather buy trees than buildings.

Hey Clem...I went to their web site last night to make some purchases and a lot of the taller trees are SOLD OUT!

You must have cleaned them out. I did get some shorter ones and also a 15 incher.

Thanks again for the link.

Donald

Yes they sell out fast.  

I forgot to mention all my carving of foam is with the Hot Wire Foam Factory tools, done out in the garage for ventilation.  

Clem

  Use flat water based acrylics and just have a blast! Close your eyes and it will likely look great. It is that easy.

   I've used a vintage Rivarossi kit box split in half, for two buildings, and some more that I forgot the origin of (grey blocks) My style isn't exactly the norm either. Construction foam should prove to be more stable next to plastics, some paint, glue, etc., I'd think. 

(I've used both.)

Last spring....

Green foam here. But still not too much effort, and more time waiting for paint/glue to dry than anything.

Thanks everyone for pics and comments