Model Train Journal

Is the green foam (extruded styrofoam) the equivalent of the pink and blue stuff wrt making mountains and scenery?

Thanks,

George

The last batch I used had a green tint to it. I've seen blue-tint, but don't recall any pink stuff.

Thanks Paul! I am going to try it.

George

Extruded styrofoam is extruded styrofoam. Blue stuff is usually Dow Corning, Pink is Owens Corning. Haven't seen the green stuff.

You do have to watch out for green and white stuff used in craft/flower arranging. It is polystyrene but it's not insulating material and has different physical properties. The expanded (white bead) crap used for cheap coolers should also be avoided. It has little or no structural strength and disentegrates into mounds of statically charged beads.

Extruded stuff does generate static electricity when cut/rasped by mechanical means. Avoid using a vacuum cleaner to pick it up unless you have a spray bottle with fabric softener to knock the charge down. Major PITA to clear a shop or canister vac hose when it gets clocked with this stuff. Hot knife or wire cutter works best for main carving/sculpting.

chuck wrote:Extruded styrofoam is extruded styrofoam.

Yup. That sums it up.

I used some that was very dense that was specific for medical purposes and being surplus it was priced right - FREE! Seem to recall it being ~4"x12"x12" blocks.

Shaped it with the band saw and glued together with hot glue before "painting" it over with a layer of Hydrocal.

When my daughter was in High school we used to make home coming floats. I stacked 1" thick stuff for them to carve dolphin heads and then we used it to make figures for a volcano scene for a Hawaian themed float. The oppents were "Walled Lake". We made Mt. Killawalled Lake with our quarterback surfing down a lava flow with the opponents up to there waists in " lava". Same technique, warm melt glue and then painted with Gesso and/or diluted Hydrocal. I'll see if I can find some pics. The construction team were all technical theater people that knew how to paint, carve, wire, whatever was needed. HS sophomores then juniors and finally seniors. Very bright, very talented.

Thanks guys!

George

One last caveat. Make sure you remove the plastic film moisture barrier before gluing/carving/painting. Noting sticks well to that film. Glue MAY melt it but it's easier to strip it off before doing anything. It's probably on both sides.