As a modeller, but not necessarily an electrician, you may have read many 'how to' articles advising the use of a...
Cart 0 Product Products (empty)
No products
Free shipping! Shipping
£ 0.00 Total
Product successfully added to your shopping cart
Quantity
Total
There are 0 items in your cart. There is 1 item in your cart.
Total products (tax incl.)
Total shipping (tax excl.) Free shipping!
Total (tax incl.)
Search Tips
Tips categories
Latest Tips
-
When and why would a railway modeller use a reed switch?Read more -
Which steam engines were used for shunting?Read moreVarious types of steam locomotives were used for shunting operations. Here are some of the commonly seen steam...
-
Where is the best location to base my model railway on?Read moreIt is impossible to visit a model railway show and not be impressed, inspired or even a little envious at some of the...
-
What is a flywheel in a motor in a model railway engine?Read moreA flywheel is a heavy metal disc-shaped weight that is used to aid the momentum of a motor.Flywheels are added to...
-
How do I hardwire and solder a DCC chip to a locomotive?Read moreFitting a Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder to a model railway locomotive can enhance its performance and allow...
Christmas and New Year
We are dispatching orders every weekday apart from Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
If you order is time critical, select next day delivery at checkout.
The shop in Sandown is closed from 25th December, reopening on 30th December.
Is papier-mache a good material to use for modelling?
Papier-mache has been used over a chicken-wire frame to create hills and mountains for almost as long as the hobbies have existed, and it does a great job too, providing a hard shell on which you can apply paint and add scatter to give a realistic portrayal of nature at its best.
But if not done right, the newspaper and magazine strips used to create it can start to separate, the shell can become weak and brittle and the whole structure can begin to fall apart.
The main problem is when papier-mache is considered to be a quick fix or process. Time should be taken to build up numerous layers to create a shell that is at least several millimetres thick and even then, a top coat of plaster would not hurt.
Constructing a solid well-built papier-mache model takes time and patience, this has led to it falling out of favour a little as modern-day alternatives such as plaster-cloth provide equally pleasing results in a fraction of the time.
There is no particular reason not to use papier-mache in model making, it can provide great results inexpensively, but it must be done right.
Click here to receive the tips weekly in your mailbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Related products
Lightweight Hydrocal Casting Plaster (900g)
Price: £ 16.50Create your own castings or use it to cast rocks or create your own...
Plaster Cloth
Price: £ 13.25Plaster Cloth is the easy, convenient method for modeling lightweight...
Related posts
-
Do I need to wash my plastic kit?I personally wash all my plastic kits, I use warm soapy water (Washing up liquid) and a light rub over with a nail... - What is Milliput?Milliput is a two-part epoxy putty. There are two different colour rolls in a box when these are mixed together it...
- What modelling tools do I need to get started?Most modellers have an extensive tool kit, a tool for every eventuality. But when first starting a scalpel or a...
- How do I remove parts from the sprue?The short answer is carefully. The best way is with a sprue and plastic cutter but always be mindful of exactly...
- Do I need a cutting mat?It is not essential to have a cutting mat, but it is a good idea. It saves getting in trouble with your significant...