Starship Modeler - Tip o' the Day

Quick & Easy Terrain

[Science!]
Category:

Budget Modeler

Submitted By:

Buck Hedges

Tip:

Here are some of the tricks I use to simplify making terrain.
EASY CRATERS: Styrofoam (expanded polyurethane foam) will dissolve in the aerosol from spray paints. To make craters, take a sheet of styrofoam, and spray a spot for 1-5 seconds with spray paint. Wait and see how far it dissolves. Repeat if necessary, then line the edges with sand, small rocks, ruined models, whatever, and paint it.
DIRT: Instead of buying flocking from hobby stores, I went to where snowplows had pushed up piles of sand the previous winter. A gallon jar of sand yielded a good collection of small stones, fine sand, and coarse sand. Spread the sand on a newspaper in the sun for a day to let it dry. When it is thoroughly dry, sift it through some fine wire mesh (I use a noodle strainer--much to my wife's dismay).
To glue it to your base, paint the base with water-thinned Elmer's Glue. Sprinkle on the sand, and let it dry for about 10 minutes. Shake off the excess and paint it with another layer of thinned-out glue.
For fresh dirt, unsed (or dried out used) coffee grounds work very well.

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Tips database last updated 21 July 2014

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DISCLAIMER: These procedures and practices represent the recommendations of the members of the Starship Modeler readership. These ideas are not necesscessarily endorsed for their saftey or results by the staff of Starship Modeler. The reader assumes full responsibility for any and all results stemming from the application of the procedures and practices listed here.

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