Comments on: Cutting Styrofoam to shape for Crazy Horse Canyon

By: Daniel Swearingen

Daniel Swearingen — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 01:12:31 +0000

Hi Al,

I use DAP “Beats the Nail” construction adhesive. I’ve also had good experience with using a hot-glue gun.

Dan

By: Al Semer

Al Semer — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:17:02 +0000

Nice work, I’m new to railroading but have 40-years experience with contouring and topography. I have begun to fashion a cliff and stream crossing beneath the track within a 2×3-feet grid. Its my first element on a very vertical landscape. I am curious as to what you use to bond the styro-block together. I’m going to switch from liquid nails to a thinned white glue but wonderr if this will shorten the length of time I can maintain the scene. Pro modeling doesn’t have a long life.
Allen

By: Daniel Swearingen

Daniel Swearingen — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 20:00:34 +0000

Hi Joe Daddy,

Thanks for writing. I’m incresingly happy with red-rosin paper these days. I’ll try to post some pictures soon.

I’ve added your blog to my blogroll.

Happy Trains,
Dan

By: Joe Daddy

Joe Daddy — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 11:25:29 +0000

Dan,
Your experience and question about foam matches mine. I abandoned foam for everything but being a framework, or a base for removable sections where masonite would not work. I now use aluminum screen wire (wadded up first) and fastened to foam or plywood shapers using drywall screws to hold in place. Then I paint with hydrocal and I have a mountain. Much cheaper and a whole lot quicker. I have pictures on my blog. By the way, how do we link our blogs together, I really like the stuff you write.

Best regards,

Joe Daddy

http://wwwjoe-daddy.blogspot.com/

By: Daniel Swearingen

Daniel Swearingen — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 17:22:37 +0000

Hi Eric,

Up to the ends of the track the mountain is solid only from the tracks up so there’s a big hollow area underneath. Then down to the riverbed is obviously solid.

Thanks for writing,
Dan

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 14:03:08 +0000

Why did you choose to make the entire mountain solid styrofoam? I like how you kept the track on a wood frame and surrounded the frame with styrofoam. To any other readers out there, make sure you do the same!! I made a blunder by using the sytrofoam ramps from Woodland Scenic. Althought it was easy to create, it was bad news when the tracks started to buckle as the styrofoam expanded/contracted over a short time (a few months).

By: Daniel Swearingen

Daniel Swearingen — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 04:16:41 +0000

YES: always wear a respirator. I also have ventilation such that the fumes are immediately exhausted out of the house.

By: Ben

Ben — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 01:24:36 +0000

What about fumes? Sam Posey has Parkinson’s disease. If Parkinson’s is an environmental disease, then he may have gotten it from cutting foam. I know a 70 year old model railroader who has had cancer three times. Do you wear a respirator?