DJ, You need a cordless drill to make quick work of planting trees. Also a suggestion for your scenery. Get a cheap spray bottle and a tube of Lamp Black Americana Acrylic Paint. Fill the spray bottle with warm water then add a few drops of the Lamp black to the water and shake well. Before adding any other color to your plaster mountain, spray the entire area with your lamp black spray bottle. The plaster should turn gray, don't over spray, you're just looking to get rid of the stark white of the plaster. Let that dry then add your other colors, you'll be amazed at the difference that makes in the land forms.
The mixing spoon is a simple cake icing spoon, and the brushes, I bought the same things at a dollar store, they're made for grilling, brushing marinade on while bbqing. For a reusable bowl, I bought a cheap rubber ball, the kind that's thin, and you can add air to it. Cut it in half at the seam and use it to line the bowls I use for mixing plaster. Just a few techniques to save money!
Iggy Goobie I'm always up for saving money, but I also like to try new things and if it was a bad product I would have called them out on it, but it worked great. I have done videos where I tried something new and it sucked or I felt ripped off because I can make something cheaper.
Another great video. As you know I am frugal (wife says cheep) so I tried a different mixing bowel. I took the empty milk carton (1/2 gal) and cut it off just below the handle. Mixed up the plaster, used the container as for pouring ( you can squeeze it into a small pouring spout), and when I was done I just left it to set. No cleaning needed. The plaster got hard and I just banged the entire container on the inside of a trash can and the entire bowl came clean and no plaster was left. Best of all you can use them over and over, use a gallon one for larger mixes, and best of all they are FREE. I am going to have to get a set of the brushes as they look great. Sorry - plaster and paper is my way of doing hills because the shaper paper is to much for me.
Thanks DJ, I was wondering how good these products were, and you answered my question on them, Thanks for all the great video's, and the idea from Steve D was great too, the idea of adding color into your plaster helps if you chip the scenery, keep them GREAT videos coming , hope to be doing video's myself some day soon but till them I'll keep watching yours but I'll keep watching how your coming along too....
I've used a similar silicone brush from Rolckler woodworking for glue but I haven't started any scenery yet. Thanks for the good review. I'll have to give this a try. Tim
Have you tried adding any paint for coloring to the initial plaster/water slurry mixture? I'm still on bench work, scenery? Maybe in the next decade. You make great videos, especially for us newbies
Nice video. But what do you do with bowl of plaster and water??? Pour that down the drain and eventually the drain plugs up. No plaster down the drain. I let flexible bowl dry and rub out the dried plaster to reuse. Use an old margarine cannister for mixing.
It is sticky when you peal off the cloth but its really hard. There is really thin film under the cloth on top of the foil. trust me its there I have done it. It works great.
That look exactly like silicon basting brushes available in some home goods stores. They are needlessly expensive in some places, but Crate and Barrel has them for $4 a pop. Even better, dollar tree has them for $1.
djstrains the glue brushes clean up beautifully even after the glue dries and there are many shapes www.rockler.com/search/go?w=Glue%20brushes&asug=&sli_uuid=&sli_sid= Try this out.
Hey there. nice video, It would appear that those new fangled brushes that you got are very similar to Silicone basting brushes used in food service. such as a barbeque baster. And a surprising thing, if you look around at thrift stores you can find those same kind of utensils. Keep up the good work
Great video DJ! I've been wondering about that stuff.No need to worry about Ben, I think he must have found a lady friend or something! So much for his every Tuesday video lol!
Your product review was great. However the product is expensive. To a new modeler that has more than a hill to make the old screen and industrial towels and plaster of paris is the old tried and true method not to mention the cheaper way to go.The hobby stores sell small 3 pound containers of plaster for 8 bucks if you search out an industrial supplier you can get a 25 pound bag for 14 dollars. You can also go to local hardware stores and ask if they have old screen from when they rescreen windows. Most will be glad to give it away free.
So let me get this straight: We pay exorbitant prices for these new WS MRR mountain/hill/rock 'shell-making-kit' products and because there's no mess involved in this new 'paint by numbers' type kit, I should switch to IT for my depiction of differing landscapes on my MRR. Sorry, but I've never minded mixing plaster in a cheap plastic bowl (Which washes clean enough to continue its use anyway) after either wire screen stapled over wood blocks (still my fav method) or sculpt (sculpted) foam has been installed at site, and after I've first covered my hand-shaped chicken wire with wet, plaster-soaked paper towels 2-3 times quicker than the WS items can, I'm still suppose to switch to this stuff simply because there's no mess and I don't have to clean (soak in pale of water) brushes or I won't have to vacuum away foam dust any longer ? Yes, WS makes some very good MRRing scenery products. But the cost of this new shell-building 'kit's' value (basically, no mess) doesn't wow me over the 3-4 standard shell making methods which have existed for decades and still costs peanuts...Besides, I like getting sweaty dusty and dirty building a model railroad. I become the 'track gang' or 'civil engineer' on my road... Alas, it seems model railroading is slowly mutating more and more into a generic-prefabricated state where you'll never have to do anything, anything whatsoever but hit the power button. And that's when the real fun will begin to disappear, the modeling-fun of yesteryear ... B.T.W. Kudos to 'dep92' and 'RWSBaden' (love the lamp-black tint idea !) below.....M
Hey, I just subscribed to you, but I notice you don't have any videos yet. You seem like you know a lot and have a strong opinion on some stuff, so maybe start making some videos of your layout. Or do you have a website of your layout? I have always wanted to see a how to video on chicken wire, because that is something I have never seen done, and have no idea how hard that would be to work with. Thanks.
I see all this stuff collecting dust on my local hobby shop's shelves. So much for Woodlands' overpriced gimmicks. I have known of a couple of guys that have had those bowls collapse at the most inopportune time, resulting in a huge mess.
Thank you very informative. Bob
DJ, You need a cordless drill to make quick work of planting trees. Also a suggestion for your scenery. Get a cheap spray bottle and a tube of Lamp Black Americana Acrylic Paint. Fill the spray bottle with warm water then add a few drops of the Lamp black to the water and shake well. Before adding any other color to your plaster mountain, spray the entire area with your lamp black spray bottle. The plaster should turn gray, don't over spray, you're just looking to get rid of the stark white of the plaster. Let that dry then add your other colors, you'll be amazed at the difference that makes in the land forms.
The brushes are the same used in baking and BBQ. They make some nice stuff but a little expensive.
Scott
The mixing spoon is a simple cake icing spoon, and the brushes, I bought the same things at a dollar store, they're made for grilling, brushing marinade on while bbqing. For a reusable bowl, I bought a cheap rubber ball, the kind that's thin, and you can add air to it. Cut it in half at the seam and use it to line the bowls I use for mixing plaster. Just a few techniques to save money!
dep92 yes I agree it seems like a money saver is now promoting products
Iggy Goobie I'm always up for saving money, but I also like to try new things and if it was a bad product I would have called them out on it, but it worked great. I have done videos where I tried something new and it sucked or I felt ripped off because I can make something cheaper.
Another great video. As you know I am frugal (wife says cheep) so I tried a different mixing bowel. I took the empty milk carton (1/2 gal) and cut it off just below the handle. Mixed up the plaster, used the container as for pouring ( you can squeeze it into a small pouring spout), and when I was done I just left it to set. No cleaning needed. The plaster got hard and I just banged the entire container on the inside of a trash can and the entire bowl came clean and no plaster was left. Best of all you can use them over and over, use a gallon one for larger mixes, and best of all they are FREE. I am going to have to get a set of the brushes as they look great. Sorry - plaster and paper is my way of doing hills because the shaper paper is to much for me.
Thanks DJ, I was wondering how good these products were, and you answered my question on them, Thanks for all the great video's, and the idea from Steve D was great too, the idea of adding color into your plaster helps if you chip the scenery, keep them GREAT videos coming , hope to be doing video's myself some day soon but till them I'll keep watching yours but I'll keep watching how your coming along too....
Thanks for taking the time to share this information. Much appreciated.
DJ, great video. Looks like some great products from Woodland Scenics. Glad to see you posting again, enjoy your posts.
DJ that test turned out great man hope to see more soon
I've used a similar silicone brush from Rolckler woodworking for glue but I haven't started any scenery yet. Thanks for the good review. I'll have to give this a try.
Tim
Have you tried adding any paint for coloring to the initial plaster/water slurry mixture? I'm still on bench work, scenery? Maybe in the next decade. You make great videos, especially for us newbies
+Steve Dougherty yes, sometimes i mix colors into it, so if it chips, it won't be bright white.
+djstrains any paticular brands or type; acrylic or will extra house paint laying around work?
+Steve Dougherty I'm using the cheap acrylics from michaels, pat catans, and walmart. Thinner than house paint.
great insite on these products and awesome video.
I want to try the light bars next. I have wondered if the foil was that good. I see it is. thanks
Nice how-to, DJ!! Good to see a review of this product that isn't from Woodland Scenics. Thanks for posting!
hi DJ... great overview of these products.. thanks for sharing... vinny
I forgot to add, that was a great video!
Nice video. But what do you do with bowl of plaster and water??? Pour that down the drain and eventually the drain plugs up. No plaster down the drain. I let flexible bowl dry and rub out the dried plaster to reuse. Use an old margarine cannister for mixing.
same as you. dry, easy to break off and clean.
Thanks DJ, nice job, I'll have to try these products out
It is sticky when you peal off the cloth but its really hard. There is really thin film under the cloth on top of the foil. trust me its there I have done it. It works great.
That look exactly like silicon basting brushes available in some home goods stores. They are needlessly expensive in some places, but Crate and Barrel has them for $4 a pop. Even better, dollar tree has them for $1.
looks good ive been accumulating ws platers shaper sheets etc for my upcoming build
Should I shape the foam some before I put the plaster cloth over it
yes.
Those brushes do look interesting. Are they Silicone like woodworkers glue brushes?
Nice job all the way around
MrRLN2010 yeah, I guess that is silicone, I never seen the woodworkers glue brushes. This was all new to me, and I found it very easy.
djstrains the glue brushes clean up beautifully even after the glue dries and there are many shapes
www.rockler.com/search/go?w=Glue%20brushes&asug=&sli_uuid=&sli_sid=
Try this out.
MrRLN2010 cool, thanks
Good demonstration of these interesting products.. Thanks for sharing..
Thanks for sharing.
Cool, I might try it.
Hey there. nice video, It would appear that those new fangled brushes that you got are very similar to Silicone basting brushes used in food service. such as a barbeque baster. And a surprising thing, if you look around at thrift stores you can find those same kind of utensils. Keep up the good work
I am all about saving money tips in an already expensive hobby.
Very interesting thanks. Robert
Nice!
Haha, loved the shout outs my friend. Making it hard not to stay on building the current layout with that shoutout.
Great video DJ! I've been wondering about that stuff.No need to worry about Ben, I think he must have found a lady friend or something! So much for his every Tuesday video lol!
sdyoung I tease him because he does get some pretty girls! I have seen pics. lol.
😄
great review
Would this be good just laying it over fome
no, its too hard. Use plaster cloth for that.
Get those things @ $$$$ store.
Your product review was great. However the product is expensive. To a new modeler that has more than a hill to make the old screen and industrial towels and plaster of paris is the old tried and true method not to mention the cheaper way to go.The hobby stores sell small 3 pound containers of plaster for 8 bucks if you search out an industrial supplier you can get a 25 pound bag for 14 dollars. You can also go to local hardware stores and ask if they have old screen from when they rescreen windows. Most will be glad to give it away free.
ha, ha!
So let me get this straight: We pay exorbitant prices for these new WS MRR mountain/hill/rock 'shell-making-kit' products and because there's no mess involved in this new 'paint by numbers' type kit, I should switch to IT for my depiction of differing landscapes on my MRR. Sorry, but I've never minded mixing plaster in a cheap plastic bowl (Which washes clean enough to continue its use anyway) after either wire screen stapled over wood blocks (still my fav method) or sculpt (sculpted) foam has been installed at site, and after I've first covered my hand-shaped chicken wire with wet, plaster-soaked paper towels 2-3 times quicker than the WS items can, I'm still suppose to switch to this stuff simply because there's no mess and I don't have to clean (soak in pale of water) brushes or I won't have to vacuum away foam dust any longer ? Yes, WS makes some very good MRRing scenery products. But the cost of this new shell-building 'kit's' value (basically, no mess) doesn't wow me over the 3-4 standard shell making methods which have existed for decades and still costs peanuts...Besides, I like getting sweaty dusty and dirty building a model railroad. I become the 'track gang' or 'civil engineer' on my road...
Alas, it seems model railroading is slowly mutating more and more into a generic-prefabricated state where you'll never have to do anything, anything whatsoever but hit the power button. And that's when the real fun will begin to disappear, the modeling-fun of yesteryear ...
B.T.W. Kudos to 'dep92' and 'RWSBaden' (love the lamp-black tint idea !) below.....M
Hey, I just subscribed to you, but I notice you don't have any videos yet. You seem like you know a lot and have a strong opinion on some stuff, so maybe start making some videos of your layout. Or do you have a website of your layout? I have always wanted to see a how to video on chicken wire, because that is something I have never seen done, and have no idea how hard that would be to work with. Thanks.
I see all this stuff collecting dust on my local hobby shop's shelves. So much for Woodlands' overpriced gimmicks. I have known of a couple of guys that have had those bowls collapse at the most inopportune time, resulting in a huge mess.
Years later, mine still hold up very well.
This is a shill. Mixing and talk; this is not up to his show-and-tell so we see the MRR product.
Confused, but willing to learn more about your comment. Please elaborate...