TimberSurf’s Model Railway
Modelling Tips, Links & Guides for Model Railways
Lumsdonia Railway
SALE
PLUS
Terrain
Construction material |
Synopsis |
Method |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
Resources |
Source |
Corrugated cardboard |
Great starter technique, easy common materials to work with, |
Cut vertical profiles of terrain, glue to board to create a contoured shape. Infill gaps with scrunched up newspaper. Cover with paper mache (laminate sheets of newspaper soaked in glue). Finish with mashed up glue soaked newspaper to add final roughness. |
Readily available Free |
Sharp knife work involved. Relatively smooth surface Paper mache can be messy Weak surface |
Utility Knife (great care must be taken) Scissors Glue (PVA or Wallpaper paste) Bucket |
Mostly free (ex glue) |
Wood and card |
Great moderate technique, easy common materials to work with, sturdy construction |
Create terrain profile with pillars of wood, nail/glue/staple strips of card between them, cross bracing by weaving at ninety degrees. Cover with paper mache (laminate sheets of newspaper soaked in glue). Finish with mashed up glue soaked newspaper to add final roughness. |
Readily available Free |
Sharp knife work involved. Relatively smooth surface Paper mache can be messy Weak surface |
Saw Utility Knife (great care must be taken) Scissors Glue (PVA or Wallpaper paste) Bucket |
Mostly free (scrap wood and packaging) |
Chicken wire and Modroc |
Tough hard surface, moderate technique, moderate difficulty |
Create terrain profile with pillars of wood, nail/glue/staple chicken wire between them. Cover with paper mache (laminate sheets of newspaper soaked in glue). Finish with mashed up glue soaked newspaper to add final roughness. Or cover with several cross laid Modroc pre-soaked in water |
Strong contours Strong surface |
Chicken wire is tough to cut and has sharp edges Modroc can be expensive |
Saw Wire cutters Scissors Mixing bowl |
Moderate cost (Modroc much cheaper if purchased in bulk) |
Expanded Polystyrene Insulation {EPS} |
Available in several thicknesses. Very easy to work with, but weak surface so needs further coating on final surface. |
Available in several thicknesses. Either carve from one thick piece or shape to contours and glue several layers up. |
Can be sawn Can be cut easily Can be hot wire cut Low effort to cut and shape |
Filing with surform only Most glues melt it Needs special glue to bond it Creates white snow of debris |
Saw Knife Surform Sandpaper |
Lowest cost insulation (small pieces can be had from packaging) |
Extruded Polystyrene Insulation {XPS} |
Available in several thicknesses. Very easy to work with. Further coating on final surface may be desired. |
Available in several thicknesses. Either carve from one thick piece or shape to contours and glue several layers up. |
Can be sawn Can be cut easily Can be hot wire cut Much stronger (denser) than expanded |
Filing with surform only Most glues melt it Needs special glue to bond it |
Saw Knife Surform Sandpaper |
Medium cost insulation |
PIR (polyisocyanurate) Insulation |
Available in several thicknesses. Very easy to work with. Further coating on final surface may be desired. |
Available in several thicknesses. Either carve from one thick piece or shape to contours and glue several layers up. |
Can be sawn Can be cut easily Can be hot wire cut Much stronger (denser) than expanded |
Filing with surform only |
Saw Knife Surform Sandpaper |
High cost insulation |
Phenolic board Insulation |
Available in several thicknesses. Very easy to work with. Further coating on final surface may be desired. |
Available in several thicknesses. Either carve from one thick piece or shape to contours and glue several layers up. |
Can be sawn Can be cut easily Low effort to cut and shape |
Filing with surform only |
Saw Knife Surform Sandpaper |
Highest cost insulation |
Aluminium mesh and car body filler |
Similar technique to chiken wire and modroc, but with smaller work areas. Advanced technique |
Create terrain profile with pillars of wood, nail/glue/staple mesh between them. Cover with body filler to seal open surface. Finish with more filler and create desired finish. |
Exquisite fine detail possible Strength Very hard to work with Thin construction |
Sets extremely fast so only repeated small areas attemptable Very time consuming Cost |
Saw Scissors Plastic spreaders |
Extremely expensive (but cheaper if bought in bulk) |
Recommended