RAILforum: Mountain Building

This is topic Mountain Building in forum Model Railroading at RAILforum.

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Posted by millcstl (Member # 60) on :

Anyone out there have any experience with a product called "Mountains in Minutes"? I'm playing with some different mountain building ideas, although I've always built in hydrocal and screen wire, I'm wondering if there is a better way.
Scott

Posted by NVTiny (Member # 45) on :

I have not used 'Mountains in minutes', BUT..

I spent over 30 years using Hydrocal with paper towels, applyed over piles of newpaper crumpled up in shape of mountain, I then sprayed this paper mountain with a liquid soap and water mix [3 drops of soap to pint of water]...

I applyed 3 or 4 layers of paper towels/hydrocal, when I pulled the news-papers out, this made a light, but strong mountain. Then Rock castings were added to this where needed.

I had 5 Layouts done this way...

I now make my mountains out of real ROCKS
and sand. But them I'm now out doors in LS trains[^]

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NVTiny
Desert Springs & Rattler Gap Railroad
http://www.trainweb.org/dsrg/dsrg.htm

Posted by Mike C (Member # 35) on :

Foam is definately better IMO and lighter. I dont use mountains in Minutes, but something similar. What I use is expanded styrofoam used for building insulation. Just stack it up and carve it to the desired shape. Easy!! After its carved you can apply a thin coat of plaster, or other lite weight coatings. Using foam makes planting trees a breeze too.....Mike

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Its only money

Posted by jcater (Member # 31) on :

Scott,
As you know, the CSW is situated in a very mountainous area of Colorado

. I have used several products over the years (including one I really liked from a train show, but can no longer find

) but never tried mountains in minutes. Whenever I build scenery of any kind I look at several factors: realism achieved, cost, durability, and repairability. The last of these is important, since I have limited access to hobby supplies

. After weighing the options, I built the CSW in the tried and true method of cardboard webbing with plaster soaked paper towels. Yes, it is heavy, but it is durable and easily repaired with a trip to the hardware store. Plaster is also the cheapest building material I have yet found. Happy Modeling!!
John

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Colorado and Southwestern, the Top of the Rockies!
http://jstrainstation.homestead.com