Locally a lot of the guys use a concoction we called Achie Goop to use as basic ground material on top of plaster cloth or paper. Dave Acheson is the progenitor of this mix and it works very nicely over just about any substrate. Achie Goop 1 cup Celluclay 1 cup Mold-a-Scene plaster 1 cup latex paint (this sets the color of the ground surface) 1/2 cup Elmer's glue 1/4 cup Perlite (Miracle Grow sells it cheap) this can be crushed finer if desired 1/4 teaspoon of salt (improves conductivity for using an electrostatic flocking tool) Mix well. Water added while mixing to the consistency of creamy peanut butter. Achie Goop spreads easily with cheap coarse bristle brushes and can be used to build up over broken ceiling tile to develop terrain. It can be wetted while working to add various forms of ground cover or flock. Attached are some pictures from local modeler Mike Borkon's Union Pacific Third Sub, Road of the Streamliners layout illustrating some of what can be done. I have become the Master Ballaster and Mother Flocker on his layout. In the past three Thursday work sessions, I have laid 186 feet of double-track mainline ballast, with about twice as much to go.
Love it! I will try this on a micro layout I’m cooking up. It’ll be based on Arizona scenery and this looks perfect.
What is the "open time" for this material? How long after it is made does one have to shape it? How long until it is fully set?
It will set in the same time that latex paint dries, but it will stay fluid if covered like latex pain. We will spritz it with an 70/30 mix of water and isopropyl alcohol or a mix of water and Elmer's glue to stretch our working time to apply ground cover and flock.
I'm gonna try it for sure. Perlite. Can I get this at a good hardware store? And I cant wait to spritz, I feel more cultured already You guys are gonna give me grace and dignity yet. I'm gonna try 2 cups of Sculptamold, cause I have a brand new box of the stuff.
Perlite is available in the Miracle Grow brand at lawn & garden centers (even Lowe's, Home Depot or Menards). Mike Borkon has even added some drywall compound to the mix from time to time instead of some of the more expensive ingredients.
<snicker> Master Ballaster </snicker> <snicker> Mother Flocker </snicker> Ok, serious now, this seems to be an improved version of Ground Goop.: Lou Sassi's Ground Goop Recipe 1 part Celluclay - found at hobby shops, Michael's, etc. 1 part Vermiculite (found in lawn/garden or home stores) - finer textures seem best 1 part Brown/ tan flat latex paint 1/2 part white glue Shot of concentrated liquid Lysol -- to keep it from molding if you save it Mix with small amount of water to desired consistency - oatmeal consistency works well I'm curious about the Perlite--isn't it a volcanic glass? Does it dry hard and brittle?
Atchy. Think Itchy but with an A. He also has an HO model railroad (tongue-in-cheek) mini-industry named after him that nearly everyone locally has on their layout; Achegas (pronounced Atchy gas). Achegas is a compressed gas industry providing gas for refrigeration, heating and cooking. The company tag line is, "Metered Achegas" "The Magic Blue Flame". Each individual's Achegas distributorship is made from Design Preservation Models' Learning Kit and decaled with a uniquely numbered custom decal. There's a back story behind Achegas that I won't share in order to protect the guilty.
Achie Goop is a variation on a theme. Vermiculite is very angular in shape and tends to reflect light if exposed. Perlite is a white, very light bubbly volcanic rock that crushes easily. Yes, the recipe is an improvement.
I just saw your comment about the elephants in one of the pictures. There was a circus train on the layout; IMG1974 caught the head end of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Red Unit Circus Train.
We found that adding Lysol does more than prevent mold; it repels critters that like the taste of the goop. ~mike c
