Not sure yet. The next experiments with the Magic Sculp will point the way.
Mo’ later…
I was looking for the Magic-Sculpt web site, to confirm what I think I’ve read: that you can put the stuff in a microwave to make it kneadable. But the link they print on the plastic jar (magicsculp.com) has been taken over by some strange soccer-betting thing. And the site for the company name on the jar (Wesco Enterprises) touts only food service items. Most weird.
So I’ll nuke the crap and see what happens.
OK, here’s what happened, in a first test patch.
I nuked a piece of resin and hardener, each about 1.5 golfball sized, for 20 seconds. They were very pliable then, and mixed well. But the resin part was much hotter, kinda burned my thumb during all the mixing. Note to self: don’t go crazy on the m/waving.
The mixed MS easily laid down and spread onto the foam. The directions say it’s workable with damp fingers, and yep, it is. So once it was about 1/4" think, I started pressing in the foam chunks. Using mainly the 1/4" and 1/16" stuff, and a little bit of the powder after, here’s the result.
This is great, as far as I’m concerned. A big relief.
The MS needs to set overnight, and I’ll see how the foam chunks stuck tomorrow. Regardless, I’ll need an over-layer of adhesive to secure everything. Might be TBIII & water, not sure. Needs to remain a tiny bit flexible, and be good for latex paint adhesion. Thoughts?
===>Cliffy
looks, like you have some hours of hot fingers in your future.
I like the looks of the randomness.
Were these dumps from the mine or the mill? The mine produced over burden (coarse) and the mill; refining waste (fine).
Looking at the tailings after many years, will look coarser as the finer material has been washed away…
foods for thoughts
Korm, I think you’re right… (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-frown.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)
John, this is representing a recent waste dump directly from the mine. So, coarse, fresh, chunky, not chunky, mixed. Definitely not tailings from a mill.
Why then my friend I know you are on the right track!
coarse, fresh, chunky,
Ya know, that sounds more like…
Was thinking the same, David. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)
Thanks John, I always appreciate your thoughts! (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)
Been working on the layout all day, getting things cleaner and more functional. Tomorrow’s the big “mine planting” party, with Bruce C. and Jerry B. and all our better halves. We won’t tackle the dump (it has a long ways to go still), but we should be able to park the big bits. We’ll post pics for sure.
Cliff Jennings said:
… Tomorrow’s the big “mine planting” party, with Bruce C. and Jerry B. and all our better halves. We won’t tackle the dump (it has a long ways to go still), but we should be able to park the big bits. We’ll post pics for sure.
luckily it is no ship. so there is no danger, that you smash it with a bottle of champain.
have fun and a nice day!
Korm Kormsen said:
Cliff Jennings said:
… Tomorrow’s the big “mine planting” party, with Bruce C. and Jerry B. and all our better halves. We won’t tackle the dump (it has a long ways to go still), but we should be able to park the big bits. We’ll post pics for sure.
luckily it is no ship. so there is no danger, that you smash it with a bottle of champain.
have fun and a nice day!
With me, there’s always a chance for danger. Please don’t tell Cliff.(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif)
Good luck tomorrow Cliff !
Don’t forget pics of the HELP …(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
Cliffy I will mix it up under a hot water stream, as hot as my tough hands will take, it mixes easily. Then it will apply much easier to anything. I have also just set both parts in hot water to soften up, then it mixes easily. The MS you placed on the foam looks great.
Good luck on your structure setting
Dennis
In the old days I stained my hydrocal rock castings, I’d suggest a base coat of tan sprayed on and washes to add depth. My arsenal; a spray bottle with diluted India ink in alcohol and water diluted tube acrylic raw and burnt Umber and Sienna … other colors were dry brushed to pick out details. John P. could paint them, but I’d have to go with the washes.
Dennis Rayon said:
Cliffy I will mix it up under a hot water stream, as hot as my tough hands will take, it mixes easily. Then it will apply much easier to anything. I have also just set both parts in hot water to soften up, then it mixes easily. The MS you placed on the foam looks great.
Good luck on your structure setting
Dennis
That’s GREAT to know, Dennis, thanks very much! Much better than microwaving!
John Caughey said:
In the old days I stained my hydrocal rock castings, I’d suggest a base coat of tan sprayed on and washes to add depth. My arsenal; a spray bottle with diluted India ink in alcohol and water diluted tube acrylic raw and burnt Umber and Sienna … other colors were dry brushed to pick out details. John P. could paint them, but I’d have to go with the washes.
Yes indeed. After the sealer / adhesive coat will come the different shades of latex, and lastly I was going to try diluted dark browns sprayed on for shadows. Good tip on the alcohol.
About the sealer / adhesive for the “rocks” onto the Magic-scuplt. Titebond recommended their Weathermaster products, because of flexibility. But it comes in cartridges, and doesn’t look thinnable, and I forgot to tell them that I need something very thin.
After poking around a bunch, I can’t find anything better than diluted Titebond II. I say II (not III), because II remains somewhat flexible, where III can get brittle. I don’t know what heat expansion to expect (the mountain might blow up one day, I have no idea!), but some flexibility in coating seems like a good idea.
The topcoats of latex exterior paint will be the final sealant.
Thoughts? Concerns?
Well, cool.
We start off with a visit to Cliff and his wife Linda. And of course, we start in the kitchen, because model railroaders NEED FOOD!
L-R: Jerry Bohlander, Jean Chandler, Cliff Jennings, Jane Bohlander, Linda Jennings. (And in the middle of the table, FOOD!!!)
After a bit of socializing and a bit of chowing down, we head outside to take a look at Cliff’s railroad.
It’s good size. A loop at each end, cleverly concealed by a giant mountain. I’m pretty sure Cliff said the mountains were NOT natural. (Who knew???)
The middle of the railroad is covered by a giant deck.
Walking along, I take a look back. Everything is so well maintained.
We’re here to move the Hale & Norcross mining facility. It has been long anticipated - Cliff created these foundations awhile back. This is where the H&N will reside. (And this is the other end of the railroad, and apparently another non-natural mountain!)
It’s a wonderful looking platform, but check out the outside of his storage area underneath the deck!
More on that later, let’s go in and see the mine!
Not quite done with all of the waste pile, but it is a truly amazing model. Pictures really don’t capture the essence of this model; believe me when I tell you it looks so much better in person.
All of the modules are pre-wired for the lights.
We won’t be moving these sections today as the earth has not yet been excavated to handle this pile.
But, over in one corner is his experimental building that Cliff used to test out his tecniques. Pretty cool.
Linda likes to knit. (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
Well, since the H&N structure is Cliff’s baby, we used a baby carriage to move it out to the layout.
The big wheels help, but it’s also smart to hold on to the pieces as we cross the gravel.
OK, Jerry and I can help carry the parts out, but only Cliff knows how it all goes together. We “let” him do the assembly, while Linda looks on from the deck.
And all the pieces fit nicely!
After showing how nice it all fits together, Cliff demonstrates how easily the roof can be removed to hook up all the electrical wiring. (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif)
There’s a bunch of little pieces that we also brought out and Cliff shows us how they fit onto the main building.
The smokestacks slip in place. Holes have been drilled to allow for drainage.
Linda takes a picture; I think all of the little details like the ladders are now in place.
Very impressive.
Even Cliff takes a picture as Linda and Jane look on.
It looks GREAT from every angle.
We also get an opportunity to run some trains. My little brass critter is passing Jerry and his locomotive…with the H&N in the background.
Meanwhile, we get a look at Cliff’s storage facility under the deck. Each compartment opens (with a pneumatic assist!) to reveal 3 tracks; locomotives and rolling stock is well protected.
But I can’t resist yet another shot of the H&K with my motorcar in front.
And we also get to see the “experimental” building in place on the layout. Looks great!
I wish everyone could see the H&N model in person; it is a phenomenal model; and we just have to take a look at the build log to really appreciate all of the hard work that went into it.
Well worth it, and WELL done, Cliff; I am VERY impressed.
Thanks for a great dinner and great company as well.
Great pictures! Thanks for showing not just the building but the people and the whole layout. Nice!
Now I’m sitting over here on the left coast, jealous of the folks who got to witness the unveiling of the masterpiece 
Cliff: it looks even better outside. Fantastic job!