I am fixing a building to my textured snowy base. I have a 1/8-1/4 deep inch gap between the the base and the bottom of the building. The gap is 1/3 inch long and very noticible. What would be the best way to fill this gap? How should I raise the base to the bottom of the building? I have celluclay. Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks!
Leddy
Get yourself a small tub of Spackle, (used to fill cracks in wallboard, etc.) at the hardware store. It is easy to work with, smooths out nicely, dries quickly and takes paint well. I don’t think I could build a diorama without the stuff. It’s great for making mud too.
Will Spackle fill a gap this large? Is there any special surface preparation before application or fnishing before painting? I’ve used this to filll tiny nailholes but never on a diorama.
Thanks!
Leddy
NO!!!
Don’t use Spackle!!!
It will take forever to dry!!!
Just use a few applications of white glue, impregnated over with whatever snow material you used.
Uh…ya didn’t use Baking Soda for the snow I hope!!!..[sigh]
I beg to differ, but what would I know, it’s not like I used to build dioramas for a living…
And is it really necessary to shout down my suggestion with 36 point type, or is etiquette out of fashion too?
I use plain ol’ joint compound, more popularly known as “sheetrock mud”… You can buy it in two-lb. tubs for about 3 bucks at any hardware store…
How is the “sheet rock mud” of joint fixing compound used? Will it fill a gap this size? How long does it take to dry. Can Woodland snow and white glue be used to finish it?
Thanks!
Leddy
N need to get irate, Kykeon–I’m speaking from personal experience.
I tried using Spackle in a similar fashion to fill a hole in a dio, and after 4 days it was still goopy. It hadn’t dried at all. It was like tapioca pudding. And it was an awful mess to dig out of the hole.
Apologies to you if you feel I was shouting you down or questioning your expertise; that was the farthest thing from my mind. Just didn’t want to see the guy make a mistake and then have to waste time waiting…there are times when I still do see guys recommending stuff like Baking Soda for rusting effects and snow on different modeling forums–and I will make as emphatic a post to those replies too, based on my personal experience. No need to take umbrage, friend!
I use it outta the tub, but it can be thinned with water. To fill a gap like you described, I’d just cut down some “popsicle” sticks into various applicator shapes and pack the mud into the gap, then smooth it off after the gap is filled. It’s drying time varies on how thick you apply it. Thinner applications dry fast, allowing you build up layers quickly, maybe 10 minutes between applications. If you apply it too thick, it will shrink, but I see no problems with filling gaps you’re describing. It’s designed to do just that, fill gaps in sheetrock walls… Just about any ground material you can think of will work on it with white glue…
I would fill the gap with a piece of plastic or wood then cover it with whatever you used for the ground work. then have the snow built up against the building to blend it into the scene [2c]
Durhams Water Putty! Stuff dries rock hard, and canbe drilled and sanded. Or use some milliput.