Hobby Hint

Here is a quick and easy way to create groundwork and rubble for diorama's using Woodland Scenics lightweight Hydrocal. Follow the easy mixing directions on the box, mix enough Hydrocal so it will half way fill a plastic Mardi-Gras cup. (For our out-of-area visitors, that's the same as a super-sized plastic soft drink cup.)

After it hardens, remove the solid block from the cup. Now comes the fun part! Place it in a large box and with a hammer break it into various sizes and shapes. The smaller pieces may be used for street and building debris. The larger pieces may be used for creating uneven terrain and small hills by gluing them to the board and then covering them with Woodland Scenics plaster-cloth.

When dry, paint and detail to desire effect. I have found that using this technique yields a more natural look when it comes to making groundwork for your projects.

Using ribbon epoxy for your basic ground detail will save you time and allows you to add detail to your bases up to three hours later. It is ideal for adding footprints, bushes, rocks, etc.

Once dry, it may be sanded and or carved for additional detail. The main benefit of the epoxy is you can recess things such as rocks down into the groundwork giving your base a more natural look instead of items that look as if they were just placed there.

Photos by Phil Novak. Scans by Brian Hirsch