feet of rocks on my last layout and I went through about four 100 lb.bags (I covered a layout 4x16 with mountains). I usually get USG 20-minute casting plaster (about $12.50 per 100 pounds), and lately have been doing base hardshell with a slower setting plater called Fix-All which is about $7.00 for 50 pounds at Home Depot.I concur with the other posts about hydrocal being very strong. If you're not employing Hydrocal for its intended industrial uses quit wasting time searching for it or wasting money buying it for $35.00+ (US) per 100 pound bag when other types of plaster work just as well or better for most scenery applications. Hand the average modeler an unmarked bag of some other setting-type plaster and he'll have the same success.
Compared to normal Hydrocal or casting plaster it sets up very soft and I don't like how it absorbs stains (it's easy to stain too dark).Īlso my opinion, but Hydrocal as a brand name has been unnecessarily pushed in the hobby as some kind of miracle ingredient that you must use to build a plaster shell. It's exactly the same material you can buy from a USG supplier in 50 or 100 pound bags for a LOT less. This is only my opinion, but I think the Woodland Scenics "Lightweight Hydrocal" is a complete rip-off. Also, it tends not to be very strong in thin applications whereas only a 1/8" to 1/4" shell of a setting-type plaster can be amazingly rigid. Unlike setting-type plasters (casting plaster, Hydrocal, etc.), it softens when re-exposed to water - a big disadvantage for many types of water-soluble scenery finishing techniques, shrinks considerably as it dries (while the other plasters don't), and dries very slowly. Why not just use Joint Compound? Here in Upstate NY, a 5 gal pail only costs $11.00ĭrywall mud has some adherents, but I don't like it for most scenery work. You may not get hydorcal exactly, but there are several similar products on the market for various purposes (floor leveler, plaster patching, drywall repair, etc.) YOu can buy these products in larger quantities and for MUCH less $$$. Just ask a knowledgable associate for a plaster that doesn't set too quick and that is lightweight. Go to your local do it yourself retailer (Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.) and see what they have. This is true, the WS products are very good, but if you have a layout of any size you can go broke using them. When that happens to me, I just take a hammer and break it up for talus.
USG CASTING PLASTER IN SAN DIEGO FULL
Just remember when you're using it, it cures about twice as fast as plaster, so don't mix up huge amounts at once, otherwise you'll have a bowl full of set hydrocal in about fifteen minutes. I usually use a combination of plaster cloth for the base scenery, and hydrocal for any castings I need to do. It has a much faster setting time than plaster, so you have to work quickly if you're planning on doing any moulding. Hydrocal's main selling point is that it's more lightweight than plaster, and unless you're using plaster cloth (like Woodland Scenics makes), a lot tougher. It comes in containers that look like paper milk cartons. If your LHS' in San Diego carry the Woodland Scenics line of materials, they should carry the lightweight Hydrocal.
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