Creating a Foam Backdrop - Carving Rock into Foam Board - Model Railroad Scenery

Creating a Foam Backdrop
Carving Rock into Foam Board - Model Railroad Scenery
I was inspired to do this after watching
• A Model Railroaders Be...
‪@boomerdiorama‬
Hope you enjoy the video!
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Thanks for watching!
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Original song “Open” composed by James Kinne
Instagram @jameskinnemusic
www.jameskinnemusic.com
All music used with permission from the artist
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The legal stuffs:
I have no affiliation with Lionel, or anything else for that matter, and my repair methods are my own based on what has worked for me.
I am not a professional but a passionate hobbyist. Your results may vary. I am not responsible for any damage resulting from any repair method. I am here mostly to provide inspiration and insight.
You can do it, grab your tools and get to work!
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#dagryffyn #lioneltrains #ogauge

[@uptownphotography]

Nice job...Well done.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thank you!

[@billharrold6038]

Great technique Dave, two walls with one piece of thicker foam. Smart thinking. Your detailing the finished product really came through. Nice job.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thank you much Bill. Splitting the piece of foam cake about by necessity, all my foam was too think for the location, and I don’t want to buy more until I have to, so splitting it seemed to be a good solution!

[@JDWorkshop-wn9tt]

Looks really cool!

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thank you 👍

[@rickmansberger4136]

Genius, looks so good!

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks!

[@coverdalemineoscalemodelrr7074]

That’s a good idea Dave

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks!

[@MESA-East-Model-RR]

What a great technique. I really like the results. Going to need to try this at some point.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks. It really is a fun and relatively easy project, and the nice thing is, it really doesn’t need to be exact or done in a specific way.

[@tinytowntrainstv]

Thanks, Dave! Looks like it might be valuable therapy for venting feelings of aggression, as well as for scenery building! lol Be careful with that wire brush. You could poke yourself with that. Have a great weekend! T4

[@dagryffynhobby]

Oh I don’t have any pent up feelings of aggression 🤪 I actually have hurt myself with the wire brush, those bristles are sharp!

[@tinytowntrainstv]

@@dagryffynhobby I think Harbor Freight has a table top log splitter that might work for that application. Thanks. T4

[@dagryffynhobby]

@@tinytowntrainstv haha! Awesome idea!

[@BookBuds]

Now that’s a knife! That was awfully close to your hand a few times! 😆 Nice rock wall 👍

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks. It was not my first choice of tool.

[@Coreyt1976]

Great video Dave. I’m getting ideas for when I can build a layout. Glad you put the disclaimer about the knife. I’m glad you didn’t cut yourself either. Maybe wear some Kevlar gloves to protect your hands.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks. You know, I actually do have Kevlar gloves somewhere. Not that I could find them! I don’t plan on doing it like that again, one sneeze and it’s over

[@henryszubielski8601]

Neat method. Thanks for sharing.

[@dagryffynhobby]

You bet!

[@d.cthehobbyist2252]

That's awesome I will be using this technique when I start my layout this summer

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks! I’m glad you like it. It takes a little practice but if you don’t like how it looks, just keep carving!

[@seanstraindepot]

Wow that looks so realistic, nice job!

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thank you sir!

[@fredeisen7401]

I use a drywall saw. Works great and gives you the same type of surface.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Hmm - I don’t know if I’ve tried that. I’ll have to give it a shot and see what I think.

[@stevenmiller5696]

Very cool and inventive. Thanks for all the ideas!

[@dagryffynhobby]

Glad you liked it. So much of what I’m doing, I’m just making up as I go and see what works.

[@gerlandkent6377]

thank, you for you're video.👍

[@dagryffynhobby]

Glad you liked it

[@ChristopherBrown-mq1lg]

Nice job 👍 like the way it turned out .

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thank you👍

[@edwardpalazzotto1129]

Very professional...excellent mountains ...I'm learning a lot...thanks...keep up the great work

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks so much!

[@nicholaslongford5195]

I love this I'm gonna try it

[@dagryffynhobby]

Great! I’ve come to find it all comes down to trial and error, if you don’t like what it looks like, just keep going!

[@stevenbullock9276]

Interesting and creative. Working my first attempt with foam board, building a small hill with 2-track tunnel. Only so much I can do without a machete, but I'll try my best 😁

[@dagryffynhobby]

You can do it. And I do t recommend the machete! haha.

[@northpennvalleysteamrailroad]

Awesome video! I was at York today! Had so much fun!

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks! I’ll be there Saturday

[@FBMRR]

Very cool. I'll try it out.. I'm in the process of rebuilding my layout now. Thanks.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks. Try it a few times on some scraps until you find what you like.

[@dbcooper1961]

Excellent technique, i recently applied this and after paint and ground media I achieved a most awesome rock wall. I did however alter your method. When making initial separation of the foam I dug at angles with my blade and the result was dramatic in rock cuts.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Very nice! I always say adapt to your needs and preferences. However it works for you is great. I feel like every time I do some carving, I do it slightly differently.

[@Conraildan]

Great ideas 😊 i suggest when cutting with the utility knife, be sure to cut in a direction away from your body. Those knives will definitely cut through skin faster then foam 😮

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks! Yeah I know I know. Yet I still cut towards my self. You would think that after seven stitches in my left palm and a couple weeks out of work, I would have learned my lesson!

[@ozarkmidlandsouthernrailway]

Pretty neat, Dave. The foam looks pretty cool. Have you begun to think about what color(s) you are going to use on the foam rock. Enjoyed watching the video.! Bill B.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Don’t rush me Bill! LOL 😂 I really haven’t thought of it much. The paint that I used on the parts that are already painted was just a random color I picked out at Home Depot. I will have to do some thinking on that. I’ll probably use a number of colors and washes depending on the area. I also want to cover a lot of it with trees/bushes.

[@FLRailroaddog]

Nice job Dave, between you and Bills channel I’m getting inspired to redo my layout and add some mountains, etc. Great Video👍

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks! The temptation to start a new layout is always high, at least for me anyway, but you can also just redo small portions of the layout, add detail here and there. But don’t let me stifle that inspiration!

[@railchief74]

@@dagryffynhobby great video Dave. Love your shirt by the way

[@dagryffynhobby]

@@railchief74 thanks!

[@ozarkmidlandsouthernrailway]

@@dagryffynhobby I think building a new railroad layout is especially inviting when you can acquire additional space for it. That additional space always stimulates those creative juices. Hey Dave, be careful with all those knives, okay buddy. We're not suppose to loose any digits in this hobby. I'm starting to wonder if perhaps T4's idea may have merit. LOL Bill B.

[@vincenthuying98]

Cool method Dave, especially how the initial cut of the two slabs come out. Very much like this idea of creating ‘low relief’ 3D rock backdrops. Think the field of depth will be even more enhanced when the top end of the foam piece gives a peak on a second higher layer. Sort of as you photographed the intro image. Curious, as to what you’re gonna use to finish these rocks with.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks! It’s not bad for making it up as I go! I can’t wait to make more progress on the scenery.

[@scpvrr]

Ok. Did anybody else find themselves sweeping up Dave’s scraps in front of their iPad. No? Nobody?? Dang.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Hey, thanks for trying to help clean up 😂

[@doghairdontcarelindaniel7531]

Use serrated knife and saw it. Or electric turkey carver. Works great.

[@dagryffynhobby]

Electric turkey carver! I love that idea, sounds messy but easier than scraping with a knife.

[@timstrainroom8007]

So cool, very well done. I had to chuckle, when you sped the tape up it reminded me of he chipmunks or mice in a cartoon. LOL. Now I want to see it all painted up. I admit you scared me with the knives. I expected a Halloween prank and a severed and bloody hand. Just saying! Have a great weekend Dave, are you going to York this weekend? Take care! Tim

[@dagryffynhobby]

Thanks! Oh man, such a missed opportunity for a prank! Now I’m totally disappointed. I’m sure we have a severed hand around here somewhere. 👻 I always think of the chipmunks when I speed it up! So funny. I am going to York tomorrow morning, stupid early. It’s going to be a 3+ hour drive.

[@timstrainroom8007]

@@dagryffynhobby oh man take some video. I can’t believe I was an hour from there when I was in Baltimore. I’m sooooooo jealous.

[@timstrainroom8007]

@@dagryffynhobby dude it’s will be so worth it. I actually thought of flying in and staying with a friend in Baltimore County. My drawbacks were being sick and the shipping everything back home that I’d buy. That alone would end up being a small fortune. Have a great time tomorrow. I wanna hear all about it. Take care and have a safe day. Tim

[@dagryffynhobby]

@@timstrainroom8007 those are some serious restrictions! I would rather be there for a few days, but then I’d have to spend money on things that aren’t trains. Maybe next year I’ll go for a couple days.

[@richardnelson-ux1zz]

How about spray foam to build mountains and tunnels maybe like. Paper Mackay

[@richardnelson-ux1zz]

Spray foam use it like paper. Mache

[@dagryffynhobby]

I personally don’t like working with spray foam. I’ve tried it a few times. I know some people get some good results with it. But it’s not cheap, its sticky until it dries, and leaves an inconsistent layer of foam. I’d rather just stack sheets of foam, no need to wait and i can just keep working.

[@dapperdan9470]

3:48

[@dagryffynhobby]

What, the machete? 🔪

[@marcheslop4795]

Machete time!

[@dagryffynhobby]

Not my safest decision lol

[@richardgeorge9108]

Instead of the machete try a bread knife instead. Works great but still a finger hazard.

[@dagryffynhobby]

I usually use a steak knife, this may have been when my knife had just broken. Don’t really remember. But I don’t plan on using the machete again!

[@driverman8615]

why not buy two half in. pieces?

[@dagryffynhobby]

Because cutting it in half adds texture, and that’s probably just what I had on hand!