I guess being a real addict is seeing your "vice" in everything. Every time there is something about to be tossed out, or someone doesn't know what the heck it is, the first thought that comes to my mind is "How can I used that on my railroad?" If I can't think of something immediately, I put it in my box of "potentials" until I deem it either actual garbage, or find a need for it on the layout. An example in a thread here a few weeks ago about roof details. My wife was tossing out several small lead .177 cal. pellets from an old broken air riffle, when I asked her what the heck was she doing.. She told me "hon, these are junk, that old air riffle is broken, and I am tired of seeing these things every so often.." I said, what? Those aren't BB gun pellets, those are roof vents for my buildings.. " hehehh.. Yeah, I have a problem, but the 1st step is admitting it..
Think on it some.. Im sure there is a way. Even if you make thin paster pieces and laminate them together, but that might end up a real pain. You might find someting to make it look like it is layered shale. Maybe if you press foil into the edge of a book to mimic the layers using the pages? Then when you paint it, you will want to paint it dark, and dry brush with a much lighter color, so the ridges and "layers" that the book pages made will really stand out and look like flaking layers of shale? Dunno.. Just rambling and thinking out loud..
The book idea is worth exploring. I'm no where near that stage of the process but I will keep it in mind. Yes Bruce, thats pretty much it, maybe a bit more eroded.
Thanks. An old common way to make a shale wall is to use acoustical ceiling tiles, break them (for a rougher and jagged edge) and stack them. Like Tudor, I try to recycle materials I have on hand. Years ago, I had a Pergo floor installed. I chose to use an underlayment called 'whisperwalk' to help deaden the sound. It's a material similar to acoustical ceiling tiles, but thinner. I broke many sections off as straight as possible and stacked them (glued) up. I then colored them using several acrylic washes. I also dabbed in some green tones to simulate moss. Then a coat of acrylic matte sealer. Overall, I'll have to agree with Jeepy that it does have a more eroded look. The Whisperwalk material is quite fibrous and did require a bit of effort to pick out stray bits to tone down the fuzzy look.
For sandstone or limestone cuts, sheet cork works well. The technique is the same as for ceiling tiles. Stack broken pieces, coat with plaster or latex paint, then color with acrylic washes.
So what? Ok, so this thread went from a tutorial, to a show off thread. Oh well, I'm proud of my aluminum foil rocks.. here are the last handful I made in their natural environment. I still have some touch up to do, and I want to add some river type tall grasses when this all sets up and I am done rockin out. But, so far, they are turning out better than I had hoped. The drop off will eventually become a waterfall into the larger river below.
