Styrofoam Rock Formations

[tennyson]

Hi Everyone,

I stopped by a local Warhammer shop on my lunch hour the other day and was admiring these great landscape models that were displayed. I especially like the rock formations that gave a nice depth and bit of realism to the scene on the table.

Anyway, I asked the employee about them and he told me that he cut them from a type of styrofoam, brushed some Elmer's glue on them, sprinkled a little sand on the glue, and then painted them. It seemed too easy to have great scenery like this! Unfortunately, duty called back at work and I had to leave without getting any details.

I was wondering if any of you have made similar items. I remember that he said the styrofoam could be picked up at a supply store like Home Depot and it was pink ("packing foam" was the term he used, I think). Do you hand paint them or spray paint? I'm sorry if I couldn't be more detailed, but it would be awesome if I could make some props like this for my current group. Thanks in advance!

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

I've done a bit of styrofoam scenery and it really isn't very difficult. You do, however, touch on an important point: Handpainting or spraypainting. If you spray-paint unprotected styrofoam, it will melt. I learned that one the hard way. So, either paint your styrofoam rocks with gesso before you spray paint them or do it all by hand painting.

 

[Mark]

I've been messing around with a few of these tools.

http://www.hotwirefoamfactory.com

I'll add some pics to my miniatures pages sometime in the near future.

Hope that helps!

 

[tennyson]

If you spray-paint unprotected styrofoam, it will melt.

Wow, there's something I never wouldn have imagined. Does that apply to all spray paints? The reason I ask is because I was interested in using this craft spray (same design as a typical spray-paint can) that gives the subject a rocky finish, almost as if it were grainy.

 

[megamania]

There are special cutting tools for the foam that make it easy. I have one and went nuts creating hills, cemetaries and rock formations.
Something else I use is I buy the Chessex figurine carriers generally. The black soft foam pops and and with scissors and glue you can creat neat walls and black rocks with these as well.

Other times, I just search out true rocks to use.

 

[Maldur]

A freind of mine made real nice styrofoam rock
He cut the foam roughly in shape then use readymixed tileglue(cement like). After it dried he used the cheapers water based ppaint he could find painted them all grey. then highlighted with white.

He made about two game tables full of rocks and boulders in about an afternoon. If you get the hang off it it works really fast .

Good luck!

 

[Mark]

According to http://www.jamesfamily.org.uk/terragenesis/boards/cityboard2.html
Before painting I went and bought spray on textures. One was Flex Stone, a spray that give a gravel look when dry, the other was spray on spackle. These were costly, but they saved me the time of having to brush on texture paint. The Flex Stone fortunately did not melt the Styrofoam. Though I don't suggest you try a heavy coat, it does give a nice texture for dry brushing

(Emphasis mine...)

So there are some spray paints that do not melt styrofoam. I'll keep my eyes open for any more information along those lines but coating styrofoam with a brushed on paint or finish before spray painting (if you still feel the need to do this) might be a good idea.

(There are some cool pics on that site, btw. )

 

[tennyson]

Thanks for the great info everyone.

Mark (or anyone else that may know), what is a good base to put on the styrofoam before spray painting it? Basilisk mentoned "gesso" but I've never heard of it.

 

[Greatwyrm]

Be careful with the spray paints. Most of them are oil based. They use a form of paint thinner to keep the stuff thin enough to mist as it comes out of the can. Paint thinner of almost any sort will eat right through styrofoam.

My suggestion would be to get a quart of the cheapest, indoor flat finish latex paint your local store has. You should be able to cover a good deal more material and it will be easier to clean up.

 

[Mark]

Thanks for the great info everyone.

Mark (or anyone else that may know), what is a good base to put on the styrofoam before spray painting it? Basilisk mentoned "gesso" but I've never heard of it.

Here's a link on Gesso.

http://campscrafts.safeshopper.com/268/2068.htm?874

I guess (-o) that you can add pigment to it and choose your own color. I suppose black would be the base of choice. I hadn't really thought about adding a base to the underside of these things but it does seem like a good idea now that someone brings it up. (Thanks!)