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02-19-2021, 01:48 PM | #1 |
Warrant officer
Join Date: May 2016
Location: NC
Posts: 592
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Hey all. I have been working on carving a cliffside and various pieces for a diorama. I am using large styrofoam blocks I got from a boating seller. Now the fun part. What is the best way to seal and paint the styrofoam? Seal, then paint, paint then seal; and what stuff to use? Thanks for any advice.
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02-19-2021, 02:20 PM | #2 |
Cobra Soldier
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: US
Posts: 68
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I'm by no means an expert, just got into dioramas a couple years ago, but I've been taking pointers from the tabletop gamers. A lot of them, when painting tabletop terrain, use a mixture of matte Mod Podge and black paint for their basecoat and I've found that works really well.
The Mod Podge helps to harden and protect the foam and the black paint both serves as a basecoat as well as a visual indicator of whether or not you've missed any areas. There's no real science to the mixture, just mix black paint into the Mod Podge until it's nice and dark. There's videos available on youtube, though, if you feel more comfortable seeing someone else do it first. I found it through a channel called Black Magic Craft. Once you're finished, another coat of straight Mod Podge (Without the black paint, of course) usually works as a good sealer. You can use spray sealer as well, just be warned that the propellant in spray cans CAN eat through styrofoam. If you used the Mod Podge basecoat technique, that helps to protect from this, but you still want to be a little careful. Don't let any build up and give it nice, even coats and you should be fine. Hope some of this was helpful! |
02-19-2021, 02:28 PM | #3 |
Mass Nerderer
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Slitherin' around the tank- It's cool, though, 'cause I'm being "watched"
Posts: 9,097
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Quote:
Hey all. I have been working on carving a cliffside and various pieces for a diorama. I am using large styrofoam blocks I got from a boating seller. Now the fun part. What is the best way to seal and paint the styrofoam? Seal, then paint, paint then seal; and what stuff to use? Thanks for any advice.
I reommend just getting the cheapest stuff Wal-Mart has, you'll want flat. You really should only need two cans- black and white if you want gray, or a super dark brown and whit if you want earth. First coat the entire thing thoroughly with the darkest color then gradually go lighter, using a dryer brush with each stage. You won't need to seal it, the paint itself will do that. You may have seen these before, but these are done with expanding foam: If you want to add the grasses, etc, I recommend looking into Woodland Scenics, they have an awesome variety of different turfs.
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02-19-2021, 04:25 PM | #4 |
Cobra Viper
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Celina, TX
Posts: 186
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WOW!!! Those look great!!
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02-19-2021, 04:48 PM | #5 |
Warrant officer
Join Date: May 2016
Location: NC
Posts: 592
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Thanks for the quick responses. And yes sataninjaku, I have seen your stuff and it is great. I have thought about the modge podge but didn’t necessarily want a smooth surface. More like sataninjaku’s model. So the paint pretty much seals it so that little styrofoam pieces dont flake off?
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02-19-2021, 04:57 PM | #6 |
Mass Nerderer
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Slitherin' around the tank- It's cool, though, 'cause I'm being "watched"
Posts: 9,097
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Quote:
Thanks for the quick responses. And yes sataninjaku, I have seen your stuff and it is great. I have thought about the modge podge but didn’t necessarily want a smooth surface. More like sataninjaku’s model. So the paint pretty much seals it so that little styrofoam pieces dont flake off?
Being styrofoam, it definitely won't withstand rough play, but you could increase the durability by base coating the entire thing with grout, or paintable caulk. Dap's Alex Plus is a good brand.
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I NEED TOYS DAMMIT!!! |
02-19-2021, 08:07 PM | #7 |
Hisstank.Com General
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Georgia
Posts: 14,836
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Those look real nice man!!!
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02-19-2021, 08:28 PM | #8 |
Mass Nerderer
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Slitherin' around the tank- It's cool, though, 'cause I'm being "watched"
Posts: 9,097
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Thanks man. They're a reminder that I need to get back to work on these things, I haven't had 25th era figures for more than a year!
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I NEED TOYS DAMMIT!!! |
02-20-2021, 03:16 AM | #9 |
Hisstank.Com General
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Brooklyn NY!
Posts: 5,239
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Quote:
Hey all. I have been working on carving a cliffside and various pieces for a diorama. I am using large styrofoam blocks I got from a boating seller. Now the fun part. What is the best way to seal and paint the styrofoam? Seal, then paint, paint then seal; and what stuff to use? Thanks for any advice.
Don't overlook toothpicks as a nice dowel to use to hold foam sections together, even if only to hold sections in place while the glue dries.
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Visit my vintage Joe restoration page! https://www.flickr.com/photos/131988164@N07/albums Cross Country's super smooth feedback thread. http://www.hisstank.com/forum/buy-se...ml#post4456308 Currently available Hasbro items. PM me for your prices (DO NOT be discouraged by the listing prices) https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_dkr...nirtoys&_oac=1 Last edited by Cross Country; 02-20-2021 at 03:19 AM.. |
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