Foam Board

[matty1001]

I am going to start a diorama for my hobbits and was going to use foamboard for the base of it, does foamboard buckle or crease like cardboard when using waterbased paints or PVA glue onto it?

 

[MPJ]

It can but is much less likely. If you can get it the black foam board is much stronger than the white and usually only a little more expensive, the foam in the middle of the black is sturdier stuff. Make sure you coat the foam edges in PVA glue or acrylic paint of some sort before spraying with primer. Spray paints will eat the foam.

One of my favorite basing materials for scenery is old CDs. Of course this only works with smaller items but CDs make great bases, they can be tricky to cut and need to be filed/sanded around the edges because they can be sharp. Don\'t know what it\'s like in the UK but I\'ve got hundreds of extra CDs kicking around, many of wich are AOL demo discs I used to get in the mail, blank CDs are relativly inexpensive too.

 

[matty1001]

Cheers, learnt the melty thing at school doing my graphics A level! I had built a concept computer out of styrofoam then went to spray it white and, well, it didnt look like a computer once i had done that! lol

 

[airhead]

This tool:

Is available at Dick Blick and other places. Makes a neat rabbet joint in the foam core. No exposed foam to see.

 

[demonherald]

It\'s just a case of taking it easy really...
it\'s card on the outside so will go soft with excessive water...

 

[jdtingley]

Good to know and great timing I was going to work part of a diorama in foam board

 

[MPJ]

While I\'ve never used foamcore for basing I use it extensivly in building walls and such, feel free to check out my stuff here. Since your there please leave comments as I\'m hungry for them.

Other than the CDs mentioned earlier I tend to use Basswood for bases but it is a bit expensive for those purposes. I want to start using MDF as it is fairly resistant to curling and quite cheap but requires heavier duty tools which I do have in abundance (I\'m a contractor) but not everyone has access too, I also can\'t find MDF thinner than 1/4\" (about the thickness of formcore). Hardboard is tempting and comes down to 1/8\" in thickness I\'m just worried about warpage.

 

[Thecadian]

where do you get foam board from??

 

[airhead]

Originally posted by Thecadianwhere do you get foam board from??

Foam board or foam coar is usually sold in the office / school supply section. It is like poster board on each side of styrofoam, like a sandwich.

 

[provoke me]

when cutting make sure the knive cuts for you. dont force it. and after about 3 full cuts switch out the blade.
this is if you want super clean edges, very professional looking outcome that way.
also, acrylics work prefectly fine on foamcore. havent

dont forget to post some WIP pictures.

 

[MPJ]

Well, I used one of these today to bevel cut foamcore:

Made for a real nice cut but I can\'t recomend it. Had my wife walked in and saw how close my fingers were to the blade I\'m sure I would have been smacked. :drunk:

 

[airhead]

here is a nice farmhouse from Reaper\'s site made from foamcore:

http://home.centurytel.net/chesme/farmtut.htm