Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Wider Wargaming => Painting & Modelling => Topic started by: FierceKitty on 19 July 2011, 01:33:15 PM

Title: Advice, please; crumbly plaster model
Post by: FierceKitty on 19 July 2011, 01:33:15 PM
I've just bought a very pretty but very fragile model Hindu temple, just about the right scale, The thing appears to be made of a low-grade plaster. I'd love to use it for a BUA in Moghul games, but fear it wouldn't survive. What can I do to make it more durable? Fifty coats of varnish?
Title: Re: Advice, please; crumbly plaster model
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 19 July 2011, 01:51:56 PM
Dip on a mixture of 50% water 50% pva?
Title: Re: Advice, please; crumbly plaster model
Post by: Squirrel on 19 July 2011, 07:10:42 PM
Spot on Lemmy, that will work perfectly. The same mix is used in the construction industry to stabilise crumbly brick or plaster wall surfaces too. Just coat with car primer spray afterwards as water based paints won't adhere properly to the pva.

Cheers,

Kev
Title: Re: Advice, please; crumbly plaster model
Post by: Maenoferren on 19 July 2011, 09:01:21 PM
yep PVA and water :D
Title: Re: Advice, please; crumbly plaster model
Post by: nikharwood on 19 July 2011, 09:09:20 PM
Yep - diluted PVA will do the trick; I'd be tempted to give a couple of thin coats rather than one thicker one. You could [potentially] add in some pre-mix plaster / spackle [eg Polyfilla in the UK] to the thinned mix - this'll strengthen too...and if you want some additional texture, bung some sand in too.

I've said it before & I'll say it again...mad feckin scientist, me  :d
Title: Re: Advice, please; crumbly plaster model
Post by: GordonY on 19 July 2011, 10:11:22 PM
OR make a Latex mould and recast it in Heculite II, it'd survive being smacked with a 3lb hammer then.
Title: Re: Advice, please; crumbly plaster model
Post by: nikharwood on 19 July 2011, 10:27:07 PM
Quote from: GordonY on 19 July 2011, 10:11:22 PM
OR make a Latex mould and recast it in Heculite II, it'd survive being smacked with a 3lb hammer then.

True, true  ;D :-bd
Title: Re: Advice, please; crumbly plaster model
Post by: Maenoferren on 20 July 2011, 10:01:35 PM
I use Kerramin for my plaster, solid stuff :D