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The cardboard latticework has all been covered with plaster gauze. Reminds me of the white mountain at Enchanted Forrest!
Rockwork has begun. As you saw in the last update, the rocks are plaster, cast in latex molds. Many are allowed to harden, removed from the mold, back-buttered with plaster, and pressed onto the gauze base (wetted with a spray bottle).
This shot shows how molded rock is applied to "corners" and non-flat base areas. At just the right time - not too soupy, not too firm - the mold with the wet plaster inside is pressed and taped into place, and left to harden. It's working against the clock as the plaster sets, and I can only do 3 or so at a time. Don't ask me how I learned what just the right time is. A lot of molded rock got crumbly and fell apart as I figured it out.
With the plaster hardened and the molds removed. It's like a 3-D jigsaw puzzle! I fit in entire castings best I can, and break and cut others to fill large gaps. After everything that gets rocks is covered, I'll come back and fill in the remaining gaps with plaster, then hand carve it to blend in. I have I think 12 molds, and the castings can be placed in different orientations, so it won't appear repetitive.
The lighting here makes things look pink - it's actually white, still no coloring yet.
It's a messy job... I've talked with some of you in the past about using extruded rigid foam insulation board for terrain, vs. the plaster-over latticework. I used both methods on the previous RR (although it was much less mountainous), and I found 2 things - I think the finished product looks better in plaster, and it takes much more artistic skill than I have developed to carve foam convincingly. And the foam is messy in its own way - the static in that stuff has little pieces following you around for days.
On the testbed, I've added plaster to fill some gaps and carved it, and done some rock coloring. I try different things out here, it's not meant to look complete or just right. But always trying to keep a step or 2 ahead. As many times as I've done scenery over the years, it's not something I do every day, and I get better as I go. The process also evolves as I research and try new techniques and materials. Like a lot of "construction" projects, sometimes it's hard to visualize the finished product until it's complete. I have a good vision of what I want, but getting there does take trial and error.
Back on the bench, what should be the last structure in the mountain half of the RR. I found out this kit is missing a couple of laser-cut pieces that I can't make myself (no, I don't have a laser cutter or a 3-D printer - yet). It happens. Replacement parts are on the way.
Next will be rock coloring and painting the non-rocky areas of the terrain. It'll be a while.
