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1 LANDSCAPING
Our go-to materials for landscaping are polystyrene blocks and plaster bandage. Polystyrene can be bought from DIY stores or collected from packaging. Both are equally usable as the basis for a scenic landscape and can easily be cut with either a double-sided hand saw or, for a cleaner method, a hot wire foam cutter. The latter makes swift work of cutting through polystyrene without leaving a considerable amount of mess behind.
Plaster bandage provides a hard shell over the top of the polystyrene which is suitable for adding ground cover textures on top later. It comes in rolls which can be cut down into manageable pieces – we find 6-8in is a big enough length – which is then soaked in water to activate the plaster before being positioned on top of the scenery. It is a messy but rewarding job, so make sure you cover any areas you don’t want covered in plaster. Expect to add around two or three layers for full coverage.
We have found that Hobby Craft offers the best value plaster bandage with a 3m long, 10cm wide roll costing just £1. Buy it in bulk – you will get through a lot creating a hillside or tunnel.
