Faller stone sheet - profi?

[amato1969]

I'm about to tackle some bridge piers, and while searching for some cut stone sheet material, I came across these:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/272-272651

Has anyone worked with these?  Looks like they're not styrene, but I really like the look/texture (at least in the pic).  I'm curious if they would handle close to plastic or resin...

  Frank

[Chris333]

They look good. I'd like to know more as well.

[DKS]

I bought some. Unfortunately the photos make the stuff look much better than it really is. The surface is very coarse, and the stones look a bit oversized. It would be fine for use, say, as a retaining wall at the back of a layout, but it's not suitable for foreground detail items like piers.

It's made from flexible foam, so it's easy to bend. But, being soft, it's harder to cut precise mitered corners, and it can't be sanded. Can't use any solvent-based glues or paints on it.

[amato1969]

Thanks for the first-hand review, David.  I was afraid of that when the description contained "foam".

The resin Pre-Size product looks nice too, but a little more pricey.  Given that I need five piers, making a master and cranking out some plaster casts may be my best option.

  Frank

[DKS]

The Pre-Size resin cut stone is quite good. The random stone isn't so great, though.

[sirenwerks]

At the risk of sounding insane, I remember a product being featured in the last two-ish years on this site or the Atlas list that was actual scale stones that could be laid to form retaining walls, etc. Like I say, it's a vague memory, but I think it was Tomm Mann or Bob from TrainCat that was using it. Or was it you Chris? Anyway, while time consuming it looked pretty sweet.

[DKS]

At the risk of sounding insane, I remember a product being featured in the last two-ish years on this site or the Atlas list that was actual scale stones that could be laid to form retaining walls, etc. Like I say, it's a vague memory, but I think it was Tomm Mann or Bob from TrainCat that was using it. Or was it you Chris? Anyway, while time consuming it looked pretty sweet.

TrainCat was using them to make bridge abutments. They're marble chips.

http://www.texnrails.com/catalog/details.asp?sid=HL25173944332546&mfg=TMS&item=1200001&cat=T&series=

[sirenwerks]

David,

Any idea where he got the stones? I think it was at a show but he mentioned the vendor.

[DKS]

Any idea where he got the stones? I think it was at a show but he mentioned the vendor.

I'm working on it. 'Course, Bob might reply before I do.

[GaryHinshaw]

I believe it was Hunter Scenery, also a Florida outfit:

http://www.huntersceneryco.com/index.html

I saw these blocks at a Timonium show a while back and they looked great.  I'd like to try them myself.

[TrainCat2]

I did use blocks from Hunter Scenery, but don't bother with him right now ...

Good chance he won't fill the order. A couple of people on the A-Board were complaining that he did not fill orders, return emails or give refunds. I do know that he has pushed the business aside and is doing something else.

I have a bag or two left and I know that Brad at TexNrails has several bags in the shop. Contact him (sales@texnrails.com). Here was the thread about building the abutments with the blocks.

http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=33797

[sirenwerks]

Thanks, Bob. I couldn't find that thread to save my soul when I tried.

[DKS]

Good chance he won't fill the order. A couple of people on the A-Board were complaining that he did not fill orders, return emails or give refunds. I do know that he has pushed the business aside and is doing something else.

Hmmm... I just emailed the guy asking if the blocks were still in stock (as a test), and he answered right back indicating they were.

[sirenwerks]

Maybe it's a trap, David?

[TrainCat2]

I don't think it's a trap Bryan. I have known Bill Hunter for four years and he has been at the front of his company promoting his products. I do know that something happend earlier last year and he put the company on hold. If he answered Dave, he may be getting things back to normal.