Ground Cover Over Lightweight Spackle

[BCR751]

I'm leaning toward using construction Styrofoam for my scenery base and either painting it directly or covering it with lightweight spackle.  I will have areas that will require "large" rocks and gravel as well as areas that will just need weeds and small bushes.  How would I apply these things to the spackle?  Should I try applying them when the spackle is still wet or wait 'til it dries and use the 50-50 matte medium/water mix, spray it on and apply the cover then?  I'm new to scenery so any tips are much appreciated.

Doug

[davefoxx]

I apply a coat of latex earth-colored paint over the foam and lightweight spackling.  I used to try throwing ground cover on while the paint was wet to get a base layer of foliage.   But, I found that I wouldn't get complete coverage without applying more adhesive, so I don't even bother with that step anymore.

I now allow the paint to dry and then come back with the scenic materials of choice.   The steps that I follow are: (1) apply the foliage/ballast, (2) spray or dribble on a wetting agent (water with a few drops of dish detergent added or full-strength 70% isopropyl alcohol), and (3) dribble on the adhesive.  I've also used Woodland Scenics' Scenic Cement successfully, but diluted white glue is much more inexpensive.

By the way, I did not have success with matte medium the last time I used it.  It had "snots" (lumps) in the mix and it caused a sheen on the track I ballasted.  Besides, matte medium can be very expensive.

Hope this helps,
DFF

[DeltaBravo]

Doug,
 I built my layout with foam as well. I didn't bother to spackle the joints. I used a product called Fusion Fiber. http://www.truescene.com/products You mix a little earth colored paint with the fiber and add water. Mix and apply like sculptamold. But this product has an adhesive built in. You can either add ground cover as you work or rewet the product and add your ground cover at that point. I found that if  I rewet the fiber it was a good idea to hit it with a spray of scenic cement. This seem to lock it down when there is a lot of material being applied. Here is a demo on Youtube:

Hope this helps and please post photos of what you end up doing.

David