One of the most versatile crafting materials is extruded polystyrene insulation (XPS) foam. At the hardware store, it typically comes in large sheets of pink, green, or yellow foam, and the most popular varieties are one inch thick. Learn how to use XPS insulation foam in model railroading.
Tools You’ll Need
To work with this kind of foam, you’ll need certain tools. Below are the most important tools to have on hand for working with XPS foam:
- A handheld or stationary hot wire cutter
- Hobby knives
- A ballpoint pen
- A wire brush
- Aluminum foil
- Modge Podge matte finish glue
- A hot glue gun
To cut and shape the XPS foam quickly, you’ll want to use a hot wire cutter. Hobby knives are useful for making smaller cuts. The ballpoint pen, wire brush, and a crumpled ball of aluminum foil are excellent tools for texturing your foam. Hot glue holds projects together, and the Modge Podge seals the foam.
Landscapes
You can use XPS insulation foam in model railroading to create realistic landscapes like hills, mountains, and even desert mesas. Stack rectangular sections of foam on top of each other and glue them in place. Then, using a handheld hot wire cutter, you can quickly sculpt the shapes you want for your layout.
Stonework Effects
XPS foam is great for mimicking stone. This makes it the perfect material for building castle ruins, stone bridges, and brick silos. One option for making your desired pieces is to cut small bricks out of the foam and build your structures from scratch.
To create a stone bridge, glue together the basic shape of your structure, then use the ballpoint pen to etch in the lines for stone masonry. Rough things up with the foil and you’ll get a nice rock texture on the foam.
Barns and Buildings
You can create many simple wooden buildings out of XPS foam as well. Simply build up the pillars and walls of the structure with foam, then texture with a wire brush to add a wood grain. Use a hobby knife to cut out smaller pieces for details like support beams and even roof tiles.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning how to use XPS insulation foam in model railroading. It’s one of the most universal crafting materials, and it keeps your projects lightweight and looking great.
