celluclay

Hey juniormodeler, i just started working with celluclay literally a few days ago so i dont know if i quite qualify to give advice on this but i will anyway :) As far as mixing, start with how much culluclay you want(dry) put a little bit of glue and liquid detergent,(now some people will add plaster to the mix in a 70% celluclay to 30% plaster mix) then slowly add water and mix it inbetween adding the water. The packaging says to mix 32oz of water for every pound of celluclay, although this doesnt help in our case that is what the packaging says. The celluclay should be moist but not soaked. As for painting, you can paint directly onto it when it has dried, im sure some people prime it before but i dont see the need.
Hope this helps in some way

~Dave~

I've used it a couple of times. All I do is put it in a bowl add a good amount of white glue ( I just have fun with the glue ) then add a little water mix it with my hands add a little more water and so on, until it reaches the consistency of oatmeal. Last time I used it I played around with tinting it by add pastel chalk it worker, but theres got to be an easier way.

I put it on my base with my hand and just work it around with my fingers. I use an old paint brush, tooth picks, dental picks, and just about anything to put it on my models. For me it has always taken about two day for it to completely dry.

When it's dry I paint dircectly on the stuff with my airbrush, tinting the color as I go to give the ground work an uneven shadows and highlights.

I first learned about Celluclay in Shepard Paine's book "How to Build Dioramas" It's full of useful information.

QUOTE: The packaging says to mix 32oz of water for every pound of celluclay

This gives a ratio of 2:1 water to celluclay. Try mixing a small amount to experiment with, maybe 8oz. water and 4oz celluclay, so you don't waste too much.

QUOTE: This gives a ratio of 2:1 water to celluclay.

That isn't going to work because the water is in fluid ounces which are different from actual weight ounces. If i am not mistaken?
btw, i like your saying!
~Dave~

Here's my pennie's worth:
1. Add about 1 cup of water to an old Cool Whip (or similar) container. The measurement is just to get you started. The key to using Celluclay successfully is to use as LITTTLE water as possible.
2. Add a couple tablespoons of white glue and mix thoroughly.
3. Add paint to give you a basis for your groundwork. I like Liquitex Acrylics for this. Any of the earth tones will get your started. Add only a small squirt. Liquitex is a high solids acrylic paint, so a little will go a long way. Mix thoroughly.
4. Now, add 2-3 handfuls of celluclay and begin to mix it all together (Because of the large amounts of dust, this should be accomplished out doors or under some type of ventilation.) If it appears you have too much celluclay and not enough liquid, you are at the right mix ratio. Work the liquid into all the celluclay, until you get the consistency of a giant spit wad. If it's like oatmeal, it's too wet--add more celluclay.
5. If you are applying this stuff to a wooden base, Make SURE you have completely sealed the board; otherwise, when it dries , your board will look like a smiley face--or worse, when it finishes warping. I've used some of the acrylic polyurethanes (Minwax,etc.) with some success. In addition, I use a piece of old vinyl window screen cut to shape and stapled in place to give the celluclay something to adhere to. If you are going to construct hills, mountains, etc., use styrofoam as your formers. I've found celluclay performs best on bases the thinner it's applied. If you are adamant about building-up with celluclay, do it in increments--DON'T try to put a mountain in all at once--there is some shrinkage as it dries.
6. Lastly--thank goodness--keep a small container of clean water sitting next to you as you work this stuff. As you spread it out, take a little water on your fingertip and use it to smooth the surface. In addition, I've found it easier to wear some latex or nitrile (if you have a potential latex allergy) gloves. When you have finished, or need to stop, put the unused celluclay in a sealable freezer bag and stick it in the refrigerator. As long as it's moist, the stuff will last almost indefinitely.
Hope this helps. Let me know how it goes.
Gip Winecoff

thanks for all the feed back. it helped alot.