Foam Carving a Mountain for Diorama/Wargaming

XPS Foam can be found at most large hardware stores. It's different colors in different regions of the world. Chipping and flaking it into rock forms is super fun!

Did you know I wrote a fantasy novel? It’s got great reviews!

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Check out the Breath of Life website to see my art and all the OTHER crazy projects I’ve got cooking!

Other great terrain artists you should check out:
Real Terrain Hobbies

Black Magic Craft

Luke Towan

Music:

[catgray]

Having worked in a foam shop, and my husband is a foam sculptor, we never would have glued tons of little pieces together like that. We would have used appropriate foam adhesive to glue a bunch of 4 ft x 8 ft XPS panels together to make a huge block. Then, he would use a hot knife (it’s not a wire, but a thin, flat metal hot knife) and a small, handheld rasp (not the kind that looks like a big file, but rather a kind that has a small, curved head on the end of the handle) to shape the piece. If you use the right type of foam adhesive, that adhesive behaves just like foam and can be cut with a hot knife, razor knife and rasp. The foam adhesive is also great for filling in voids and then reshaping, or adding pieces where needed. Keep in mind, we usually made REALLY HUGE pieces for theme parks, restaurants, sports stadiums, museums, etc. But, the same processes can be used for smaller projects too.

[catgray]

One last thing, and it's super important... ALWAYS wear a mask when sanding foam. YOU DO NOT want to inhail foam dust. For one, it's a petroleum product, so has cancer causing properties, and two, once those fine particles get in your lungs there's no guarantee you'll cough them out. Especially if you work with foam often.... and it doesn't matter what kind of foam you are using. If you are making foam dust from any kind of foam, you must wear a mask (like the kinds of masks we all wore during covid). Make sure the mask fits your face really well with no air gaps anywhere. Air gaps will allow fine foam particles to be breathed in. Foam dust can be so fine that it hovers in air. It gets all over EVERYTHING. We used to have an air compressor, with an air gun thing attached, to blow all of the foam dust off of ourselves and then move away from that area before taking our air masks off. Use a hot knife to reduce foam dust, but also remember, hot knives and hot wires create really toxic fumes when used on foam.... so use them outside, or in really well ventilated areas.

[GryphonArmorer]

For the fine & extra fine crack details in strictly XPS rock : one thing I’ve found is a “wood burner”/soldering iron that has a really low, low range, using different size & shape tips (you can even custom “cut” your own tips) and different temperatures, you can make a lot of really interesting and realistic and/or smooth cartoon, comic many different variants) or game genre without learning a single bit of torched look on any edge or surface.; no matter what, a multitude of razor cutting implements (don’t forget plenty of extra sharps of your favorite & most useful for the project).
Then the paint job just organically grows before your eyes with every stroke & color change.
Great work. Doesn’t just look good/great, it looks REAL. 👍👍

[philcorrin]

....just...thank you !, your rock carving is amazingly realistic...been looking for so long to find someone who could show such detail in how to create this level of realism.

[jordanjones]

This is the first video of yours I've watched and I have to say I am impressed. As you eluded to, as artists our eyes are drawn to those things that we are not as satisfied with or feel could have been better. But as you also know- again as artists, we know there is no such thing as perfection. We have to learn to turn off our artist's eyes and look at the finished project from the view of the consumer. And in this case, it's mind-blowing how real it looks. Awesome job!

[bradcraig]

The definitive word on foam rock carving and texturing, I will be using these techniques for certain in future. Thanks for showing us how it's done.

[hervebuteau]

I have looked at a lot of terrain building, but you take it to the next level. Love your work !

[MrGrimmNZ]

In one video. You've made a subscriber for life my friend. Epic work. This is what I need to make the mountain of Doom from Mordor

[NorthoftheBorder]

Man, this thing is glorious. I don't have any room for something that size, but I feel like if I were to get rid of my coffee table and sofa, I could probably fit it in somewhere.

[plymouths]

Using a very bright light will help with getting the shadows and allow you to follow the refraction of light that bounces off

[orztirr]

That's awesome! You are taking on some dungeon crafting now!
Yeah, all that game world building has given you an artistic eye that has to be pretty unique. Nice work on this, some really great advise about how to think like an artist here.

[rickstockwell]

This is so good! I have been researching making fake mountains and rocks for a Bonsai, and this goes into much more depth than most videos especially with a Painting part. Thank you!

[catgray]

XPS is extruded polystyrene. I used to work in a foam shop. We made EPS foam architectural shapes for exterior installations on buildings and homes. We used XPS for making theme items for theme parks, museums, trade shows, experiential marketing events, etc.

[stevemc]

oh yeah....I just bought both of your books. The reviewer that stated they read the books to their kids convinced me. I'm always looking for a good book to read. I shall start tomorrow when I know my kindle will be charged up.

[MrCros]

that's excellent you could make a scene from Asoka with the rock finger etc ... as a wall mounted diorama.

[themcushelf]

This is fantastic! I watched (and greatly appreciated) your whole series on sculpting faces, and I’m glad to see you doing a deep dive into XPS foam rocks! I’ve watched a tone of rock making videos and I must say this is one of the best already! Didn’t realize you were on Instagram, I’ll go head over there now!

[markdmaker]

Very cool, came out looking great. I use the same kind of foam on my backdrop sign for my YouTube channel.

[grotwurksmekshop]

Love this. Working on a 40k display board with some snowy mountains so this is helpful

[pilgrimgrey]

Great tutorial and a fantastic result man.

[rosemaryr.long-morgan]

Cool, thanks for sharing. Q: Would a sand dune be similar in principle, only with softer edges? I'm doing a Diorama. Bi-Plane is 10" in 1/39 scale... sand dune is 100ft from Crest to Sea level. I dont have the room for 1/39 scale which makes it a 30.75" drop on the Slip-face side. I'll have to down-scale further for perspective. Yes, it's the Wright Bros. Flyer scene when its about to take off in 1903 from Kill Devil Hills (formerly Kitty Hawk) NC. Thanks again