Realistic Rocks with Pumice Stone.
I enjoyed the article in the January 2016
Model Railroader by Kim Nipkow on “3 Ways for Realistic Rocks”, but wanted to
add a 4th alternative: - Pumice stone.
Pumice is a very light aerated, porous
volcanic rock often found washed up on beaches.
Figure 1 below gives some examples. These
samples are about 1-2 inches (2-5 cm.) long.

Figure 1 - Pumice as collected from the beach |
There are many samples of pumice that like
charcoal in the January article look like real rocks and can be inserted into
the scenery base as they come. Pumice can also be ground down and makes
excellent “talis rocks”. I use a mortice and pestal to grind the pumice and
produce my small tallis rocks.
Figure 2 - Let the grinding begin |
Here is a picture of some completed scenery
using pumice as well as rock moulds.
Figure 3- A dry creek bed using mainly ground pumice stone |
Many of the rocks in Figure 4 are pumice
stone or ground pumice.
Figure 4 - Completed scene using pumice rocks |
In summary, if you have access to pumice it
is a free and very light weight solution for rocks and small talis on your
layout and complements other rock building techniques.
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