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Once the glue had dried the next step was to begin to shape the ground. For this operation I used an old tried and true. I mixed up a solution of plaster of Paris. Remember that this process can be a little messy. I covered everything that I did not want spots to get on. This included portions of the diorama, the workbench, and the floor.
The normal mix rate for plaster of Paris is 1 part plaster of Paris to 2 parts water. For this operation I start with a mix of 1 part plaster of Paris to 3 parts water. If the solution seems too thick I add water at a rate of ½ parts until I am satisfied with the solution. I want it thin but not too watery.
The next step is to take a paper towel sheet and shred it in half. I then place the half sheet in the plaster of Paris solution and soak it. I then take the sheet and begin covering the foam. I overlap the subsequent sheets by half. I let the first layer of sheets dry for about a day.
If the layer does not seem strong enough I will then do a second layer. The thing you have to be concerned with when doing a second layer is how thick the paper towels are getting versus how thick you want them. Remember you have to come back with a layer of plaster of Paris to seal them.
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