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Noch Wrinkle Rocks

Image of KEVIN PLAYERKEVIN PLAYER shows us how to use this interesting product from Noch to build cliff faces.

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Producing rock formations tends to be time consuming, messy and add considerable weight to a layout, the latter being a disadvantage for exhibition layouts. Noch have a product range which eliminates these situations with their Wrinkle Rocks range which comprises five strata effects and shades under part numbers N60301, N60302, N60303, N60304, and N60305.

The different types of rock represented by the range.

The product is a photo-realistic rock printed sheet, measuring 45cm x 25.5cm, produced on a robust paper which, when crinkled, provides a realistic rock effect.

How you might find the Wrinkle Rocks in your local model shop.

How to use Wrinkle Rocks

First, you need to produce a former to support your rock face as you would with any cliff-building method. I have built a lattice using strips of corrugated card. The rear support was produced from foam, cut to the required height and length, glued to the baseboard. In my case, I used foam board. The two sections were glued together using DLAD-34 Foam 2 Foam produced by Deluxe Materials.

The vertical strips of card were glued to the top of the back support using a Glue Gun (GM655). Again using the glue gun, the strips were attached to the base at the desired angle. Horizontal strips were then interwoven between the vertical strips. Using a small amount of glue, the interwoven strips were then glued to the vertical strips where cardboard met cardboard. On completion, grey acrylic paint was applied to lattice and base, then left to dry, resulting in a strong, lightweight frame to work on for the rock face.

To prepare the Wrinkle Rock sheet, the white edging is cut off. By back rolling the sheet, it will lay flat making it easier to work with. Where you require more than one sheet or sections from a sheet, make a note of the strata (you can mark the rear of the sheet identifying the top).

The completed lattice with a crumpled sheet.

Now for the rock effect. Working with printed face uppermost, start crinkling the sheet so that it is well crumpled and creased. The more the product is crumpled, a more realistic effect will be achieved. Open the sheet out and inspect the result, keep crumpling the product until you obtain the desired effect.

On completion, open the sheet out and lay it on or against the former, review the effect again (ensuring it is the correct way up in respect of strata). Now mark the former where the sheet ends, this being the position of the next sheet if required. Removing the rock sheet, apply adhesive to the support former. I used DLAD-86 Tacky Glue by Deluxe Materials. On completion, place the rock sheet into position on the former. You will only need to press down to ensure adhesion where it physically touches the former - remember rock areas protrude so don’t press these areas down, the product is flexible, the creases will maintain the shape of the rock effect where it protrudes away from the former.

Unfolding the sheet. The special paper ensures sharp creases are left.

You can now move on to another full or part sheet to complete your rock face. As with the first sheet remove the white edging strip and cut it to the approximate size with a little overlap to the originally applied sheet. Remember, when crinkled the dimension will reduce, so take this into consideration, should you make an error, this can be corrected with another piece later. Check the strata and mark the rear of the sheet and crumple this sheet as you did the first, continuing to crumple until satisfied with the result. Making note of the strata, lay this sheet into position with a slight overlap onto the previously applied sheet, when satisfied cut the matching edge to produce a shallow curvy cut face. You do not want any straight edges along the joining edge.

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Now apply adhesive to the rear of the sheet where it will affix and overlap the original sheets edge. Next, apply adhesive to your former as before. Carefully place this sheet/piece into position slightly overlapping the original sheet ensuring you have no gaps, press down gently along this edge, instantly removing any glue that may be squeezed out. Gently press down the sheet onto the former as you did previously.

Should you find the sheet is not adhering to the former where it should, you can use thin pins to hold it in position until the glue dries, on removal the holes should not be obviously visible. Noch produce an excellent tutorial on YouTube, which is at the end of this article.

The entire lattice is now covered completely.

On completion of your entire rock face, allow it to dry. When dry you can then apply your desired scenic products to the rock face creating the end effect that you want. For the example in this article, I used 2mm static grass from both the Noch and Gaugemaster ranges of different shades, this being applied using a GM193 Puffer Bottle. For bushes, I used pieces of GM195 Seafoam, which were positioned at the base of the rock face along with GM138 Flowering Grass Tufts representing weeds. To adhere the grass, I used GM169 Static Grass Glue, for the bushes and weeds, DLAD-25 Scatter Grip was applied.

Vegetation added across the rockface.

To prepare the ground area, I used N60823 Nature Terrain Paste supplied by Noch, which comes in a set of 3 different colours, (for industrial areas they supply N60824 Industry Terrain Paste). In my opinion this is an excellent scenic product providing a good texture with the colours being capable of being worked in together providing a natural and shaded effect. My preferred application method is to use a very stiff artist’s brush. The Texture Paste is applied to the surface and worked in until the desired effect is obtained, prior to the product drying I then stipple brush the area, which removes the chance of brush stroke lines and enhances texture. This product is also suitable for N Scale.

Noch produce an immense range of figures, scenic, and modelling products to an excellent quality standard, with several also packaged under the Gaugemaster Product range.

Our realistic rockface is now complete.

I highly recommend obtaining a copy of the Noch Catalogue. Not only does it provide you with the vast range of available products, but also full descriptions, plus information on the use of many products. This catalogue will last you for several years, as the new announcement catalogues can be obtained free each year after the Nuremberg Toy Fair and are normally available from March onwards each year.

Here is the YouTube tutorial from Noch:

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