Brown paper and pva covering.

Covering a depron model with brown paper and pva.

Well you have built your nice new depron model and it is looking very pretty, but what do you cover it with to protect it from the dreaded hanger rash, hmm.

There are a few choices of covering that can be used :- Tissue and a water based sealer.
Glass cloth and epoxy.
Glass cloth and PolyC.
Brown paper and pva glue.

Now my choice for foam is Brown paper and pva, why?
Well I find it easy to use, there is no smell and you can clear up quickly after use so it keeps the wife happy and it is also cheap.
A big plus in my books.

So how do we use it?
Well it is quite simple really.
Your first job is to get some pva from a hobby shop or a big diy chain as that will be the cheapest option and I like cheap.
The next job is to find a container and mix up some pva with water to thin it, a 50/50 mix works best for me. It should have the consistency of milk when mixed, but don't put it in your coffee by mistake.

The brown paper can be obtained from any post office or stationers fairly cheaply, of course you could use Christmas wrapping paper for adding that festive look to your model.
A wide paintbrush and some sharp scissors will finish off the equipment needed for the covering job.

Right lets get started shall we.
Place the item you want to cover down on your sheet of brown paper.
The paper has two sides, one shiny and one flat. You are better off if you keep the flat side against the surface you are covering as the glue sticks better to this surface.
Then just draw round the outline of the piece you are covering and cut out the shape with your scissors.
Check for size and that it will fully cover the part and then set it to one side.

You can cover your model using as many pieces of brown paper as you feel you need.
Smaller pieces are easier to use than one big piece as there will not be so many creases or tears to worry about.

Now you can paint a layer of the diluted pva completely over the surface that you are covering and then put this to one side for a moment while you cover the flat or inside of the brown paper with some more pva/water mix.

Bring the two pieces together and line up the edges, the brown paper will slide on the surface to allow for adjustment for a short while and then when you are happy with its position you can smooth it down with the palm of your hand.

Once it has been smoothed, you can cut any slits needed to allow the paper to be shaped round tips or corners.
You should be able to stretch it round some corners if they are not too tight as the wet PVA will initially allow the brown paper to stretch a little bit.
Now once you are happy with how it looks, your next job is to apply another coat of pva to the surface of the brown paper, brushing it into all the nooks and crannies until the whole surface is covered.
Leave to dry.

The brown paper will shrink tight so if the item you are covering is thin it might be best to weight the edges down to stop it warping. A bit of clear plastic between the weight and the covering will ensure nothing gets stuck that shouldn't get stuck.

When dry you can turn the piece over and cover the other side using the same method as you used for the first side, though a bit of plastic placed between the item and the work bench will save you having to scrape it off the table when dry.

Go have a coffee and a couple of chocolate biscuits or if you are like me you will be covering another piece while the first is drying.
When it is dry you can add the second coat of pva to each side leaving to dry before you turn it over to do the other side.

Let if fully dry and harden and then you can sand out any creases or joins or add any filler to get the surface nice and smooth, one more light coat of pva will fill any gaps or thin bits of paper from sanding and you can get ready for painting.

If you are using spray paints for the final colour I would suggest testing first on some scrap foam that has been covered with brown paper to make sure the spray does not dissolve the foam in any way.
Or if you are again tight fisted like me you will be using household emulsion paints in those handy little match pots.
Some diy stores will even mix colours to match your chosen design in store while you wait for no extra money.
If you have used a water based emulsion paint, a quick coat of water based sealant to seal the paint finish once it has dried will save it coming off if the plane gets wet.
Other paints like gloss or enamels will be perfectly fine unsealed, the final choice is yours of course.

Well that is basically all there is to using brown paper and pva.
Yes it will add a little bit of weight but not that much and you will have a surface that will resist hanger rash for very little money.
Its now just a case of practising to get that perfect ding proof smooth finish that your foam model desires.

Let me know how you get on or any problems that you encounter.

© Anthony Bennett.


983 words.

Brilliant Tony, well presented and explained .

You are very good at this, I think several mags could do worse than letting you do a regular column .

Garry