"What sort of grout/spackle?" Topic

I've heard people talk about using grout as "clay" to create scenery. I'm thinking of picking up a jar today. Any advice for a newb? What sort should I buy? What are its capabilities and limitations? Do you like it for filling gaps on minis, such as, say, the place where a war elephant's trunk meets his face?

I use brown bathroom tile grout, because it's cheap and if it chips the brown is less obvious on most terrain projects than white (and the less brown grout that actually gets used in bathrooms the better IMHO). It's also anti fungal and waterproof, but not sure that really has much effect for my purposes.

I wouldn't use it for filling on miniatures, but do use it for ground texture on bases and scenery. It's also good mixed with household emulsion paint in small batches for a textured paint.

G.

Spackle is good for texturing terrain and bases, but not for filling miniatures. Caution: thick layers crack as it dries. I prefer using water based wood filler. It is easy to dilute with water, doesn't crack, and you can mix paint into it for consistent color.

For filling gaps on miniatures you need Milliput (or an equivalent).

I only use grout for making dirt roads.

For scenery I use some wood filler drywall spackle, or my most favorite filler, which is pre-mixed concrete patch/cement. It's great for building up sections of "earth", adding a concrete texture to buildings (rub it on with your fingers) and it's strong enough to act as an adhesive for holding sections of terrain together. It's got a great combination of being adheisve, very textured, and easy to build up.

For minis, you've got miliput, green stuff or contour putty. Grout for minis is a bad idea.

I'm going to up wood filler as well. I use it for making the bases on miniatures as well as terrain.

M.

For terrain I use Home Depots pre mix grout.