Basalt Walls

• Basalt Walls, Ref. 58281 are one of four wall sets in NOCH's range of Hard Foam.
• NOCH Hard Foam Walls

The set allows modelers in HO a length of wall up to 297 feet, with walls of 4-5.7 feet high.

Balsalt Wall

NOCH's Hard Foam Walls are cast as a single piece and require parting from their "sprue."  The foam is quite rigid but easy to cut away with just a hobby knife.  It has a natural texture.  I found several visible air pocks; modelers can decide if they look like natural cavities in stone or if they should be filled in.   White glue worked well for me.

What you get are two long walls, two short segments, two intermediate lengths, one stand-along length, four stand-alone pillars, and a square "well."  Look at the image and you will see 10 pillars attached to wall segments.   Unless you intend to make an unbroken rock wall enclosure, some pre-planning is required as you must cut away corner segments.  That will leave a smooth face where the part was detached.  Happily, it was easy for me to recreate some rock detail with a Phillips screwdriver bit.

These castings afford a modeler with many options as to where to cut the wall pieces in relation to the pillars.  The foam can also be heated and bent.

To remove the sections from the base, I overthought things and initially used a motor tool.  It worked but it was overkill.  I selected a hobby knife and sliced through the foam.  That is all you need.  The foam cuts easily.   You can also score and snap the sections away although you loose some control, and some breaks might not be clean.  The base also is detailed with stone.   The areas undisturbed by removing the sections can be cut into strips for use in projects, although these pieces have no back detail.  I have ideas about using them to detail foundations, make a road or walkway, or to simulate a battered wall or buttress.

Scale and Genre

This wall set is suitable for any time or place since man commenced building by stacking rocks upon rocks.  Whether one models railroads, military or civilian scenes, sci-fi or fantasy, stone walls fit right in.

What scale are these?  In HO, the pillars are 5' 8.5" tall.  Thus, they would be a low 2' 9" wall in O scale, and a foot-and-a-half high in 1/24 G.  The smaller the scale, the bigger the wall, to 10' 6" in N.  Thus, I think that unless you are defining an automobile parking area, O is probably the largest scale these will look good for.

Scale

HO

Painting?

Hard foam takes paint well.  Water and alcohol based paint.  The darker sections of wall have a dark wash.  Solvent paint is not recommended.  I did not simulate moss as I read that basalt resists organic growth.

Entire Set

Washs with wash

Separate Pillars

Well

Remains of the base

Instructions

Conclusion

I am very happy with my Hard Foam Basalt Wall set.    The material is easy to cut and shape.  The sawed area can be re-scribed to resemble stone.  The foam takes alcohol and water paint easily.  The set is suitable for several scales and practically any era.

The only criticism I have is the number of pock marks.  Regardless, these walls have great potential for your diorama and model railroad layout scenery.  Recommended.