My son needs to make a map of Kentucky for a school project and we thought it might be mildly entertaining and educational to make a topographical map. The base will probably be an 18"x12" or so sheet of heavy cardboard. Back in the day, we used to use some flour, salt & water mix but I seem to remember it flaked apart off the board pretty easily. Do any crafty-Dopers have suggestions for something relatively cheap 'n easy for this purpose before we get started this weekend?
I’d be tempted to try it using those candy melts they sell at craft stores. They’re about two dollars a bag, come in different colors, and taste like chocolate. (No, you won’t eat the project, but you have to do something with the leftovers!) You could nuke small batches of the stuff in the microwave. I’m thinking you could possibly make a Kentucky-shape out of newpaper or papier-mache and pour the melts over?
I don’t know what they call it, but it’s basically clay that stays pretty hard and doesn’t flake. My parents did one for me when I was young for Japan and it lasted for years. I’m sure they sell it at craft stores. I just wish I could remember what it was exactly. It also took paint pretty easy. We put it on a piece of wood though and not cardboard. Sorry I can’t help with the name any more, but it was like clay and dried without needing to be heated.
Why not do it as layers of thick card or styrene - a contour map.