First, here is a photo of a hill I am working on currently. There is a large hill with a stream flowing into a small lake at its base.. Eventually there will the hill farm on this hill that exists here in Southern Ohio.
Here are the materials I use. I purchased a small bucket of drywall joint compound that is already mixed. You could buy the joint compound in a powder form and do this also. You will need the joint compound, a tool to stir, and paper towels. Be sure to cover anything you don't want the compound to drip on.
Take a small amount and place into a small container. Add water and stir. Keep adding water until the joint compound is a slurry. Don't worry if you get it too thin. It will dry just fine. You can add more compound if it is too watery.Tear a paper towel into strips and dip a strip into the slurry. Use your fingers to remove the excess and place the strip on your hill form (I use cardboard or newspaper forms). Rub with your fingers to remove air bubbles and smooth out the seam between adjoining strips (the seam will not show).
The photo above shows a small creek that I am working on beside the lake. I didn't add paint to the slurry. I usually add paint to the slurry, but have decided it thins the paint too much. I will now paint over when it dries.
Here (above) is a hill that is partially done. The paper towels have been formed right up onto the wall to make the hill. The white strip at the base of the hill will be a road. You can use a thicker, mud like slurry to make roads, or ground base.
Here is a completed hill in this last photo. The next post I do, I will explain how I make my trees.
