Hey Trainboard Group, The module I have planned will feature a single track main over a low, ballast-deck bridge spanning a dry wash or riverbed. I will be built from 3 inverted Atlas N-scale plate girder bridge kits with a scatchbuilt wooden-ballast deck. The bridges are 5" in length which will give me a 15" (108') span. My dilemma: I need to reduce the thickness of the 2" foam under the bridge to about 1/2". This area needs to be roughly 15" wide (for the bridge) and span the entire width of the module. How would I go about doing this and still maintain a level base for the bottom of the riverbed? -sd80mac-
My thopught would be to use a hot wire cutter, and put a piece of one inch below the two inch. then make a curved line of where you want the deep parts of the wash and cut t there. then seperate the two ends and cut the slope into the foam using the hot wire. whatever way you go, nothing beats the hot wire when it come to a smooth, clean, quick cut. except there are the fumes coming off of the foam that you might want to worry about B K
Whats under the foam? If it's wood, cut the foam into two pieces, sculpt one edge of each piece as a bank, and paint and pour your "water" directly onto the wood. If there is nothing under the foam, you can cut another piece of foam and use it in place of the wood mentioned above.
I'm sure the hot wire meethod is faster, and probably more accurate, but I use a cheap, serrated bread knife and it cut pretty easy. If you can't keep a 1/2 inch off the bottom, cut all the way and then just lay the thickness you want back in. I have had no problems cutting thru 4-6 inches. Lynn
