I loved making cardboard lattice on my last layout and look forward to doing it again soon. Your photos show how easy it is to get a sense of the landforms from just the lattice. I like the cut on the far side of the overpass - a good device for de-emphasizing the turn-back curve that follows. -Gary
Definitely get a pretty good idea how things will look now! The reworked hill looks much better, more rolling hill than a cut in a mountainside. Are you going to place something on the sides of the sub-roadbed on the underpass or is that just a stand in til you find the bridge you want?
I will be scratchbuilding the bridge in place around the existing roadbed; almost like a wrap. Here is a prototype photo of the bridge: I think parts for this bridge will be easy to come by- strip styrene, sheet styrene and plastic I-beams. Jamie
On the model, there are no grades. On the prototype, I don't think there is much of a grade where the line crosses I-75, although just to the north there is a significant downgrade to the Etowah River valley. Jamie
I don't know about you but are you planning of implementing the hill behind the overpass into the scene (maybe as a backdrop)?
Yes, both hills (the near treeline and the distant hill) will be painted onto the backdrop. In fact, I am currently working on printing out photos of that area to tack up in the layout room so I can sketch the correct profiles on the backdrop prior to painting. Jamie
Yes use styrene I-beams or even plastruct I-beams I can't wait to see the finish product. I know your not going modern? Right? I hope that you will run old and modern CSX trains.
The operations plan is to run modern trains, although I am sure some older era stuff could show up every now and then. Remember I am using the concrete tie track which was installed on this line in 1993, so anything I run older than that will be prototypically incorrect. Then again, rules were made to be broken. Jamie
Wow Jamie your fantastic layout has kept my attention for the last hour. Amazing work you've accomplished, and the step by step. Thanks much for sharing this outstanding modeling with us.:thumbs_up::thumbs_up:
Started applying strips of 2" wide masking tape to the cardboard web--the Joe Fugate method. This step is not absolutely necessary, but it helps you visualize the final hill profiles and allows any changes to be made quite easily before the plaster gets added: Continued the masking tape over the cardboard web around the turnback curve. I have also started drawing the treelines and distant hill profiles onto the backdrop using prototype photos as a guide: Finally finished roughing in the terrain around the I-75 underpass. The profile of the highway shoulders and median have been carved into a layer of 3/4" blue extruded foam. Some black construction paper is being used as a temporary road: Jamie
Sweet work Jamie! I like to add masking tape as well. It makes applying hardshell or whatever your going to use easier too.
Hmmm...masking tape instead of rag material...another trip to Lowes' is in my immediate future. I LIKE the way the rag material works but it seems the tape might give an added amount of strength and allow less joint compound to be used...less sagging...I may very well try that, and soon! It's looking GREAT, Jamie!
Jim, I think you nailed it on the main benefit of the masking tape. It eliminates those square depressions where the plaster closth, paper towels or rags sag into the openings of the cardboard web. Of course, this is still all theoretical to me since I am yet to apply the first plaster. I guess I will know by next weekend if all goes according to schedule. I am hoping for a fairly smooth layer of plaster cloth on top of the masking tape with Sculptamold applied as needed to yield the final smooth surface. Jamie
