Thunder Ridge: A Freelanced Focus on Scenery

Mark Watson Apr 12, 2010

  1. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    [​IMG]

    Ok...I look down in there and get vertigo...stop that !!! :tb-wacky::tb-tongue:

    .
     
  2. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

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    Looking good so far. It's amazing what you can do with a wallboard saw.
     
  3. Jerry Tarvid

    Jerry Tarvid TrainBoard Member

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    This is amazing work Mark!:thumbs_up::thumbs_up: As far as mountain scenery goes the rougher look the better IMO. The wallboard saw is just the tool for the job. BTW the trees look perfect and give a great perspective to your photos.

    Jerry
     
  4. Mark Watson

    Mark Watson TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks Jerry,

    I have one feeder every 30-36 inches (about 7 feeders per loop), so any wiring maintenance should be minimal. Below the sub-roadbed is a single bus cable for each track, and I'm very confident in my bus soldering. If something does go wrong, it will require a little surgery but all that comes to is cut a small square next to where the feeder is dropped, pull the bus out a little and do whatever needs be done. Then push it all back in and replace the terrain. :)
     
  5. Mark Watson

    Mark Watson TrainBoard Member

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    Well, once the bridge is in place, it will have walkways and hand rails on either side of the track, so that should prevent equipment from taking the 220 foot fall. :)

    Otherwise, yep, I'd be screwed. :(
     
  6. Mark Watson

    Mark Watson TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks Sawyer,

    I'm still experimenting how proceed after I get all the foam glued in place and carved. I want to use plaster rock castings, but I dont know if its best to glue those straight to the foam, or first paint the foam with a latex paint, then glue the plaster castings.

    Anyone have any suggestions?


    I dont think I'll be doing the train wreck scene though. :p Unless maybe one of our Weekend Photo Challenges calls for a train wreck, in which case it would still not be permanent.
     
  7. Mark Watson

    Mark Watson TrainBoard Member

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    Just wait until the scenery is in place. Splintered timber trashed all along the cliff, raging water over the cascading waterfalls, and brisk updraft of air raising over the mountain. It's gonna be great! :D :D
     
  8. Mark Watson

    Mark Watson TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks Jerry and MOPMAN,

    I almost passed on the wallboard saw, thinking my extended razor took could suffice. Boy am I glad I went for it. :D

    I like the tree mock-up too, but I need to get some tall pines and aspens for the real scenery. :)
     
  9. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    It all sounds great...just dont look down...lol :tb-cool::tb-biggrin:
     
  10. Chaya

    Chaya TrainBoard Supporter

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    I believe it. It's already magnificent.
     
  11. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Amazing scene you have going there, Mark. Magnificent, like another poster said. Truely awe-inspiring gorge.
     
  12. Scott Stutzman

    Scott Stutzman TrainBoard Member

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    That's an Awesome canyon scene you got going! Can't wait to see it painted rock colored!:thumbs_up:
     
  13. Mark Watson

    Mark Watson TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks Chaya, Hemi, and Scott.

    I'd like to invite everyone to also check out the many other Progress Threads here on TrainBoard. There's enough inspiration to go around and get anyone motivated to do some work! :D


    And speaking of work... I have now completed about 95% of my foam carving!

    Here's the mess from only just about 30 minutes of carving:
    [​IMG]


    Thankfully its easy as pie to clean up. Here we have our favorite excursion train triple heading on Thunder Ridge. Check out how that beautiful tunnel frames the scene!
    [​IMG]

    Before the days end, I also caught a Cab Forward hauling some freight on Thunder Pass! I have the feeling that the final bridge and this locomotive will be a match made in heaven!
    [​IMG]
     
  14. Jim Reising

    Jim Reising In Memoriam

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    Wow, Mark - my fingers are twitching - if I had it that far I'd be painting a coat of joint compound like right now! (Yeah, I'm probably the only one in the hobby that uses joint compound...)

    Very nice scene!
     
  15. Mark Watson

    Mark Watson TrainBoard Member

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    Interesting, I've used Joint Compound before, but I vaguely remember it may have cracked and shrunk somewhat. Do you have that problem?

    I was scoping out prices at the hardware store the other day and noticed a 1 gallon bucket of Joint Compound was 7 bucks, where as the 1 gallon bucket of lightweight spackling was 20. The joint compound was about 5 times heavier though, but now with the foam in place, I suppose a little weight for gap filling is nothing to worry about.

    Opinions? :)
     
  16. drawmada

    drawmada TrainBoard Member

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    I've used joint compound before on a previous layout and when diluted (60/40 mix - 40 being water) it does not crack. I used the cheapo stuff, around 12$$ Canadian for I guess 1 gallon (3.78 liters) and I intend on using the same stuff on my URR currently in the works. I had tried the lightweight stuff, but it was too watery when diluted. the secret is to put on thin coats, and let the first layer dry thoroughly. Jim will probably agree with me on that one lol.

    By the way great progress! Wish I could do breathtaking scenery like that!
     
  17. dstuard

    dstuard TrainBoard Member

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    Oh, so YOU'RE the other one!


    (BTW, nice work, Mark!)

    Bear River Bridge, Colfax, CA
    [​IMG]
     
  18. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

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    Why would you worry about cracking with drywall mud? That's what real rocks do. I too have used drywall mud and the cracks work in your favor. The steep cliff next to the track looks like it might be a tight squeeze if you add rock molds. BTW that first pic of the triple header on this page reminds me of the high line on the Silverton sans tunnel.
     
  19. Packers#1

    Packers#1 TrainBoard Member

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    hey I use Joint Compound as well. my dad has a ton left over from scraping the popcorn finish that was all the rage back in the day off of some of our ceilings. And yes sir it's cracked a bit, but all I do is paint it a reddish brown and cover it with poly fiber trees.
    Mike, that scene is looking killer, those bridges and tunnel will definitely do the trick
     
  20. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Mark, I just had to pick my jaw up off the floor. That's a scene that looks quite similar to Bull Gulch between Tunnels 2 and 3 on the Moffat. The Silverton High Line also looks similar.
    Very nice!
     

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