Building the RK&M II: Hillside & Grain Elevator Extension

The next part of the RK&M will involve connecting the railroad to the Grain Elevator Diorama and extending the main line past the grain elevator. I have begun to lay out the track configuration as seen in the next photos. In the photos the main line will be on the side of a hill/mountain. On the left side at the bottom there will be a stream/river. On the right will be the other side of the mountain. Eventually on top of the mountain the town will rest.





Here is another view looking the other way.

 

Nice work Tom.

Stay cool and run steam.....

 

Thanks!

I have finally gotten the road bed attached after several abortive attempts to do it. I had to glue down the foam base several times before I could attach the road bed.

 

I really like the fact that your mainline meanders instead of following parallel to the front edges of the layout. It lets you build in scenery that would explain why the mainline meanders, such as gulleys and ridges.

I did the same thing on my N doorpanel. My mains diverge instead of running parallel on my double track mainline. The trains look like big centipedes snaking around on these mild curves. It's a very pleasing effect.

Do you have a trackplan drawn up that we could look at?

 

Thanks! No I have no set track plan. I am kind of making it up as I go along.

I have now carved the base for the hillside.

 

I glued down some more foam to help space the hillside. I also added the Hunting Cabin. Well at least the approximate spot where it will go.







And here is where the Passenger Station Diorama will tie in.

 

I began weathering the track. Here is it with the first coat of Folk Art Asphaltum on about half the area.





Here is where the track blends into the Passenger Station Diorama

 

Tom, :thumbs_up: you are a man after my own heart. I firmly believe that sometimes the best plan is to not plan. Let the track take you where it will. Can't get much more organic than that! :shade:
​

 

Thanks!

I have now finished weathering the rails and ties with a second coat of Folk Art Asphaltum.

 

Tom,

How did you apply the Folk Art? Did you have to thin it out, if so what did you use and how much? Looks great!

 

Tom:

You made great progress. The Folk Art Asphaltum works nicely in many different situations.

It's a big part of my weathering arsenal.

Stay cool and run steam...

 

Thanks!

The Folk Art is brush applied and straight from the bottle, no thinning. It takes me two coats to get the look I want.

 

I made a watery mix of plaster of Paris. I then dipped paper towels in it and laid them along the hillside to form the basic contour of the hillside.

 

Next I “paint” a layer of plaster Paris over the paper towels. This will make the ground smooth.









Next will be some sculpta-mold to form rock outcroppings and fill in gaps.

 

I have been using Sculpta-mold and aluminum foil to make some rock outcroppings along the hillside.

First is a couple of rock outcroppings at the stream on the edge of the Passenger Station Diorama.



Next are the rock outcroppings along the hillside.

 

I also used the Sculpta-mold to fill the gaps between the Grain Elevator Diorama and the layout.

 

Truely inspiring! Great work! This is the kind of stuff I need to see to keep my juices flowing.

I can't wait to start on my layout!

 

Thanks!

I have now finished two coats of Folk Art Honeycomb over the hardshell. I also touched up the rails and ties as needed.