Gees, never stops. We have soooo many locos, continued rolling stock and someday, a string of 12 passenger cars to run so, the track has to grow along with it. I hate straight modules and since I joined a Z-Bend Track group, well, bend it is: So together, I can get a 90 or an "S"
I used 2" (50mm) foam core so I can cut into the surface (I also like more than mountains). I'll put a river across it. On the front left, the river is wider and shallow so I will use two plate girder bridges with a center support. The river was the red line, then I decided on reshaping after I looked at the bridges that were available (the black lines). The N-scale Walthers Cornerstone bridge is perfect. I was going to use Loren Snyder's (ZTrainThings) but they are too high for this project as I wanted a shallow & wide area. You can see the opposite side of the module behind it. I'll use a single 50' or so bridge here and it will be about 50% deeper too. I'll use the PSW plate girders from Micron Art (www.ztrackcenter.com). Those are Monroe Models on there and that's as far as they are going to go ! Uh, disregard the new 3x6 End module behind it. I'm attached at a right angle so I could get an extended compass surface to draw the arcs on the 45 degree (plus it helps stabilize with the large mass). For the right side of the module, I'll have a small creek that flows to the back, then left along the tracks and dumps into the river. More later when I get the foam cut and the bridges modelled in place. .
Great work Jeff! I love those step by step instructions, please keep us up to date about the progress.
Looks great Jeff!! Can't wait to see more progress pictures! That's a nice idea to make the ground of 50mm foam board and to cut the river into... By the way these bridges look awesome, walthers you say, mh? :tb-biggrin: just had an idea... best wishes, daniel
Jeff, I did notice that your modules are not square. I quess you were very in geometry, but it does make for some vey interisting modules.
Great job. The two 45 degree moduleZ are key parts of the NTS display, now I'm sure they'll be completed. The big end module will be a great showpiece too. Keep posting the progress photos. Lajos
Great Modeling Jeff!! This is going to look really nice when it is done. I can visulize were your heading. Chris-
OK, back to work. Over the past 2 weeks, cut in rivers, cast rocks and chose locations. Ready for plaster (remove rocks first). Bridges are N scale modified except for the creek which uses a Z scale flat car with wider bridge ties over it (not in this picture): This is a Walthers Cornerstone double track plate girder kit modified for narrower Z scale. Plates are only 0.3" high (5.5 Z scale feet): The "backside" uses a Micro Engineering #143 N-scale that is just right for the wider Z scale bridge ties:
Very cool! I awlays find that you have plans for the layout but as your go it kinda builds itself and takes on its own personality when it comes to scenery.
Jeff, nice work on those rock formations. I love this progress shots and keep the fast pace. Those modules need to be in the NTS. They are only a couple of months away.
JoeS, you have me pegged. As smuch as you dream, reality sets in. But then as you build reality, it becomes clear that you can once again dream. Rob spent more time on my bridges than on his own module :we-wink: .
Jeff, That turned out real awesome.... What colors are you planning on Tropical green with deep green water like a rain forest? or a lighter mix. I am looking for how your water technique turns out because of the depth of your river. Kim
I too am curious to see how your water turns out. That is one area of modeling I have stayed away from in all scales. However, as I see more people do it, I am getting tempted.
Kim, I'll blend the base colors with deeper, toward very dark greens in the deepest part. I may have to dye the water a bit as it's just too deep in some places. I bought two learning kits from Woodland Scenics: Scene-A-Rama Ripplin' water kit (SP4122) from HobbyTown USA and also a River / Waterfall kit (LK955) from Walthers (on sale ). The Learning Kit has the same Realistic Water and Water Effects but it also has 2 base colors, plaster cloth, etc. compared to the simpler Scene-A-rama version which only has the Water, effects and 1 base paint. <$20 for the bigger learning kit and $9 for the Scene-A-rama. .
Jeff, although you've already got your supplies here's another suggestion for water, http://www.hirstarts.com/tips17/tips17.html#water, that I've used and am very pleased with. Allowed me to do much more water then the typical scenic kits, and using a 40-50% off coupon from the Michael's weekly add, it cost about the same as your big kit for all my supplies.
Thanks Paul, I'll check it out. The less the stuff capillaries up the edges, the better. Even though most everything can be sealed, most stuff still wicks up the edges, even with double pours. .
Flat car bridge over the small creak is ready. I used an MTL 40' flat, added concrete abutments on the ends using 0.25" square styrene that I will paint concrete and weather. Center supports are made from 3 toothpicks (scale 18") placed into an ~9' long piece under the 10' wide flat car. Laser cut bridge ties are 12' long.
I like it! I just ran across a picture very similar, where a 89' flat was used albeit no supports underneath. So did you refinish the flat or was the bare metal one for testing only?
