Making Mountains

[dukebasketballer`]

Howdy,
I am planning to start the second phase of my young garden railroad[:D]. This will include an elevated rail along with a pond and a mountain. This will not be taking place untill the summer (school often gets in the way of this hobby[:(!]) and I want to start gathering materials and make finalized plans so I can get started asap. Well, now my question, does anybody have any ideas on how to build a mountain? I have ample access to real rock that can be dry-stacked but I am up for any idea. The proposed mountain will probably be about 12x8.
Thanks for your help,
David
Let's Go Duke

[bman36]

Hi David,
There are any number of ways to tackle your task. It will take a lot of stone to complete the size you want. You may want to build a hill first with soil and pack it down hard. Then you can layer your stone over that. Another way would be to build a hill or base with cheap gravel. Again layer your stone over that. The gravel would provide a much more stable base for the stones. Hope that is of some help to you. Later eh...Brian.

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Mine were made out of 8 - 12 wheeler loads of packing sand placed by a gradeall. 1 week later I had the heart fart and wasn't even allowed to pick up a shovel! Hoping to get retaining walls cut into sides and track laid this season.

[FJ and G]

Here are some unpublished photos of Jim Strong’s layout, depicting his effective usage of rocks to give a prototypical appearance. The rocks, along with clay or soil, comprise the mountain, with the rocks being used as a component of the mountain itself, with a secondary purpose of reducing soil erosion.

Notice the placement and angle of the rocks, the strata, and the weathered look with greenish mosses looking like the rocks were there from the dawn of time…

[Anonymous]

If you're into designer mountains, you can always make your own out of cement; (hope these links work!)
http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/cjwalas//gm6.jpg
http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/cjwalas//gm9.jpg

Chris

[FJ and G]

Chris,

Very impressive! Do you mix dyes or paint into the wet cement? I did that in the front of my house where I made a stone edging for the garden. Gives it a rock color.

Also, what type of cement did you use and what are the pros and cons of various cement?

[dukebasketballer`]

Brian,
What kind of gravel would you suggest I use? I have access to lots of modified pack, ground up used concrete. This product is often used under paver driveways and is very cheap. Do you think this product might also work?

Chris,
Unfortunately I don't think I could even come remotely close to creating a masterpiece like that.

David,
I like the first picture you posted. Do you have any idea of the size of those rocks?

Thanks for your ideas everybody,
David
Let's Go Duke

[Tom The Brat]

David Duke,

I think Chris has posted an explanation of how to do those. You'll be amazed what he can tell you how to do[;)]

Say hi to your sister Daisy[:-,]

[Ray Dunakin]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cjwalas

If you're into designer mountains, you can always make your own out of cement; (hope these links work!)
http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/cjwalas//gm6.jpg
http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/cjwalas//gm9.jpg

Wow, excellent work there, Chris! Did you use rock molds, or sculpt it? How did you paint/color it? This might be a great way to cut down on the number of rocks I need to build my layout.

BTW, are you the same Chris Walas who does SFX for the movies? If so, I love your work!

[Tom The Brat]

That's him[;)]

[John Busby]

Hi Chris
Well I was going to sugest concrete mountains but I see you beat me too it.
But how did you get such great results??
regards John

[whiterab]

David,

Don't let Chris's skill put you off from trying it. He's been humbling a lot of us for years. You never know what you can do until you play with it. At worst, you just have some concrete you have to throw away.

Chris does have some hints and tips on his website. Try http://4largescale.com/chris/index.htm

Nice place to spend an afternoon