My Project Complete: Modeling a ravine!

[Anonymous]

Well, it was probably the most daunting scenery task I could do, and now its my most rewarding! I have my layout on plywood, and with an added section, there was a middle "hole" where neither old or new section connected.

The track went across because I have a small bridge for that...What could I put in this "hole" next to the bridge I wondered??

I could of covered it up, but instead, looking through my railway books, I thought of a river flowing under the bridge.

So, from the UNDERSIDE of my layout, I mounted a diorama-style ravine, which serves as a Rhine tributary for my German-railroading themed pike. I will be uploading pictures of this to my website soon via my digital camera (http://hometown.aol.com/metzbahn)

The ravine is made of a base from styrofoam that I purchased at a craft store. I took a hot wire melter and formed two rocky sections that connect to a middle flat section. Then I used Woodland scenics plaster over the rocky sections, while I used hydrocal paper towels to cover the flat section. I then painted it all with acrylics. Then I bought some liquid water solution to give a "3=D" look to the water section (which is painted in shades of blue...darker toward the middle).

To mount it under my layout, I used a somewhat "crude" method (that nevertheless works fine!!) of GOOPing plastic supportings to table legs and using a hanging wire to tightly secure it. The result is , at least from the top, superb (in my rather generous opinions)!!!!

I thought modeling water and rock formations would just be way over my skill level, but those that want the extra scenic detail ---try your luck at it!! Also, there is a wealth of info in books on the subject (my inspiration and instruction were mainly from my railway pictures i have!).

Regards,

Tom M.

[Javern]

nice layout Tom, I'm fond of the scratchbuilt buildings

[CBQ_Guy]

I'm modeling a rural area in my typically "flat" Illinois locale BUT we do have a few ravines in this part of the state. In fact, we have one right here in town!

There is also one across the Illinois River from me in the rural area in which the power company has erected their transmission towers at the bottom! Anyway, I decided to put one on my layout, too. Don't know about the towers, yet . . .

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Javern

nice layout Tom, I'm fond of the scratchbuilt buildings

Javern,

Thanks for the comments...but of course the layout is always a work in progress!! (thats how i keep my sanity when "experts" look at it!)
The layout has changed some since i posted the web pix...tonite i am going to re-shoot a lot of the pictures so the web update is coming! also, i will have my ravine shots by then...

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CBQ_Guy

I'm modeling a rural area in my typically "flat" Illinois locale BUT we do have a few ravines in this part of the state. In fact, we have one right here in town!

There is also one across the Illinois River from me in the rural area in which the power company has erected their transmission towers at the bottom! Anyway, I decided to put one on my layout, too. Don't know about the towers, yet . . .

a ravine or similar module can make all the difference in the world to a small part of the layout! i highly suggest including what you can if you have some space to do so...!

regards,

Tom M.