Hey everyone. So i was browsing the internet the other day and came across this guy's website documenting his building one of the WS N-scale mini-layout things. Anyway, when he got to installing the risers, he said that the instructions dictated that he use the WS plaster cloth and drape it over the risers to kind of solidify and firm them up. I'd never heard of this before; does anyone do it? I can see why one might do it, but it just seems like a cheap ploy to use more of their plaster cloth.
for everyone who does use them, how do you go about permanently installing them? ie: attaching to benchwork, attaching roadbed and track, etc. Does anyone here handlay on them? I've wondered about how you could accomplish that, as it seems it would be nearly impossible to do.
I use them.
If they are visible, I drape the plaster cloth.
If they are in a tunnel and out of sight, I use duct tape.
If they are coming together at an angle, such as at a switch, I use duct tape and then drape the plaster cloth on top of that.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
I used the WS 3% inclines in my hidden area. I used 0" to 4" so I used almost the whole length. I used hot glue at every couple of outer points on one side to tack it down. I then went back and got every outer point on both sides to keep it down. I also tucked a little under every once in a while as I went for a little something extra (watch out not to cause a bump). I found that wasn't enough for me so I put in some yellow glue in every void, not a lot but again just a little something. I glued cork road bed with yellow glue directly to the WS incline and caulked the track to the roadbed (man that worked sweet - thanks for all who shared that gem!!)
Mine butted up to two sets of 2" foam. I used a sanding block about 4" in each direction of the seam to ease the transition. I also made sure that there were no roadbed or track joints within 6" of the seam of the foam and incline.
I am very happy with this and would do it agian
I hope this helps
ratled
Modeling the Klamath River area in HO on a proto-lanced sub of the SP “The State of Jefferson Line”
I never use hot glue on foam. Foam melts.
To fasten my risers down I just mark where they are going to go then run a bead of white glue up the center from end to end and pin them until it dries.
I used latex caulk to fasten my WS risers to my benchwork, then used latex caulk to attach my cork roadbed to the risers. I then once again used latex caulk to attach my track to the cork.
Don Z.
Research; it's not just for geeks.
Im in HO and I use the WS plaster cloth for my scenery base. My entire Yuba River Sub is built with a combination of WS risers and 2" foam, and the roadbed is secured with Elmer's yellow Carpenter glue. It's been that way for over 7 years, and the total elevation between my highest point at Yuba Summit and the lowest point at the Deer Creek Yards is about 18". I've never 'draped' the WS cloth over my WS risers--I bring it up to roadbed level and leave it at that. My roadbed is WS roadbed laid directly on the WS risers. Using Elmer's yellow glue. The result, after I've laid in my scenery, could probably survive a hammer hit. A BIG hammer hit, LOL!
Frankly, I'd be leery of covering the WS risers with the WS plaster cloth--no matter HOW careful you are, you're going to have 'bumps' on the risers when you lay down your roadbed. At least IMO.
Here's a shot of Yuba Summit--it's about 18" above the base level of the layout. The roadbed is laid down directly on the WS risers, and not WS plaster cloth.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
Phoebe Vet wrote:I never use hot glue on foam. Foam melts.To fasten my risers down I just mark where they are going to go then run a bead of white glue up the center from end to end and pin them until it dries.
WS makes hot glue and hot glue guns specifically for use with their products, it won't melt them.
Anyway, you can lay track directly on the risers/inclines...but it does have openings so it would be a little hard to ballast. On one section of a previous layout I used Atlas track with roadbed glued directly to the risers, then used plastercloth scenery on either side of the track.
twhite wrote: Frankly, I'd be leery of covering the WS risers with the WS plaster cloth--no matter HOW careful you are, you're going to have 'bumps' on the risers when you lay down your roadbed. At least IMO.
I go back and sand it smooth before the roadbed gets layed. It sands quick and easily, works great and it's smooth when done.
I have no problem using Woodland Scenics low temp hot glue to hold the WS risers in place on the pink foam board . No melting of either surface.
You can carefully cut the bond with an x-acto knife and peel the old hot glue away without doing any damage to either the riser or the foam board.
I also use the WS hot glue to hold the track in place as well as the cork roadbed.
After the scenery is applied, plaster over the pink foam, then the ballasting.
Lefty
I do it somewhat different than recommended or advised in these posts. I attach the risers to my plywood with hot glue but use cork roadbed on the top for my track. Since I used it on the rest of the layout I just continued up the incline to my coal mine. Seems to work just fine!
I like the WS risers as they give a nice constant grade without the dips & humps that I used to get when making grades.
Roger
Hi all,
I just pin the risers and inclines to my foam layout surface and when everything is in place, I pour diluted white glue down the insides of the riser or incline. I do use the plaster cloth and wadded newspaper method that WS proposes to make most of the terrain, including covering over the risers. I think it has worked pretty well for me.
I put the wadded newspaper in plastic grocery bags so that they don't get wet and sag when you put the plaster cloth over them.
I also sometimes use bubble wrap instead of newspaper. Bubble side down.
Wow, thanks for all the replies everyone! I never knew how common of a practice this was.
I think what I'm going to end up doing is just lay the cork right on the risers and then bring the hardshell right up to the edge of the cork, because that way I can ballast easily and not worry about all these bumps that people have been talking about with laying the hardshell directly over the risers.
has anyone handlaid over the risers?