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Another update filled with lots of progress.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks Rick!
3 May 2022
I just uploaded my latest layout update video:
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I really enjoyed your video. You got a lot done. Your cabooss........I mean way cars came out great. It's kind'a sad that so much track is ending up in the mountain.
BobIt's only make-believeComment
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I always enjoy watching your update videos.
Haven't had a chance to watch this latest one yet but will when I get a chance.Comment
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Thanks Bob, Rich! I've always tended to have a lot of hidden track in my track plans. Probably that's not a good thing, but I can't seem to shake the habit!
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19 May 2022
I've spent most of the last two weeks working on the Wind River Canyon. If you watched my latest video, you know I started adding plaster cloth to the south end and the area between Powder River and Shobon:
I've since continued adding to the foam sheet scenery base, extending northward into the canyon. By the 10th I had started on the canyon wall beside the first tunnel, Tunnel 4 (or "Black Tunnel" to the train crews), and roughed in Tunnel 3, to the right in this shot:
By the 13th the wall between Black Tunnel and Tunnel 3 looked like this, and I was progressing on northward:
And as of 17 May the canyon looked like this, looking back from the end of the peninsula:
I'm about ready to start carving on the foam in preparation for adding plaster cloth.
You can see in the right foreground that I switched from a solid stack of foam to an open cribbing build style. I've used about three sheets of foam to this point, and will need at least two more just for the open cribbing, which uses a lot less material. Foam sheets have gotten expensive lately, along with everything else. A 1-1/2" X 4' X 8' sheet is almost $33 at Menards these days.Comment
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That will be quite something when finished. I've only visited Wyoming by train, no idea if I'll ever drive there, so your model will complement the photos I see on-line.JamesComment
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That is a lot of foam.
Any reason for not using strips of cardboard?Comment
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James, when were you in Wyoming on a train? No passenger trains have run here in years.
Rick, foam just seemed easier to shape and control. Never tried cardboard strips.Comment
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At least you can get them. otherwise, It's looking good so far. A whole lot of mountain feeling like a mountain.Originally posted by Pruitt View Post
BobIt's only make-believeComment
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Great video. Your layout is going to be amazing when it's completed...not that a layout is ever completed
Curt Webb
Freelanced PRR Bellevue SubComment
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Thanks Bob, Curt!
28 May 2022
Work on the canyon continues.
By 20 May I carved off most of the sharp corners of the foam blocks using a hot wire cutter. It also goes right through low temperature hot glue.
Then I abraded the foam surfaces using a Surform tool. This tears out little chunks of foam and leaves a very rough surface the plaster cloth can grab onto.
And finally, on 25 May, I added all the remaining plaster cloth I had on hand - nearly 30 pounds worth. That almost 100 linear feet of cloth.
Next step in this area is to add a layer of hydrocal (thick in most places) to carve into rocks on all the vertical and near-vertical surfaces. That will hide the step-like horizontal lines left from the foam blocks. The hydrocal is on order (can't get it locally) and should be here in a few days. I have 50 pounds on the way. I'm sure I'll need more.
As you can see by the last picture, I have a lot more canyon to go. Where the foam tapers down in the background needs to be built up a lot more, but I ran out of foam panels. I won't be adding more foam for a couple months, but I have plenty else to keep me busy in the cloth-covered area of the canyon.Comment
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That is a lot of plaster cloth
. It looks like you didn't have to do it on a step stool so that really saves the back bending over.
Curt Webb
Freelanced PRR Bellevue SubComment
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Those are going to be some majestic mountains.Comment
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Wow! That's some massive scenery work. Looking forward to watching your progress.
GeorgeThe sky is not my limit, it's my playground.Comment
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