Mountain Construction Continues

Another day, another few feet of mountains. They've now advanced their way around the outside of Horseshoe Curve and have started their way around the inside as well. My construction method was the same as previously described. The exception is the small park on the inside of the curve. I made this with a piece of two-inch foam cut to the right shape with a hot knife. I laid it atop a pair of scrap 1 x 3s. I then covered over it with plaster-soaked paper towels.

More Mountains

 I finally got back to building mountains last night after a prolonged break for building structures. I've started extending the ridge around Horseshoe Curve. For the previously-constructed mountains, I used Woodland Scenics plaster cloth. I've used this on my previous layouts with great success. However, there is a drawback, an 8-foot roll costs $11. It didn't take me long to realize that using it to build a mountainous layout such as this would send me to the poor house!

With the cost factor in mind, I set about finding a cheaper alternative. What I came up with is simple and cost effective. I mixed up a very viscous batch of plaster of Paris and dipped paper towels in it. I then laid the plaster-soaked towels over wadded up newspaper. This method is pretty old school, but it works and it costs a fraction of what plaster cloth costs.

While I was at it, I also added a Chooch Enterprises retaining wall, which I painted Tamiya Red Brown, to the area near Kittaning Point station.I also planted some more lichen on the mountain.

Finished Cornerstone's Backshop Kit

The latest addition to the Altoona Shop complex is the Cornerstone Backshop kit. The backshop is where steam locomotives requiring major repairs (a job that took three days or more to complete) were sent. I painted the walls Floquil "Boxcar Red," the trim Floquil "Concrete," the roof Floquil "Grimy Black," and the garage doors Testors Silver.

After the paint dried, I used some cheap grey acrylic paint to fill in the mortar lines on the brick walls. Once assembled I added the decals, put on a coat of weather wash and the hit the whole thing with a generous helping of black chalk. With vast number of steam engines in the shop and running on the main line, this building would be covered with soot and cinders. After chalk, I hit the building with a coat of Dulcote.

Streamliners at Spencer

This weekend, the North Carolina Transportation Museum hosted "Streamliners at Spencer." It was a truly phenominal event and I'm glad I got to go. It was nice to see some 1:1 scale trains.

Group Shot

N&W 611

FT Demonstrator

Juniata Terminal E8

Alco FA4