Model Railway Forum

During a discussion with BB yesterday the idea of a rockface using Woodland Scenics moulds with plaster of Paris came up and I thought it might prove an interesting treatment for one end of my layout. If nothing else it will cover up my poor attempt at painting sky and a treeline.

I have some Metcalfe retaining wall, a double and a single track tunnel portal and un unknown make single track tunnel that it would be good to use. The odd one out is slightly different in height and brick finish to the others. I also wanted to put a road around the double track that you can see at the top of this picture to enable vehicle access to the station which is off the bottom left hand corner of this picture.




The idea was to utilise all three tunnel portals - with appropriate surgery so they fit - with the odd man out at the back and the other single Metcalfe tunnel - still to be made - being squeezed in to the left of the double one, as below. There would then be both tunnel portals of the same brick and height next to each other. The road would then go into the rockface via the single tunnels.



The retaining walls would be repositioned at the bottom of the rockface which will be above all of it! This picture shows the retaining wall right up to the double tunnel portal - this would be trimmed off to fit. In theory anyway.




The board is 2' wide and the bit at the back comes out about 16".

What do my esteemed fellow forum members think of such a plan?

R-

Before you start I’m going to buy some shares in a polystyrene manufacturer.

As you are using the retaining wall do you need to add a rock face above it? Just thinking it could look a bit heavy.

Had you considered filling the space between the tunnels with ‘rock’ to resemble an area excavated for the railway? That way the hillside could be sloped back to the backscene in a similar fashion to Barry’s.

The only other thing is the road tunnel. I’m not aware of there being that many in the UK (cue dozens of photos to prove me wrong ) and most of the ones I know of are fairly new and therefore of concrete construction rather than the Metcalfe stone effect.

Thanks Steve - the heavy appearance is an interesting thought and not one I had considered. The rockface idea would, I thought, help to conceal my bodge at adjusting the tunnel widths and help hide the disparity in their height. I should have said that I intended the rock face bit to be sloped - albeit quite steeply - and I only saw it going up to the tops of the trees. I think the rock infill idea with more grass is just as good at dealing with those issues with less height, and less work.

I found several images of road tunnels with a wide variety of materials in use and you are probably right about not many made of stone. But there are some, and I think I am going to have them.

R-

P.s. all polystyrene shares have been sold - to me.

Just get yourself a roll of modroc Roger, simple to use and build a rock face.

RogerB wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2020 11:25 am .............probably right about not many made of stone. But there are some, and I think I am going to have them.

R-

P.s. all polystyrene shares have been sold - to me.

Quite right Roger, after all it’s your railway. But you can bet someone would say “they didn’t build them like that” - usually after its finished.

As for those shares....isn’t that classed as insider dealing?

brian1951 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2020 11:39 am Just get yourself a roll of modroc Roger, simple to use and build a rock face.

Just had a look at that on YT - looks pretty straighforward. Messy, but easy, and Hobby Craft sell it. R-

Steve M wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2020 12:21 pm As for those shares....isn’t that classed as insider dealing?

I'd like to think so - but knowing my luck the definition will have to be amended as it has to be to my advantage. Never happens.

when i worked in Birmingham, years ago, Aston area had a hospital, and the outpatients used plaster roll, similar, or may in fact be Modroc. They put all their offcuts in sacks, and sold off at £1.50 per bag to raise funds for charity.. I am sure, same stuff is used today. My original sack, lasted about 10 years. Hospital near you ?, how do they dispose of theirs.

Lovely thought John - however at £1 a roll I don't think it will break the bank. R-

Moved on a little. I couldn't get the double and single portals side by side - so I extended the double a little bit and made a frame for the newspaper / POP mixture. The frame is made from mountboard held together with picture tape so its fairly robust and will enable me to work off the layout - primarily because it is a bit of a stretch and the bandage system is a bit messy I understand. Paints on order, getting bandage on Thursday when I go into the Metropolis [Yeovil] and I suppose I'd better buy a newpaper or two. More later. R-




P.s. Still have to fettle something for the middle of the double tunnel opening - thinking a sign of some kind.

Perhaps a keystone.