I planning on modeling the Catskill region of New York on an upcoming N Scale layout including the Ashokan Reservoir. While doing some research I came across a photo of a bellmouth spillway. These things are quite interesting, if not downright frighting looking. I also remember seeing something similar up in that area when I was a kid. I would love to model one. Have any of you actually tried? What is the best way to do it? I was thinking using Woodland Scenics Water Effects for the water spilling in. Any suggestions are appreciated.
One thing to consider is that 99 percent of the time, the thing would be high and dry.
You could probably make a pretty good start on one by modifying a kitchen funnel. Cut the bottom off, leaving the bottom opening something like 25 (scale) feet in diameter. Then mate it with a piece of pvc pipe, paint the whole thing black inside and out and put a removeable plug in the bottom.
Why a removeable plug. Because, sure as sunset, a choice collection of miscellaneous debris will almost certainly fall in!
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
GP-9…
The first thing that came to mind for the Bellmouth, is locate your nearest party supply store and see if they sell the party-type horns, or other toy horns- these would give you the correct ‘bell’ shape for the mouth of the spillway opening.
Your local Toy store may alos sell a toy-type musical horn that may work.
Creating the ‘spilling water’ would be a challenge but can be done, using the scenic materials you already mentioned.
One way I might try this is to use a artist’s gloss medium, or a clear-drying gesso, to form the ‘streams’ pouring into the mouth.
I hope these ideas work as this would make for a very neat model resevoir feature- great post- and good luck with your project.
HF1
GP-9 –
Is this just a theoretical question, or are you planning to model a bellmouth spillway in the Ashokan reservoir? I’m very familiar with it (the Esopus Creek north of the reservoir is a great place for white water inner-tubing. There’s even a functioning tourist railroad running next to the creek – tubers use it to ride up to the “put in” point.
But the bottom line is that I’m pretty sure there isn’t a bellmouth spillway in the Ashokan reservoir. I just took a quick look at overhead imagery, and I don’t see one, either. The reservoir is part of the water supply system for New York City, and generally loses enough water to a thirsty city not to have to worry about a spillway.
I do think it would be cool to model one, though. The suggestions you’ve gotten so far are spot on.
I’m not planning to model the actual reservior, but rather build a reservior using Ashokan as a general guide. That way I can take some creative license with it. I’ve actualy riden Catskill Mountain Railroad and plan on riding it again this summer. They actaully have some big plans fro reopening the entire line and I’ve been following their progress. In fact that’s what gave me the idea to model the area.
Thanks for the great suggestions everybody. The layout is still a few months off yet but I’ll keep you posted on my progress.
I’m usually not a rivet counter. I just wanted to make sure you didn’t think you had to model a bellmouth spillway to model the Ashokan reservoir.
Take some pix when you get done. I’d love to see how it turns out.
BTW – did you know that the tune
I remember seeing something like this as a child somewhere in PA. Looked real scary at that age, I could just imagine getting caught in the current and sucked down…Mike
They do look scary. Here is the Glory Hole from Lake Barryessa from near where I used to live in Davis California:
http://coolstuff-xbtemplates.blogspot.com/2010/03/oh-glory-hole.html
Shows it with the water level down, under construction and flooding over. When I visited the lake it was usually exposed.