Well, it was probably the most daunting scenery task I could do, and now its my most rewarding! I have my layout on plywood, and with an added section, there was a middle “hole” where neither old or new section connected.
The track went across because I have a small bridge for that…What could I put in this “hole” next to the bridge I wondered??
I could of covered it up, but instead, looking through my railway books, I thought of a river flowing under the bridge.
So, from the UNDERSIDE of my layout, I mounted a diorama-style ravine, which serves as a Rhine tributary for my German-railroading themed pike. I will be uploading pictures of this to my website soon via my digital camera (http://hometown.aol.com/metzbahn)
The ravine is made of a base from styrofoam that I purchased at a craft store. I took a hot wire melter and formed two rocky sections that connect to a middle flat section. Then I used Woodland scenics plaster over the rocky sections, while I used hydrocal paper towels to cover the flat section. I then painted it all with acrylics. Then I bought some liquid water solution to give a “3=D” look to the water section (which is painted in shades of blue…darker toward the middle).
To mount it under my layout, I used a somewhat “crude” method (that nevertheless works fine!!) of GOOPing plastic supportings to table legs and using a hanging wire to tightly secure it. The result is , at least from the top, superb (in my rather generous opinions)!!!
I thought modeling water and rock formations would just be way over my skill level, but those that want the extra scenic detail —try your luck at it!! Also, there is a wealth of info in books on the subject (my inspiration and instruction were mainly from my railway pictures i have!).
Regards,
Tom M.