I’m building a layout that is more fantasy than prototypical, its a 4x9 HO with two levels of track and mountains in the back corners. Track enters and exits the tunnels, one set of mountains covering the full 4 foot end at one end and the other has the just the back corner. On the back corner of the full end, on the mountain over the tunnels, I want to place a snow ski scene.
As this is fairly permanent, that is, I won’t be changing THIS layout for awhile, and as the rest of the layout is somewhat rough or crude (a first go), exact modeling is not a requirement, I’ll get that next time. I will transition from the snow scene high up and in the corner, into a standard(ish) high mountain scene of late fall or early winter, evergreen trees with snow on, then into tress without snow as you travel down the mountain, to maybe Aspens in gold as I reach the valley floor,
Questions:
I’ve read about baking powder, WS Snow, and marble dust, and even plaster, what would be the best way to sell a small ski scene, one with three or four skiers (HO) coming down my mountain? Helicopter on the summit, smaller than scale to simulate the distance and to avoid the question, “how’d they get up there” and because I got a really good deal on the 'copter at my LHS.
how best to place tracks in the snow from the skis?
Technique for the laying of the snow? The layout is for my 6 year old (and his dad) so you can count on fingers in any loosely laid “snow” we just don’t know whether they will be his or mine.
I’m continually amazed by the forum and the knowledge that comes from it, and I apologize if this has been covered to death, but I was unable to find “technique” or “tracks in the snow” covered. Thanks is advance for your assistance. I will be looking at the Jan & Feb '96 issues of MR as soon as I can, b
To place the ski tracks I would put a little weight in them and pull them down the slope to avoid them falling over needing to be picked up and placing fingers in the “snow”.
Several companies that make scenery products also make snow, probably be best to use one of them. I like snow with sparkling crystals in it. Check the Walthers catalogue or website.
Baking soda is only really useable as a “one off” thing, like for a picture where you’re going to remove it after using it.
Preiser and (I think) Noch make skiing figures, I think Preiser makes both downhill skiiers and cross-country skiiers.
One of those german companies (i think it’s vollmer or maybe faller) also makes skiers, and makes a working chair lift. I saw it once and it’s pretty cool.
When I was in Switzerland, in the Grindelwald area to ski, they had a ski train. It was cog-electric with two coaches and a small flat car. The flat car had some A frames built on it, that people would put their skiis on, while they rode in the coaches. The flat car was in front and pushed up the mountain. They had two stops, one about mid-mountain where they would let out the luge people and beginning skiiers and one at the top. Yes, the luges shared the lower slopes with the skiiers. I already have some skiiers, I don’t remember who made them. I will check and let you know tomorrow.
When I get my mountain (and helix) done, I will run a ski train. Anybody have any experience with replacing 3 different types of European couplers with Kadees?
When I reach the point of building my proposed snow scene (somewhere around 2035, at my current rate of progress) I intend to use plaster with very fine glitter material mixed in, sprinkled on loose over a fresh plaster base, misted and allowed to harden. Once set, it should be pretty well impervious to fingermarks, so ski tracks and such will have to be worked in before misting.
I also expect I’ll have to give it a thorough vacuuming (with brush attachment) at least once a week! Skiers and snowboarders will be either removable (mounted with a pin through the surface) or fixed SOLIDLY in place like the trees and fences.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with early snow at the highest elevations)
One thing to consider, since you say you may do an early winter scene with a transition to a non-snow area, is that unless snow is really deep, a lot of the underneath texture of grass, brush etc. is visable. Even though my last layout was set in early winter (as will the one I’m starting now) I still used grass over the plaster on my hills, and had the snow “fall” over that. I tried to go for the look of the first snow of the season, kinda like sugar on top of cornflakes.
hadn’t thought of that, thanks, I will incorporate that for sure. That is the feel I’m after, that or the “as you leave the mountaing behind, you get into that transition zone, espically after first snow” kinda’ feel.
I’m looking at modeling Colorado, mostly since that is where most of my experience is, both ski season and off season. (I manage to get out there once a year or so so I have a feel for the place and pictures to back it up. Probably below timberline, spruce trees along the slope, ski tracks around the trees, not a ski resort but a heli-ski setting, easier to put a helicopter on the mountain peak than build a working skilift, cheaper too although I’d love to see that working. The structure is built and the plaster cloth laid, a place to land the helicopter, and the skiers are in the box waiting for the snow. Should be fun.