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Comments
Can def use sculptamold.
it feels more organic and a natural situation,
it also allows the optimum viewing angles for all of the structures and scenes
I'm 100% on the second arrangement.
I would suggest slightly rounding the sharp edges of the upper foam to make an easier blend, whichever material you use.
Hope this helps.
A few weeks have passed since my last post but progress continues. I've gone with the layout on the left as described above. The foam board has been glued to the MDF base (this measures ~ 36 in x 18 in). Some sheet-rock compound was used along the sides and the seams and to cover the upper level of the Foss landing side (right). Pilings and mussels were added to the 2 docks of Foss landing and the one for the Shipyard. After a coat of spray paint, the RR ties were laid down on the left. Rather than tape them to a template and glue them all at once, they were laid by hand using a long piece of wood for the boundary on the left and wood spacers to keep the distance between ties the same distance. Here is the work in progress:
Before proceeding with the ties on the right of the shipyard, a bit of compound was used to build up the base so the ties would fit snugly under the rails. The "ship in progress" was also completed. As in Grant's log, the wood was left unstained to simulate newer, non weathered wood.
Other things to think about is how to run the wiring from each structure through the base to the batteries. More on that later. Here are some photos of progress so far. I've been taking it slow as I have to go between the 2 instruction manuals so I don't get too far ahead on on side or the other.
One modification of the Foss landing kit - a cement wall is called for that starts behind the launch Co building and goes to the side of that building and then forms a cement wall under the Clam and Oyster building below the dock. The Shipyard kit has 2 walls, one of brick and one with larger stones. To tie the 2 kits together, I've decided to replace the cement wall with bricks at the back and side of the launch co and larger stones for the wall under the Oyster Co dock. Here's a sample of the bricks and one stone:
And lastly, would like some opinions on 2 items:
1. The Shipyard kit has a metal casting to simulate a light which would go on a pole. I would like to use a pole with a light that works. I think I've found something similar to what would be constructed with the kit and it comes in a 3 pack. One light goes near the shed by the RR tracks (blue circle in photo below). Where do you think would be a good spot for the other 2?
2. I would like to add some telephone power poles with "wires" going to the buildings. Foss Landing includes a casting for one pole but I think more would be required. I thought spacing them out along the back of the diorama would be most appropriate (blue x es in photo below). Or do you think this would make things too busy.
Thanks again for your comments.
jeff
Work continues with the shipyard. After all the RR ties are placed, the base was painted where the water will eventually go.
There are wires poking through the MDF and insulation base. These will be spliced to the various buildings and pole lights. Here are 2 photos of the underside of the base. MDF is perfect for gouging out small trenches for the wires which will then come out the back and eventually get spliced into 2 on/off switches. Each hole is marked to identify the structure associated with the wire.
Next up was the brick wall that replaces the concrete one on Foss Landing. The wall below the Clam and Oyster building was made up of larger blocks, much like the wall near the RR tracks on the Shipyard kit.
The RR track was next glued to the ties after they were weathered. The flex track I purchased came with plastic ties so, before the plastic ties were removed, the track was centered and marked on the weathered ties. One rail was glued first then spacers were used to keep the second track even with the first.
When all was done it was tested with the RR car previously constructed - perfect fit.
I wanted to add the rail spikes for extra security. However, what is commercially available looked out of scale. I ended up using standard paper staples - still a bit out of scale but closer, I think. He is a photo. It was a lot of drill holes and spikes!
The rails were then weathered and a sanding stick was run across the top.
Next up is the sculptamold for the Foss Landing buildings, followed by the Shipyard pit.
Jeff