BRIDGE BITS DONE

      

                                                      

Had some time on my hands .What with not going any where .Sounds like it might have worked out for the best anyway.

Sat night I finished the ballast up to the bridge approaches and retaining wall.And fixed up some gum trees.

Sunday night I put the dirt down from the rear of the bridge through to the front.

  So this afternoon I did the trees,bushes and roots .

And then staged some shots.Its a bit hard to get a shot that gives the same look and feel as in real life.And was a bit hard with all the trees ,but that's how I like my scenes to be obscured I guess.The bridge makes it hard too with the trusses being as high as a train ,so when you get down at ground level you cant see the train for the bridge.At least there's no telegraph poles in the road yet.

So I had to resort to some helicopter shots which i don't like at the best of times.

Shots 123 where taken with the trees removed for clarity.

So now I will be able to work on the approaches to MUNGINDI and the first thing the train goes past is the pub.

 

DARWINS THEORY

Have done a little more since last weekends post on top of up and back to Brisbane

Though I would show you the evolution of this scene.


1/
Frame construction,with foam riser blocks and main foam sheets glued onto frame .
Frame sections are of the same size and construction as BOLIVIA ,With a 300mm rise from frame level to track bed for the ability to rise and fall scenery from track level.
Although not really needing 300mm of height for ASHFORD and MUNGINDI ,i did need it to be the same to marry up with the BOLIVIA sections.And fit into the trailer for transport.
Main boards where dropped down for creek scenes to save cutting away foam latter.
With backboards and section end and front boards glued on before taking to train room.
Saving time and the mess.

2/
Sections bolted together in train room.
With teardrop section having the 300 pvc pipe for curve on end
Bridge in diorama in its intended position ,with the Railway Hotel positioned also at Mungindi

3/
Bridge put in place,with main profile of river formed,trackbed in position and the problem of how to hide the river hitting the backboard glaringly obvious!
Note river banks get wider as they come towards the front of the layout to give depth to the scene.

4/
The solution to the backboard problem ,in the form of a weir.
With main earth works done and some foliage.

5/
The problem of how to get a decent gum tree has been overcome
With the detailing of a shop brought, available tree working a treat.
With only 2 trees I am just waiting on some more to finish the banks.

With the exposed roots and dry river of the drought affected west showing.
Left bank has roots in place awaiting trees.
I am tossing up weather to put some water in the low pools in the river.
If i do I will probably use some plaster with a green or brown painted top.

REJECTED AND DEJECTED

 

I thought i would share with you some staged shots of the new bits that have progressed a little more since last post.Although only in 2 D its the best i can do.

3 D would have been possible at the Thornleigh Exhibition this June but my offer to exhibit was unfortunately declined .

It was explained that although the layout was incomplete,it would be used as a shuttle service with suitable rail-motor traveling around the finished sections .

With the balance showing how to progress from steel and foam to finished product.

Or as a clinic called ,how to stop dreaming ,get off your ass and make a layout.

This obviously wasn't seen to be in the best interests of the hobby or the organizers.

But with  every bad situation there is always a positive and my positive is I will save myself a grand by not having to drag the new bits to Sydney and back.

 

BIG NEWS

There has been some action over the last 2 Sundays on the new bits.Which haven't really changed much in a long time.
But with the collection  of some appropriate soil to provide the transition from Mungindi black soil to Ashford style dirt.I decided that some scenery was in order.And might i say the transformation in such a short space of time is very exciting indeed.
Just got the basics at this stage but some baby photos are in order.


                                            Double 44's do the honours crossing the road
                                                 entrance to the Ashford silo complex.

                                                          Moving across Gill Gill Creek

        

                                              Once across the watercoarse a small cutting .

                                   

                             On the inside of the curve cattle struggle through the drought conditions
                               And on the other side a ploughed paddock awaits the rains

                                           And of course the trains heading from Mungindi to Ashford

 For some before pics
http://bolivanswgr.blogspot.com.au/2010/12/christmas-report.html



                                NOT AN ARMY TRAIN IN SIGHT !!!!!!!!!!!!