Mt. Coffin layout project
Here's the original piece recovered from the previous layout:
It already had that section of foam knocked out, but it seemed to scream "waterfront!"
And here's the layout design [or, the latest version] I came up for it:
[You can see other versions & other layout's I've mulled over here]
Was thinking "table-top", so included adjustable feet on the corners.
Planning on DCC, though everything wired for DC as well (a few sidings / spurs).
Initial layer of foam, supports for the fascia, roadbed:
Notice the space created for the NCE DCC panel.
And then piling on the layers of foam for the mountains, assisted by by 9-year-old daughter:
[Initially thought I'd have a storage track inside the mountain (thus the cut), but quickly abandoned that idea]
Cork roadbed, attached with caulk.
Although freelanced, wanted to have a few Columbia River signature scenes in there.
The Cannery:
The river-side trackage & tunnel:
Given the tight space, I handlayed the curved turnouts in fixtures of multiple turnouts:
And used "great stuff" to foam the mountains together:
[Great for simulating nuclear waste disasters!]
I would not use Great Stuff again: caulk, though it takes longer, is easier (after drying) to work with. Great Stuff is way more airy & files / shapes significantly different from the foam.
Had to handlay a 3-way turnout, and had to figure out how to power at least one of the frogs:
[the slide switches are gorillaglued under the styrene bases & stick up through the throwbars]
I'm now in the process of going back and rebuilding all my turnouts with slide switches to power the frogs.
Built up the harbor area with a basswood retaining wall:
And carved a stone retaining wall directly out of the pink foam:
Scratch built the approach trestle & howe truss bridge from basswood:
Finished (minus code 40 guardrails):
Also scratched a small ore/coal unloading dock:
Those are Randgust's V&T ore cars lookin' good on the dock.
Still need a crane / hoist & lots o' clutter on there.
Started scenicking in the gorge:
plaster rock molds, paint, dirt, ground foam, & pine trees.
The trees are Ace twine fiber between Michael's floral wire twirled in a drill, spray painted grimy black, & then hairsprayed with WS "conifer". You can still see the twisted trunks, but I need 300+, so only the outer trees will get real trunks in the end.
Started scenicing the main mountain / scenic divider:
And then got my daughter into making trees:
I figure she can make 5,000+ before she "earns" her driver's license!
Ballasted with cinders, then poured some tinted Magic Water:
Needed a couple of thin pours to plug up all the leaks!
But turned out fine.
Magic Water leaked (a wee bit) through blue-tape dam:
Then Modge Pod Gloss created the moving river effect:
Started building up some fab 20T coal / ore car kits from Republic Locomotive Works (have to modify a bit, as the kits are Nn3, but work great on N when done):
But, after reaming out the bolster pin hole, don't push too hard down on the pin:
Fixable, or will become part of mine scene as discarded car.
Trees, more trees, polyfiber, groundfoam, more trees, static grass, some chopped moss for texture & more trees:
JV models watertower, new weathered Ten-Wheeler:
Firewatch trail scene over tunnel:
Daughter doing switching ops before ripping out some turnouts to repower frogs:
Building single-engine shed with blacksmith shop:
Will have lit roaring forge & interior lamps when done.
On site:
Still need cedar shingles, forge, machinery & lamps.
At X2011 in Sacto found a groovy old Kato (C50) that somebody tricked out into a D&RG steamer, though still with whack tender:
Put in a decoder. Runs groovy. Will swap in an Atlas mogul or other tender soon (3-axle tender not happy with tight turns!)
Otherwise, here's how we're looking so far:
Feel free to add any comments / criticisms / etc. at anytime.
Always interesting in what people have to think / ways to make it better!
Thanks for taking the time to read all this!
