Model Railway Forum

Looking good Chops, only worry I would have is access to those tracks below.

That’s a very clever layout. As TWD says will you have access to the lower part.

Yes, the lower tracks are easily accessed and slip in and out of tunnels of very short duration. The longer of the tunnels has an
access port cut into the side for those pear shaped moments.

I recently added this to the roster, as the Jupiter American type, Bachmann, has shown itself to be a splendid performer and the
onboard sound a treat.



I have not yet had a chance to put power to her yet, especially as for the plaster dust on the rails needs to be cleaned first. I am
having DCC questions already, right out of the starting gate, which I will post under my prior DCC question in the DCC forum.

Starting to work on the butte. The vertical Styrofoam stanchions are getting wrapped in a
single layer of aluminum foil fastened by panel nails, would have preferred thumbtacks, but
could not find them, dipped in Quick Hold cement that binds anything it touches,
but does not melt foam. This will provide a little firmness when the plaster cloth is laid upon it,
so the stanchions will be hidden, and not protrude like bones. A few dabs of Quick hold will
be laid down to give the plaster cloth something to anchor to, while it dries.

Built up another tunnel in the foreground. I had hoped to lay in trestles in these overpasses, but
soon learned that the angulation of the upper and lower tiers would make for an enormous,
awkward span between the center bents. But tunnels are good. An access port
is carved into the side, will be eventually covered by a flap if there are issues inside the tunnel.

Buttes tend to have a buttress of ancient lava flow that once fueled the volcanic core, which is
coming together on the left aspect. The base is flared out a little to recreate the fallen debris,
over the millennium, that accumulates at the foot.

I broke in the new American by running it for 1/2 hour in reverse. Quite smooth. Alas, if I want
sound in it I'll have to add it myself.

A little more progress on Devil's Thumb Butte. Easier than I thought.