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PWMRC Home > Quantico Depot > Projects > Cliffs | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Cliffs
at Evansport
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Many years ago, the settlement at Quantico was known as Evansport. Out Railroad continues to serve the Village of Evansport, which is situated near some cliffs close to the Potomac River, just a few miles south of Powell's Creek. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| After the benchwork is up, the general contour of the terrain is built up from plywood forms. The forms are carefully cut to approximate the hills and valleys of our layout. Some parts of the scenery are quite heavy, so the use of plywood ensures a solid base. The photo shows the left end of the Cliffs at Evansport, near the site of the Roundhouse. |
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| After the plywood forms, the terrain contours are refined with a lattice of cardboard strips. Here we see the vertical strips installed; this was followed by horizontal strips woven into the verticals. The cardboard lattice provide a good foundation for the layers of hardshell scenery. The terrain is built up with layers of paper towels soaked in plaster to form a base layer.. |
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| A thick coat of plaster is added over the base layer. We used everyday Plaster of Paris...it is inexpensive and works well. Plaster has been used in decorative carvings for centuries. As the plaster is drying, the layered sedimentary rocks are carved using a utility razor knife. With varied strokes, the rocks are carved to different depths. Working in wet plaster means you have to work fast. Final carving is done with a hobby knife. |
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| As the plaster continues to dry, color is added with latex paints and "Jim's Magic Elixir" is sprayed liberally to provide color. Using shades of gray and earth tones, the highlights of the rocks are enhanced. The darker colors are used in the low areas and lighter color for the highlights. The 'secret' ingredient in "Jim's Magic Elixir" is water-soluble India Ink diluted approximately 20 to 1 with water. It is applied with a fine mist sprayer. The latex paints are applied by brush; an airbrush can also be used. |
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| Here's a view of the length of the cliffs. The pieces of plaster that fall off during the carving are left in place to simulate the talus that falls naturally. The hills above the cliffs will have trees and ground cover installed soon. In the foreground will be the Town of Evansport. |
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| This is the left end of the cliffs, near the future roundhouse. Compare this photo with the first...the Roundhouse area is beginning to take shape. |
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| Only on our layout does the VRE pass towering mountains during it's daily runs. Taken from a low angle, the photo enhances the height of the cliffs and background mountain. The tall scenery provide a real sense of scale for the HO train. |
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Updated 12/26/05 |
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