Basic construction of Monsal Dale to Millers Dale
The track is Atlas code 100 set track. Point work is also Atlas with metal frogs, but I don't have them wired as electrofrog units. The track is mounted on a 3/32" cork road bed. The cork is glued down and the track pinned through the cork into the foam with normal track pins with a spot of Tacky Glue on each pin to secure it. At this early stage I painted a wash of grey acrylic paint around the track area just to tone down the stark white of the foam base.
Looking closely at the point (turnout) above, you can see that I have soldered short links between the static part of the point rails and the running rails. This powers the moving parts of the point without them having to rely on the contact between the moving blades and the running rails. You might also be able to see a simple over-centre spring that I add to these points so that they snap into position at each side of their movement.
The landscape is made using 2" thick extruded polystyrene foam (insulation board). A piece is cut to shape, glued onto the foam baseboard with Tacky Glue, and then carved to shape. For carving I use a serrated kitchen knife, a hacksaw blade, and coarse sandpaper.
The photos above illustrate the construction of the limestone escarpment that is the prominent feature of my representation of Millers Dale. Three 2" thick "S" shapes were cut, stacked, and glued into position on the baseboard. The rock face was then scored and carved to shape. Horizontal and vertical cracks are the main feature of limestone edges. They were all cut in using the point of the kitchen knife. Chunks are broken out at random and the top edge carved to a realistic shape. When I was reasonably satisfied I gave the foam a wash of thinned black acrylic paint. This made the features more obvious so that changes could be made. Eventually the rock face was painted black.
Above, the foam blocks are being glued in place to form each side of the deep curved cutting. This was then carved and scored in the same way as before to create the limestone faces.
On the left are the two base blocks for the tunnel. I'm testing clearances here with a short goods train. The photo on the right is a little tricky to see, but these are the tunnel sides and top (upside down). The inside has been rough carved and is partially painted black at this stage. The tunnel openings are roughly shaped. They will later be hidden by cast resin tunnel portals.
This is again the underside of the tunnel. I dry-brushed an ivory/limestone colour over the black. This will rarely be seen, if ever, but it will look like a rough carved tunnel to anyone who manages to get in a sufficiently contorted position to see it.
Left photo is after putting the first sections of the back slope of the escarpment in place. And to the right, after the initial carving.
Before and after the initial carving of the tunnel area at the Monsal Dale end.
To the left is the deep cutting after being carved to shape and detailed with the kitchen knife. At right is the Millers Dale limestone edge after painting it black and in the process of dry brushing an ivory white layer on top. This really brings the limestone to life.
The exposed limestone at the bottom of the slope is detailed and painted, then the grass area is painted with latex household paint. The slope will have grass scatter added later, but it already looks okay just painted over the coarse texture of the carved foam.
Above is the deep cutting and the escarpment looking already quite effective.
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