After a year of hemming and hawing I finally (with the encouragement of others) decided on Track plan #1 from my choice of (pictures in my gallery) three plans. Here is the link to them.
http://www.nscale.net/index.php?q=gallery&g2_itemId=4606&g2_navId=x4a7879a1
I decided to start on the east side of the plan. There is a bluff (green line in the layout) Where the city of Blakely and the Alligator Branch (BryanC OK-ed use of name) line is located. The bluff is 2" in height and will be positioned against the east wall where the City and 3D mountain backdrop is located.
Here is a link to my gallery with a few pictures of the bluff and gully in progress.
http://www.nscale.net/index.php?q=gallery&g2_itemId=28940
I constructed the bluff from 4 pieces of 1/2" pink foam. I cut them to the rough shape of the bluff using a serrated kitchen knife instead of a hot foam cutter. This worked well for me, very little mess and saved me $20-$50 for a hot foam cutter. I then glued the four pieces together using Elmer's Carpenter's wood glue. I made the best use of my free-weights, in years, by placing them on top of the foam. I waited overnight to get a good bond.
My rough shape of the bluff was, lets say, way less than perfect. I think I cut twice and measured once instead of the other way round. I used the kitchen knife (don't mention it to my wife she might not get mad, and it's not that I'm scared, but why take a chance) again to trim the edges all around. Then I used Woodland Scenics Foam Puddy on the edges to shape the sides into rock formations and give a better appearance.
I then used a Home Depot latex white paint to prime the bluff and watched it while it dried. This a very important step because it gives you an excuse to consume a few Bud Lights. Especially if someone (she shall be nameless) asks what you're doing you have a ready answer. I then painted the top of the bluff using HD Latex green for a base coat.
I test fitted the bluff to the east wall and found there was another opportunity for (not an error) improvement. There a small space 1-1/4 to 2", 4' long. And instead of filling it up with stuff I decided to add a gully. I Quickly found a piece of scrap pink foam and trimmed it to size and sanded it down smoth, painted it a HD latex green. Glued it in place with WS track pins to hold it in place. After it dried (only two cans this time) I added some WS fine brown and grey ballast, extra coarse buff talus rocks, and a package of Dead fall to complete the look of a gully over time. I looked at it and it looked OK except for a couple of spots that had a silver look, wow, another opportunity. I left the WS track pins in place and covered them with some additional WS brown fine ballast.
I glued the bluff in place and it snuggled up to the gully Like me and the Mrs on our first date. Anyway it looks good to me and I'm the the one that counts.
I'll need a couple of small bridges for pedestrians and Vehicle traffic from the bluff over the gully to the 3D mountain. I may try to scratch build them or buy them and cut (I know measure first) them to fit. But the next task is to build the up grade from the south east bottom end of the bluff and the down grade from the north east top end. I'll be using WS Risers and inclines at a 3% grade. Then add the roadbed and track. This will be my next entry sometime after I finish waiting for the paint to dry.
See ya
Ron
