Southern Highlands - Construction, June 2022
During the month of June work on Southern Highlands concentrated on scenery around various parts of the layout. As the backdrop and lighting system first fit was complete, the layout was dismantled and the components stored away so that individual modules could be worked on.
The first scenic item to receive attention was Stonequarry Viaduct. The identical paired 3mm MDF viaduct sides were carefully trimmed and aligned in position, before being glued and tacked into place with brads. Packing pieces of 4mm timber and XPS foam cut to shape were fitted to the piers between the sides. The first piece of 30 thou styrene sheet was then glued with Araldite to the underside of the arch and clamped in place, to allow the two-part epoxy to fully cure.
Styrene sheet has been glued in place to form the underside of the far right arch. Timber and foam, used to follow the taper of the piers, are being held in place with small clamps while the glue sets. A passenger coach was used to check clearances before the sides were installed.
The rural area of the layout had more scenery applied. A base coat of coloured grouts provided the ground texture, before being carved and coloured with washes and highlights. Ground cover and shrubs have started to appear amongst the cracks and crevices.
Basic scenery has commenced with some ground covers and small shrubs.
Static grass application has commenced to represent grasslands adjacent to the rail tracks. This will be further blended and detailed with ground covers, bushes, shrubs and trees and other scenic detail items. There is a white appearance underneath as the glue has not fully dried.
The farmhouse has had the verandah frames painted and added.
The milking shed is almost up to lock-up state with the roof and doors installed.
The steel girder bridge, based on Wingecarribee Viaduct at Burradoo, has moved from design to print. The first prints were of the bridge piers, scaled from drawings and photos taken on-site.
After an initial failed print, the piers for the steel girder bridge came off the 3D printer successfully. Two piers are shown after post-print washing and curing, ready for the supports to be removed.
The failed pier print did not go to waste, being given a couple of quick brown and buff washes to check the fidelity of the brickwork before proceeding with the next round of prints.