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Southern Highlands - Construction, July 2022

The month of July saw the Group concentrate on different aspects of scenery around the layout. While glue dried in one area we could move our attention to another scene and continue working.

The scenery of the rural area was one location. A fascia of 4mm board was cut to profile and glued and screwed in place. Scenery was added up to the profile edge and in other areas of the module. Space has been left for the farmhouse and milking shed (pictured below) to be positioned in place.

An image of GMRG's HO scale layout 'Southern Highlands' under construction

Different combinations of static grass, ground foam and small shrubs are some of the materials that make up the scenery of the rural area.

Near the Mittagong Maltings is a road overbridge that once serviced the main highway south of Sydney. The Group set to work making a representation of this bridge, starting with the abutments made from 19mm by 90mm pine cut to size and shape. The wing walls were cut from foamcore board. The abutments and walls were then covered with English bond brick sheet and allowed to dry. The scenery either side of the bridge was formed from XPS foam sheet and a fascia cut to profile glued and screwed in place.

An image of GMRG's HO scale layout 'Southern Highlands' under construction

The abutments and wing walls of the road bridge waiting for the brick sheet edges to dry in place. In the background the foam sheet forming the scenery base can be seen clamped in position while the glue sets.

An image of GMRG's HO scale layout 'Southern Highlands' under construction

The bridge abutments sitting in position, metal I beams scratchbuilt from styrene sheet representing the real steel beams rest atop the abutments. A 12-wheel passenger coach was kept nearby to double-check clearances.

Stonequarry Viaduct was another location to receive attention. The undersides of the arch and the piers, in turn, were lined with 30 thou styrene sheet. The inner walls of the 4mm MDF formers adjacent to the track were covered with stone sheet and any joins filled with putty. Once the lining on the piers was completed, terraforming of the ground surrounding the viaduct was built up using XPS foam glued in place.

An image of GMRG's HO scale layout 'Southern Highlands' under construction

The piers of the viaduct lined with styrene, ready for the top layer of stone sheet. After this photo was taken, more XPS foam was glued in place between and around the large transitions, making the scenery form more in line with the real location.

The buildings for the farm scene near completion. The roof on the farmhouse has been added, including capping over the joints to give the roof a more authentic look. The roof was then given a layer of undercoat and the first federation green coloured top coat. Timber piers have also been glued in place and given an undercoat.

An image of GMRG's HO scale layout 'Southern Highlands' under construction

The farmhouse takes shape, standing on piers with the roof given a coat of paint.

The milking shed had had the yard holding pens constructed, undercoated and painted. The roof has been given a coat of brunswick red paint.

An image of GMRG's HO scale layout 'Southern Highlands' under construction

The holding pens at the rear of the milking shed, constructed and painted.

During the month, the Group received word from the editor of Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) that our exhbition layout Goulburn will be featured in the August 2022 issue. GMRG thanks the staff at AMRM and all those involved for producing the article.

An image of GMRG's HO scale layout 'Goulburn' on the cover of AMRM

GMRG's exhibition layout Goulburn on the cover of the August 2022 issue of Australian Model Railway Magazine. Cover image courtesy of AMRM.