Retaining Wall Construction

[Eastern Roads]

I have an area on the PHCRR that was in need of some "help", and since I am one of the foremost experts in rock making (NOT) I left an area around the outside of Trap Rock Quarry alone for a long time. I went to the Train Show and came across something very helpful, but I'm getting ahead of myself here...

If you look at the left side of the picture, you can see the foam partially painted gray, with the white. this was the area i needed to do something to:



I found this product from Noch at a deal, and got a couple sheets...



I used some Krylon spray glue, and shot the material and the foam backing, and "stepped" the upper half of the sheet to correspond with the slope of the branch:



I had a gap between the track and the "wall" so I reinforced the top edge of the sheet with popsicle sticks cut to length.



After the glue dried, I covered any holes, and then filled in the area with bluestone.



Here's another area halfway filled in



Then I shifted my attention to the bottom of the wall, and added some vegetation, and some more stone along the wall




And a pic of the area complete



I kind of painted myself into a corner with the branchline, I'm not too sure of where to go with the upper level of the helix to make it look better. I've been considering rock castings, but it's gonna be a mess, so I'm looking for an easy way out of this, but I want to make it look good. Any ideas out there??

[Nazgul]

Mike...That looks great!!!!!!

Why can't you use the same stuff on the next level....you could make some more supports and make them look like brick colums that are holding up the upper level.

[ak-milw]

Mike,
If you are talking about the next section up I would use the same stuff. It looks really nice and the two tiers would match.

[Daryl]

Mike ,I also would use the same stuff. It looks great

[CPrail]

Hey good idea,that sure adds a nice clean look to that spot,Like everyone else said I would continue to use that on the next level...Looks good

[TallDude]

What they said!!!

[spider]

I agree also

[Catt]

Well I agree with these guys about using more of the retaining wall material.Then I think you should add more supports for the upper level and make them look like brick or cut stone or poured concrete then edge the upper track roadbed to look like a bridge in either concrete or steel girder.

[domiluk]

Mike I agree with the rest of the guys also if you use the same stuff on the upper area you can add more vegetation to the lower area to make like it's the oldest part of the route.eather way it looks great.

[Eastern Roads]

Gee, thanks, there, gentlemen! I've been looking at the edge of the upper level of track for awhile, and I was leaning towards making it look like concrete, and the supports were meant to look like steel pillars holding the thing up. But with the advice I was given (along with the attaboys) making more of the supports and also going bigger makes some sense, it's just a matter of making them work into the scene.

The block wall on the upper level has merit as well, I originally thought of making it look rough and hewn out of the mountain, but the rock wall looks more like tunnel walls! Having even more vegetation is another great idea, too.

So it looks like I'll have to call the boys from Scenic Express, and get some more of that material! So.... Who's in the neighborhood and would like to give me a hand??