07-20-08 Rock Wall

I had to add a rock wall where the track cuts through the ridge.

For this project I used Hydrocal, which is a type of plaster with a finer grain.  I had to mix up small batches because it dries very quickly.  I applied globs of Hydrocal to the wall.  I scribed horizontal lines in it while it was wet to create the strata lines.  I randomly scraped and cut away portions on the different layers as it dried to shape the rocks.  I repeated this process along the rock wall.

After it dried, I colored it.  I mixed up a black wash.  I added a drop of dish soap to wet the wash.  This will allow the black wash to more easily flow into cracks and crevices.   I randomly applied this to the wall.  The color will fade as it dries.

After the black wash dried, I created a brown oxide colored wash without the dish soap.  I applied this to the wall in the same manor.  I will need to create a matching rock wall that will sit on the opposite side of the track at a later date.  I will also add random rocks around the ridge.

 

Please feel free to send me any comments, questions, or suggestions.