Shady Creek Model Railroad

Based on past experience, I knew applying ground cover to the severely sloped ridge would be a problem.  I rigged a table out of an old wire shelf and piece of plywood that I could tilt.  I placed the mountain ridge on this and adjusted it until the surface I wanted to work on was close to horizontal.

I first applied a layer of white glue along the lower portion of the ridge.  I applied a couple colors of Woodland Scenics fine ground foam to the right of the exposed rocks.  I sprayed this area with a mixture of one fourth glue and three fourths water to secure it.

I applied a layer of white glue from the top of the already applied covering to the top of the ridge.  I placed clump foliage on top of the glued area.  I added some clumps to the area sceniced with the fine ground foam to blend it in.  I sprayed the clump foliage with the watered down glue mixture.

I continued adding clump foliage in narrow bands along the ridge.  I adjusted the angle of the ridge to match the area I was working on as I went.

Using the same process, I added fine ground foam to a large area on the ridge.  I plan to add trees to this area in the future.

I continued applying the fine ground foam to the top of the ridge and to the left.  I then continued adding clump foliage to the ridge until I ran out.  I discovered the color I was using was not readily available at local stores.  I had to mail order some more which resulted in a longer than expected delay.

While waiting for more clump foliage, I worked on a few other areas.  I added some fine ground foam to the tops of the exposed rocks.  I used an eyedropper to first apply alcohol to wet the ground foam.  I then applied the glue water mixture with a dropper to the same area.  The alcohol helps the foam absorb the glue mixture without disturbing its position.  The sprayer I was using would have blown the ground foam away.

I added fine ground foam to the rest of the area around the ridge.  When I got close to concrete surfaces, I had to use the eyedropper method to keep the ground foam off the concrete.

I took this opportunity to rehab the scenery on the original yard module.  I applied the same fine ground foam over the existing scenery.  This will help blend the old module with the new one.

I added ground cover to the mini ridge’s surface and rocks.

After receiving my mail order clump foliage, I was able to finish the mountain ridge.  I did run into one problem the clump foliage.  The white glue I used dried leaving shiny surface that could be scene between gaps of the clump foliage.  I sprayed the entire clump foliage area with Woodland Scenics Scenic Cement, which dries with a matte finish, to help subdue it.  I may try a different approach when I build the ridge on the opposite of the layout.

Before I placed the mountain ridge back on the layout, I added some ballast to the track just in front and just behind the tunnel portal.  I also cleaned the hidden track.  I do not plan on removing the ridge for a while.  After I placed the ridges back on the module, I applied ground foam along the areas where they merge into rest of the module.

I still need to ballast the rest of the track on this module.  I also need to construct many trees.