Cliffhanger

[pilotfriend]

The cliffs are now complete to the sea on this section.

[Tigger]

That is certainly looking impressive - I like the scree deposits.

[pilotfriend]

I have a lot more lightweight scree to make. It is made of the 'right kind of foam chips' covered in thin polyfilla. One waits for the exact moment when one can break up the mess with ones fingers (just before the Polyfilla goes off) Doing it this way is important as the scree will take paint in the same way as the rock.

TedP has concerns about storms in this area. Here is an extract.

Exmoor has an exceptionally wooded coastline

Exmoor has the most extensive broadleaved coastal woods in Britain. Woods stretch along ten miles of cliff from Countisbury to Porlock. Parts are ancient sessile oak woodland and are amongst the most natural woodland in England. Elsewhere strong salt-laden winds prevent the development of coastal woods except around sheltered inlets. On Exmoor the coastline is sheltered from the prevailing south westerly winds by the high cliffs and the Foreland shelters the eastern part of the coast from most strong winds sweeping up the channel. On the gentler parts of the cliffs trees sweep right down onto the beach.

Exmoor has the highest sea cliffs on the British Mainland
Exmoor has the highest coastline on the British mainland. It reaches a height of 314 metres (1350ft) at Culbone Hill. However, here the crest of the coastal ridge of hills is more than a mile from the sea. If a cliff is defined as having a slope greater than 60 degrees, the highest cliff on mainland Britain is on Great Hangman near Combe Martin. The coastal hill is 318 metres (1043 ft) high with a cliff face of 250 metres (800ft).

Exmoor has the highest and lowest tides in Europe
The Bristol Channel has the second highest tidal range in the world after the Bay of Fundy in Canada, where the difference between high and low tide ranges up to 50ft. Locally the difference varies considerably with the phases of the moon, weather and along the coast, with the range generally increasing eastwards as far as Hinkley Point, where the highest recorded ranges have been up to 45ft. Mean spring tides on the Exmoor coast range from 8.4 metres at Combe Martin to 8.7 metres at Lynmouth, 8.0 metres at Glenthorne, 9.3 metres at Porlock Weir and 9.6 metres at Minehead. The highest tides are greater than these means, especially if backed by strong winds and the extra height of the highest tides increases roughly in proportion with the range so that the highest tides can reach well over 10 metres, especially in the east.

There are high waterfalls on the sea cliffs
Hollow Brook at Martinhoe is arguably the highest waterfall in the West Country and amongst the highest in Britain, depending on the definition of a waterfall. It drops 200 metres to the sea in a series of cascades over a horizontal distance of 400 metres and includes two nearly vertical leaps of 50 metres each. Coastal waterfalls are common on the North Devon and Exmoor coasts but rare elsewhere in Europe apart from in the fjords of Norway.

[tedp]

It certainly is an impressive coastline - as is your interpretation of it. I cannot wait to see it painted, although I wonder why you didn't colour the plaster shell to prevent white shining through in case of light damage.

The tidal range in the Bristol Channel is huge. This must be one of the causes of the tidal wave running up the Severn river.

I think you once mentioned offlying reefs protecting the bottom station of the cliff railway in case of strong westerly winds. I think we can take modeller's licence on that account, but in practice it may well be that the swell curves round the coast, giving this area a nasty time despite it being sheltered from the wind. I know of a seemingly secluded place on the southern shore of the Kenmare River in SW Ireland, 10 or more miles from the ocean, but if a swell comes in, the breakers will run into a cave running under a low hill. At the inner mouth of the cave there is a shingle beach that isn't there for nothing.

[Mike Griff]

Part of the reason for the Severn Bore that you mention is the flow resistance of the river running out, tending to resist the incoming tide. Powerfull yet beautifull stuff isn't it.
I'm really enjoying "Cliffhanger". Mike

[pilotfriend]

There actually are outlying reefs but where the trees go down very close to the sea, it is indeed protected from big waves. The oak trees cannot live with salt. This is a very rare situation on the UK coastline ....... more like the Baltic. It extends from Countisbury head to Porlock.

I do not colour my plaster because I find it distracts me from the job in hand.... can't tell you why, but it does. I like to use very thin colour washes when painting starts which takes much better onto white. If there is any damage, the layout would be covered in blood from the miscreant so we would have to touch up with paint anyway! :o

The plastering will be finished within the week and we can have a massive cleanup.

[pilotfriend]

The 'vision' approaches. The smooth sections will be dense sessile oak trees.

[jaymzhatstand]

It certainly is looking very impressive, and ever so imposing, even now (to be fair it was a monster with just the trackbed!).  I'm looking forward to Warley, to meet this up close!

Cheers

J

[Hugh Norwood]

The photo at the top of this page look very like a snow scene; all it needs is a plough train!

[pilotfriend]

The right hand board is now complete and carved. Two more days of hell. 41 bags of foam chips for the bin men.  Yes, I have left a big tip!

[Tigger]

The photo at the top of this page look very like a snow scene; all it needs is a plough train!

Now let me think - who do we know with a snowplow?

[pilotfriend]

Can't imagine!



We have a new spring garden right now. Snowdrops and bits of foam.

[Mike Griff]

Remind me, the wonderfull thing about Tiggers is................ :laugh:

[pilotfriend]

A few great more days in the fun factory. We have almost given up the will to live! The right hand board is now fully plastered and the other two days away..... at last!

[pilotfriend]

Waterfall Gorge board is now fully plastered and the Lido board has been completed along the lower section. The Lido will be built later. The smooth areas will be wooded.