Cliffhanger

[invercloy]

There you are Tom. Environmental vandels again.

I'm only joking :)

It'll be interesting to se how you go about capturing the geology of it as you progress through painting it all too.

[pilotfriend]

Engine. er yes. Tom I know you are only joking..... even I have been known to have a sense of humour now and then ;D

The foam build-up continues. We think it would be more fun swallowing galvanised nails than this job! Even the cat has bits of foam stuck to her and Jenny is thinking of running away from home!



Some of the rock face has been carved and plastered. This shows as the more grey of the cliff.

[tat2drod]

Put on a big enough and anything will fly

Engine?   ;D

Naah... balloon!

[pilotfriend]

I am always very partial to 300hp Lycomings. Cannot go wrong with those.

[invercloy]

The plaster coat looks very effective, John.

[pilotfriend]

Thanks Tom. The expanding foam will not carve so there is still more building up near the track. We can only build up three layer of foam at a time and then have to wait for adhesive to go off. I then do more carving and plastering. It also helps to deal with the foam awfulness! Even the cat is covered with bits of foam and Jenny is thinking of running away from home!

We estimate that about two thousand small trees will be needed. More boredom! The cat

[Tigger]

It's looking better and better John.  The latest photo of the finished layout is very realistic but I'm not convinced about the backscene ;D

[tedp]

Judging from the overfalls there seems to be an offlying reef. I wonder how it looks in a westerly gale.

[B.Meldon]

I think that the main drawback of building a layout like this may be dawning on you John.
I bet that by the time you finish you will not want to look at another model rock face again for a long time!

Brian Meldon

[pilotfriend]

True but I did know what I was getting into............. fortunately I have patience but do need a whinge now and then!  Parts of the coast are protected by outlying rocks but it is certainly not a coast you want to sail close by.

[B.Meldon]

The more I think about it I am sure I have seen this idea on a layout before somewhere in the dim distant past. Basically a hillside with the track running along it about half way up.
I do not think it was a NG layout though and it was a good deal smaller than the layout you are building John but I do recall that it packed away into a box that was no bigger than most

[invercloy]

There is a 16mm scale layout on NGRM which is very very similar in appearance to Cliffhanger, it's been going for a few years now but it's an on and off project.  It's actually based on the 1:1 scale location I emailed you about a visit to recently, Brian ;)

Parts of the coast are protected by outlying rocks but it is certainly not a coast you want to sail close by.

True, but it's a spectacular view when you do pass by at a distance - I went on a circular tour behind Waverley from Clevedon to Penarth, Minehead and Porlock.  The bit from Minehead to Porlock was spectacular, as is the view from the road when you drive along the top.

[B.Meldon]

There is a 16mm scale layout on NGRM which is very very similar in appearance to Cliffhanger, it's been going for a few years now but it's an on and off project. 

Yes that must be the one I am thinking of.
Brian Meldon

[Tigger]

"...I went on a circular tour behind Waverley from Clevedon to Penarth, Minehead and Porlock...."

With apologies to John and all but please indulge me and allow me this one bit of total thread drift.  If you ever get the chance to have a voyage on Waverley then for goodness' sake do so.  While I was up in Scotland last Easter a group of us from the Comrie Railroad, at the invitation of their Chief Engineer joined her on her shakedown Western Isles cruise from Oban, round Mull and back in - er -  'interesting' seas.  A wonderful experience on a beautiful ship.  This view which I'm sure you'll like shows her absolutely in her element during our stop-over at Tobermory.  And after that interlude, please back to the subject! ;D

[pilotfriend]

"And after that interlude, please back to the subject!"

Not before I fully endorse your comments. A great ship and a bloody good bar!

Apart from my own layouts, in the past seven years I have also built 7 complex layouts for clients and a host of museum models. Cliffhanger will be absolutely my 'last hurrah' as health is getting in the way these days. That is why I want it to be a bit special.



The plastering has gone on apace. The bottom of the cliffs will be done when the board is raised a couple of feet.