Rock Formations

                     

                                                              Photo  # 1  ATSF  # 1175 2-6-6-2 On The Upper Level Of The "Original" JJJ&E With The Monterrey Mountains In The Background

 This tutorial was published in the September/October 2007 issue of N Scale Magazine.

The "Original" JJJ&E is a small railroad located in the mountains in red rock country in the western United States. The "Original" JJJ&E is a multi leveled layout using Kato Unitrack which has been completely ballasted and weathered. The entire double track mainline is graded ( 2% ) and there is no level track on the 120' mainline.

I integrated lower and upper levels of the layout with rock formations in the background as well as other parts of the layout. Hence, there are many mountainous areas on the layout.

I used  three different methods to make the rock formations on the "Original" JJJ&E. The first method is to use individual rock casting molds from Woodland Scenics . In Photo # 1, I used the individual rock casting technique using the Woodland Scenics rock molds. An ATSF # 1175 2-6-6-2 is seen in the Monterrey Mountains on the upper level of the "Original" JJJ&E. The rock castings were glued in place on the background and each casting was colored using different earth tone washes.

S second method was to make rock castings using an aluminum baking pan as a mold. The aluminum baking pan is crumbled up and the hydrocal/plaster  mix is poured into the crumbled pan. The beauty of this technique is that you can use many different sized aluminum pans to make different rock castings.

Photo's  # 2 &  # 3 show the aluminum baking pan technique for making rock castings. The double track mainline on the "Original" JJJ&E can be seen below the rock formations. In Photo # 3, the San Marino Switching Yard can be seen on the upper level.

                                                                      Photo  # 2  The Crumbled Pan Technique Was Used To Make These Different Rock Formations

                                                                  Photo  # 3   The Crumbled Pan Technique Was Used To Make These Different Rock Formations. The San Marino Switching Yard Is On The Upper Level

 In Photo  # 4, I used a combination of the first two techniques to make the rock castings

Photo  # 4 Individual Rock Castings And The Aluminum Baking Pan Technique Were Used To Make The Rock Castings On This  Photo Showing The Long Grade Of The Mainline To San Marino.

A third method, which I will explain in detail later is to use Vanda Orchid Chips or any other brand Orchid Chip to make individual rock castings, which in turn can be made into larger rock formations.

But first, let me describe how to mix the hydrocal/plaster  with water to obtain a good mix without any bubbles. Before I retired, I practiced Prosthetic Dentistry in Boston for over thirty years. I mixed hydrocal/plaster every day to make bubble-free dental casts.

Here is the technique I used. I placed a measured amount of cold water in a rubber mixing bowl. You should never use warm water, as this will markedly affect the working time you have with the hydrocal/plaster/water mix. Warm water will cause the hydrocal/plaster mix to set up too quickly. The amount of water you use initially depends on the number of rock castings you want to make in one sitting. It's best to make smaller amounts of individual rock castings with one mix.

Then I take a stiff mixing spatula, ( you can get one at an art supply store or a dental supply company) and gradually add the hydrocal/plaster powder to a measured amount of cold water. You should mix the hydrocal/plaster into the water quite vigorously. The resulting mix should not be runny. A runny mix of hydrocal/plaster will only give you a weak rock casting full of air bubbles. To test the mix, turn the rubber mixing bowl upside down. The hydrocal/plaster mix should stay in place in the mixing bowl. Now add the hydrocal/plaster mixture into your rock mold by pouring the mixture into the mold at one end of the rock casting mold. Gently tap the mold om a table to distribute the hydrocal/plaster mix into the mold. To prevent air bubbles in the hydrocal/plaster casting, continuously tap the rock mold on a table for about 8 to 10 seconds. This vibration of the rock mold will cause any trapped air in the form of bubbles come to the surface.

Let the hydrocal/plaster rock mold  set completely for at least 24 hours. When dry, separate the rock castings from the molds.

                                                            Photo  # 5  The Monterrey Mountains On The Upper Level Of The "Original" JJJ&E With The Town Of San Marino In The Foreground

Now comes the fun. Piece the individual rock castings together to form your rock formations. You can use a thinner mix of hydrocal/plaster to close any seams between the castings.

When the rock formations are completely dry, ( I would wait several days ) you can use earth tone washes to acheive the color you want for your rock formations. Earth tone washes include raw umber, burnt umber, raw sienna , burnt sienna, ochre, green, slate, black and of course white.

The final color of the rock formations is dependent on the number of washes you apply to each rock casting. This could take a considerable  amount of time to finish, but the end result is worth the effort. Photo  # 5 shows part of the upper level of the "Original" JJJ&E. The Monterrey Mountains are in the background, with the town of San Marino in the foreground.

Now I will discuss the third method of making rock castings using Orchid Chips. I always look for alternative methods of modeling when working on the "Original" JJJ&E.

Photo  # 6  Vanda Orchid Chips Will be Used For Rock Formations

( See Photo 6 ) One day last summer, I was in Home Depot in the gardening section of the store. I was looking for some orchids, when I saw another method for making rock formations on the "Original" JJJ&E. I picked up a large bag of Vanda Orchid Chips which could be used for rock formations, if the chips were placed on their sides

The cost of this ready made source of rock castings was  $2.49 per bag. I separated the Orchid Chips in two piles. There were larger chips that could be used for the base of a large rock formation, as well as smaller chips. I wanted to use the smaller chips above a retaining wall on one part of the "Original" JJJ&E. The larger orchid chips will be used for a mountainous area on another part of the layout. These chips were the right size for my needs and the color was close to other rock formations on the "Original" JJJ&E. You can always airbrush the Orchid chips with a wash and then use earth tone coloring to obtain the color you want for your rock formations ( See Photo  # 7 ).

                Photo  # 7  Vanda Orchid Chips To Be Used In Rock Formations

The retaining wall below the new rock formations is a stone retaining wall that was to be placed in an area almost four feet long ( See Photo  # 10 ). I had to shape the Orchid chips on one side as they were to be placed against a pre-existing Styrofoam wall on the "Original" JJJ&E. To cut these chips I used a Dremel with a rotary sandpaper wheel ( See Photo  # 8 ).

Photo  # 8  Dremel With Rotary Sandpaper Wheel

Spread plenty of paper in the area where you are sanding the chips, as the dust has a tendency to fly around. I was able to work outside when cutting The Orchid chips. This is your best option to keep the flying dust under control. After the chips were cut to size, they easily could be placed against the Styrofoam wall. The area where I'm working on the layout was part of the fourth addition to the "Original" JJJ&E. The layout was built over seven years ago ( 2000 ) and has already undergone three prior expansions.

The first part of this project was to cement in place all the Woodland Scenics retaining wall sections. The retaining walls and Orchid chip rock formations will cover a pre-existing external side of the St. Albans Tunnel on the layout. Part of the upper level of the "Original" JJJ&E rests on top of the St. Albans Tunnel as can be seen in some of the photo's ( See Photo's # 9 & # 10 ). An access opening in the external side of the tunnel wall was placed in case of derailments and can't be covered up permanently ( Photo  # 10 )

Photo  # 9  Woodland Scenics Retaining Wall Sections

                                          Photo  # 10   The Retaining Wall Is About Four Feet Long. The Orchid Chip Rock Formations Will be Placed Above The Retaining Wall

 The N Scale Architect Laser Cut building, The Lehigh Valley Lumber Company will partially hide the tunnel access opening along with some well placed trees ( Photo's  # 10 & # 11 ). This building has to be removable so quick access to any derailment in the tunnel can be acheived without too much disruption ( See Photo  # 11 ).

Photo  # 11  Lehigh Valley Lumber Company Hides Tunnel Access Opening

The retaining wall was sprayed with several washes of Burnt Umber and Black washes to highlight the random cut stones. The washes were 80% blue windshield wiper solution and 20% Woodland Scenics earth tone washes., Many washes were applied to achieve the color I wanted for the retaining walls.  When the retaining wall sections had completely dried, it was time to place the Vanda Orchid chips above the wall. Piecing together the Orchid chips above the retaining wall was like putting a puzzle together. Separating the smaller chips was very important. The Orchid chips were cemented against the Styrofoam with Aileen's wood glue. The end result was worth the effort of trying this method of making rock formations. When the glue was completely dry, I brushed on washes of burnt umber, black and white to accent the coloring of the new rock formations. Woodland Scenics yellow flowers and scenic foam were placed above the newly formed rock formations ( See Photo's  # 11 & # 12 ).

Photo  # 12  Closeup Of Retaining Wall And Rock Formations With Yellow Flowers And Bushes

A closer view of the rock formations shows hoe the Orchid chips were pieced together to form tightly knit rock formations above the four foot retaining wall. Foliage was placed in between some of the rock formations to show vegetation growing in certain areas ( See Photo's  # 12 & # 13).

Photo  # 13  Foliage & Vegetation Placed Between Some Of The Rock Formations

 The use of the Orchid Chips provides a pleasing result in this different rock formation technique. You can use the Orchid chip method of rock formations to create larger groupings of rocks or mountainous areas. Increasing the length, width and height of these groupings can make this happen ( See Photo's # 14 thru  Photo # 21 ).

                                              Photo  # 14   Rock Formations Above The Access Opening To The St. Albans Tunnel. The Town Of San Marino Is In The Background

                                           Photo  # 15  A View Of The Three Chimneys Of The Lehigh Valley Lumber Yard With Rock Formations In The Foreground And San Marino In The Background

                                           Photo  # 16  Closeup Of Orchid Chip Rock Formations Above The Retaining Wall

                                            Photo  # 17  Photo Lehigh Valley Lumber Yard Covering Access Opening To St. Albans Tunnel On Lower Level And Orchid Chip Rock Formations Above retaining Wall.

                                Photo  # 18  Orchid Chip Rock Formations Above Retaining Wall & Southern FT's Pulling Freight Consist On Mainline On Upper level Of The "Original" JJJ&E

Photo  # 19  Lehigh Valley Lumber Company On Lower Level Covering Access Opening To St. Albans Tunnel And Town Of San Marino On Upper Level Of  The "Original" JJJ&E

     Photo  # 20   Chimneys Of Lehigh Valley Lumber Company With Orchid Chip Rock Formations In The Background

      Photo  # 21  Orchid Chip Rock Formations Above Retaining Wall With A Cloud Filled Blue Sky In The Background

In Photo # 21, we see the Orchid Chip rock formations above another part of the four foot retaining wall, with foliage and a cloud background directly behind the rock formations. The foliage  gives the illusion of distance when looking at the cloud filled blue sky in this scene.

This method of making rock formations provides a cost effective way for the modeler to accomplish this procedure. it can be combined with the other methods of modeling rock formations to make a very aesthetic result and is worth a try, You will be pleasantly surprised with the results.


Stay cool and run steam......