Most outdoor layouts can have mountains constructed from the soil at hand. Not necessarily so out here in the arid desert west. Our sol is too sandy and I need to “build” a mountain. The only solution I can think of is to build it using concrete but do I have to reinvent the wheel? I haven’t foumd anytone that discusses this technique. Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks
Doug ,
I made some lightweight concrete by using expanded polystyrene instead of gravel . I took this further by making a solid base shaped the way I wanted out of expanded polystyrene , and cladded it with cement . This made it semi portable .
Expanded polystyrene is the stuff that is used in packaging , and often looks like macaroni . I know a lot of you know that , but some may not .
Mike
Over at MLS there are several articles on mountain building by people who live in the Arid Zona/So. Cal area. I’m not too sure if any of them venture this direction. Concrete does seem to be the material of choice, but if I recall there have been some made out of a fiberglass type material too. Unless one of them speaks up in the next day or so, I would recommend you going there and poking around.
Now to duck before Bob shoots me…
Warren
A couple of months back, there was a cover article in GR about the Southern Cross Railroad (or something like that) that talked of mountains from concrete block and the holes filled with dirty for plantings. He wrote of how he built it.
Ric Golding said:Called it "tera-forming"...what an excellent article and beautiful RR....that is a good start.....
A couple of months back, there was a cover article in GR about the Southern Cross Railroad (or something like that) that talked of mountains from concrete block and the holes filled with dirty for plantings. He wrote of how he built it.
Happy Thanksgiving
cale
Doug Arnold said:Doug,
Most outdoor layouts can have mountains constructed from the soil at hand. Not necessarily so out here in the arid desert west. Our sol is too sandy and I need to "build" a mountain. The only solution I can think of is to build it using concrete but do I have to reinvent the wheel? I haven't foumd anytone that discusses this technique. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks
Some really neat stuff has been done by Bob Treat on his “SnowCreek RR”, the How-To article was in the Aug 2001 GR, his rocks are made from concrete and look like a million dollars! (What I call real modeling!)
The second method is the one Jack Verducci uses. He calls his mixture “Gulapata”, the article is in Dec 2001 GR
If you don’t have or can’t get those articles, let me know. 
I plan on doing one variation for my raised benchwork sections by using what they apply as stucco on the houses around here. Construct the basic form from Styrofoam, apply some mesh and then the stucco mixture. Needs to be light and not have any accessable hollow portions.
Doug,
Take a look here:
http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/tj-lee/
see the PDF “Building Scenery - Cliffs”. Lots of pics and a complete “how to” for building mountains and cliffs with a simple concrete paper mache technique.
The PDF is a bit large if you’re on dial up (5.8 MB) but I think it’s worth it.
Best,
TJ
Thanks everyone for the help.
We just set up a nice, used laser printer the last couple weeks and we have DSL so it was a joy printing out that article that TJ told us about. It is great and answers the questions I had. With a couple minor changes I will soon be creating mountains from mole holes!
Doug -
I looked at TJ’s PDF and it is truly neat stuff. One caution - The 1 x Pressure Treated roadbed will tend to sag if not supported at very close intervals. Even then, warping can be a problem. My experience is in the North East, so your desert conditions may be very different…
I have about 30 feet of elevated roadbed on my railroad made from PT 1x6. I’ve had good luck on a curve that is supported every 22 inches and up high where it dries quickly, but on the long straight where it gets flooded every rain storm I have a number of sags.
Fr. Fred has had good long term experience with 2x6 pressure treated roadbed. Several others here have followed his lead. When it comes time to re-work my elevated section I’ll be changing to 2x6.
Good luck with your mountains - can’t wait to see progress pictures.
JR
Doug,
It is great and answers the questions I had…
If there’s anything you think needs to be added to the PDF or if you have any questions about anything therein, let me know. My email address is in the PDF (bottom of page 1).
Jon,
I looked at TJ’s PDF and it is truly neat stuff.
Thanks for the kind words.
Best,
TJ